Things To See In Gatlinburg

In the heart of the smoky mountains lies the small, picturesque town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This beautiful small town has been a regional tourist destination for decades, and the rest of the country has finally started to notice its appeal.

Gatlinburg has far more to offer than scenic beauty, however. The town boasts so many attractions that it’s hard to pick and choose, but the top five are the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Ripley’s, Sweet Fanny Adams Theater and Music Hall, Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Resort, and whitewater rafting on the Big Pigeon River.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park
One of the prettiest and most visited national parks in the country is within a stone’s throw of Gatlinburg. The park contains more than 500,000 acres of forest and hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Nearly 10 million people visit the park each year. Summer is the most crowded season, but visitors stop by all year long to hike, fish, picnic and camp. Other popular activities include bird watching and wildlife observance. The park is always open, but watch out for the bears!

Ripley’s
This popular attraction holds Gatlinburg’s award for most tourist attractions in a single location. It is far more than just the well-known Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. Other attractions located on the grounds include an aquarium, a haunted house, a mirror maze, a mini-golf course, a fun zone, a moving theater and the Guinness World Records Museum.

Most of the attractions are open on a daily basis, especially during the summer. Hours vary by the season, but some attractions are open until 11 pm.

Sweet Fanny Adams Theater and Music Hall
The best place in Gatlinburg to see a theatrical production is Sweet Fanny’s. The theater is a National Historical Treasure. The doors first opened in 1977 and both locals and tourists alike have been filling seats ever since.

There is at least one performance every day of the week during the summer season, and on most days during the off season. This is not the theater to visit if you prefer opera and Shakespeare; Sweet Fanny’s is devoted to musical comedies.

The 2011 show lineup includes Share My Lettuce, The Unfortunate Adventures of Millicent Sweetly and Yuletide Madness.

Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Resort
This is yet another of Gatlinburg’s top attractions, and one that has a bit of a split personality. During the warmer parts of the year, Ober Gatlinburg is much like a typical amusement park -except for the fact that it has an aerial tramway, a scenic chairlift and an alpine slide. Other warm-weather amusements at the park include a water park, a wildlife encounter, the Amaze’n Maze, an arcade and a mini-golf course. The indoor ice skating rink is also open year-round.

The arrival of winter brings a sudden change to the park. Overnight, or so it seems, Ober transforms into one of the best ski resorts east of the Rocky Mountains. Visitors will find terrain for skiers of all levels from green beginner to expert. One of the newest features is a freestyle terrain park with table tops and spines, among other features. Snowboards and snow tubers will not be disappointed in Ober; the park has plenty to offer them too.

Rafting
One of the primary advantages of being in the Smoky Mountains, aside from the natural beauty, is the availability of outdoor sports. The Big Pigeon River runs through east Tennessee and western North Carolina and features 12 sets of Class III and Class IV rapids. The Big Pigeon is the place to go for whitewater rafting in the summer!

The less adventurous are not out of luck either, for the lower portion of the river turns into a gentle float that is perfect for visitors who just want to relax on the water. The river is at its best from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Where To Find Affordable Gatlinburg Vacation Packages

The Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina have been a favorite family vacation destination for years. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, nestled in the heart of the Smokies, is probably the most popular tourist town in the region. With hotel and motel accommodations in downtown Gatlinburg and cabins and chalets for rent in the mountains on the outskirts of town, you can find lodging at about any price range. In this article, I’ll tell you when you can find the most affordable Gatlinburg vacation packages.

Like any other travel destination, Gatlinburg has its peak seasons and its off season. The peak seasons are summer and fall. Summer is a popular time for family vacations because the kids are out of school and its warm, so families can enjoy everything the mountains have to offer. Fall is popular because that’s when the leaves change colors. It’s fantastic to take a hike in crisp mountain air surrounded by red, orange and yellow leaves.

That being said, we’re talking about finding the most affordable time to visit Gatlinburg and that’s certainly not in the peak season. Instead, if you’re looking for a great deal, try planning your trip in the off season. Now January and February are certainly considered the off season in the Smoky Mountains, but you probably don’t want to drive mountain roads in the ice and snow. For that reason, I suggest visiting the Smokies in the middle or end of March.

In March, you can usually find cheap Gatlinburg vacation packages. You’ll even find bargains on cabin and chalet rentals. Price isn’t everything, of course. You could just as easily find good deals in January or February, but in late March, you usually don’t have to worry about ice and snow and the weather starts to warm up a bit.

Believe it or not, March has become one of my favorite times to visit Gatlinburg. In town, it’s usually pretty warm (for the season), but when you get to the higher elevations, you can still see frost in the trees. It feels like spring in town, but up in the mountains it looks like a winter wonderland. March really is a great time to visit.

Additionally, Gatlinburg and neighboring Pigeon Forge have a number of attractions you can enjoy all year long. Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg is amazing and Pigeon Forge has dozens of shows in theaters scattered throughout the city. And if you like shopping, there are literally hundreds of shops throughout the Smokies that are open in March.

Now, choosing when to visit Gatlinburg is only part of the equation. If you’re looking for a getaway package there are a lot of options to choose from. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so be sure to consider what the packages include. Most commonly, you’ll find package deals that include lodging and tickets to the plays and musicals in Pigeon Forge. If you have kids who don’t like watching shows, you might want to consider a package that includes tickets to the world famous aquarium in Gatlinburg. Spend some time looking at the different Gatlinburg vacation packages, and I’m sure you’ll find something that fits your budget and your interests.

Labels: gatlinburg, gatlinburg tn, gatlinburg tennessee, tennessee gatlinburg


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