Tucked in along the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the Eastern Tennessee Mountain town of Gatlinburg. Just a few minutes from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (home of Dollywood), Gatlinburg offers many things for families to do, including natural and indoor attractions. Read more about fun things to do with your family in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and an overview of how to get there and where to stay.
Disclosure: Our trip to Gatlinburg and our activities were complimentary. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.
Anakeesta
Anakeesta, a family-friendly mountain adventure park, has its entrance right in the center of Gatlinburg. Admission includes access up the mountain by either Chondola (chair lift or gondola—your choice) or Ridge Rambler (a road vehicle). Also included in admission are the observation tower, the TreeVenture Challenge Course, BirdVenture, and Vista Gardens.
Anakeesta: Additional Activites
Several other attractions can be added to your ticket for an additional fee, including two mountain coasters, Astra Lumina (a nighttime light show walk-through), and the Dueling Zipline Adventure. We enjoyed the walk-through Astra Lumina—I would definitely recommend it.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Hiking
While we took a short hike (about 2 miles total) at the Smoky Mountains National Park, I’d recommend a longer hike if you are up for it. With 150 official trails in the over 500k acre National Park (in both North Carolina and Tennessee), there are many options. These include waterfall hikes and family-friendly hiking options. Be sure to stop by a visitor’s center to purchase your required parking pass.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Fly Fishing
The next item on our itinerary was fly fishing. Smoky Mountain Guides helped us register for our required fishing licenses and brought along all of the needed equipment. You can contact them directly or book a fly fishing trip here. Fly fishing was such a fun, bucket-list adventure. While we didn’t catch anything, I just loved being in the chilly water (but not getting wet, thanks to the waders) and enjoying this peaceful area. I’d highly recommend booking this type of adventure if you visit the Gatlinburg area.
Other Downtown Activities
As you drive through Gatlinburg, you’ll see that Ripley (from the famed Ripley’s Believe It or Not) offers many different attractions, including Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater, Ripley’s Davy Crocket Mini-Golf, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Mirror Maze, Ripley’s Super Fun Park, and RIpley’s Believe It or Not. The highlight, however, is Ripley’s Aquarium.
Downtown Activities
The Parkway, the main road in Gatlinburg (technically the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway/US Route 441), is where you’ll find many attractions, shops, and restaurants. It’s very walkable, and I’d recommend reserving some time to stroll down the street. Don’t want to walk? Gatlinburg operates trolleys that are completely free to ride every day of the year. There are several different lines, and they connect at the Mass Transit Center, located by the Aquarium.
Embassy Suites Gatlinburg
The brand-new Embassy Suites Gatlinburg was our host for my trip to Gatlinburg. Located a short distance from the Parkway, this recently opened hotel is the perfect home base for your Gatlinburg vacation. The hotel offers 164 spacious suites with a wet bar, queen sleeper sofas, mini-fridges, coffee makers, and microwaves. A separate main sleep area can be closed off from the living space. Read more information about things to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, here.