Shopping || GSMNP || Amusements & Entertainment || Outdoor Adventure || Regional

Gatlinburg Attractions

Shopping

Arts & Crafts Community

The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community comprises the largest group of independent artisans in the country with more than 70 members. A visit to the 8-mile loop of shops, studios, and galleries is like a visit to an era gone by where skills developed by early settlers 200 years ago are demonstrated in these shops and studios. Travelers can choose from an array of fine, handcrafted gift items made right here in the Smokies. Directions: From Gatlinburg, turn at light #3 and go east on Hwy 321 for approximately 5 miles and turn left on Glades Road (by the Battle's grocery store) Highlights: Hippensteal Gallery, Wild Plum Restaurant, Jim Gray Gallery.

Aquarium in Gatlinburg - Smoky Mountain visitors can view some of nature's most exotic undersea life in the protective comfort of downtown Gatlinburg. The $42 million, 100,000-plus square foot marine attraction is home to thousands of fish and other types of aquatic life from around the world. The centerpiece of the Gatlinburg Aquarium is an underwater acrylic tunnel in which visitors will ride through 700,000 gallons of water on a 320-foot moving glide path, bringing viewers just inches away from large sharks, poisonous ocean predators and numerous varieties of tropical fish whose beauty will definitely impress spectators. Intern study programs will eventually be developed for those seriously interested in careers in Marine Science. Tours of Ripley's Aquarium are self-guided, and guests should plan on as long as two-and-a-half hours to do it justice. Besides all the exhibits of sea life, visitors will also find Ripley's Cargo Hold gift shop and a deli-style restaurant complete with outdoor veranda. There are meeting rooms as well as banquet and wedding facilities available on the property. The aquarium was constructed on a 6.9-acre site in downtown Gatlinburg that was previously home to the Greystone Hotel.

Craftsmen's Fair - July 20-29 and October 11-28 this year at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. More than 150 craftspeople demonstrate their skill and offer their unique art for sale - (865) 436-7479

Golf - Golfing fun in a spectacular mountain setting. The Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course is open year-round and has a fully-equipped pro shop and food services. This beautiful 18-hole course was designed by noted golf course architect William Langford. In 1993 it underwent a major renovation by Bob Cupp & Associates of Atlanta.

Guinness World of Records Museum - Hundreds of exhibits of records, feats and facts such as the most expensive car, world's tallest man, and the Batmobile.

Ober Gatlinburg - Year-round amusement park and ski resort. A 120-passenger chairlift leaves every twenty minutes to carry you to an alpine slide, skating rink, go-cart track, batting cage, bungee jump, trampoline, video/arcade center, and craft and gift shops.

Pigeon Forge Shopping Outlets

In 1996, Southern Living magazine's Readers' Choice Awards ranked Pigeon Forge as the number-one shopping spot in the
South. More than 100 outlet stores are represented in the area malls. Directions: Pigeon Forge and outlet shopping are only
about 8 miles from Gatlinburg on Hwy 441. Turn east at light #3. Hightlights: Tanger, River View and Belz Factory Outlets.

The National Park

The Great Smokey Mountains National Park is the most visited in our National Park system with nearly 10 million visitors yearly. Highlights:

Cades Cove is the most visited feature of the Park. Millions of visitors annually flock to Cades Cove to see the preserved pioneer homesteads, the blue-misted mountains which serve as a backdrop to the Cove, and the abundant wildlife which now populate the area. To facilitate visitors, the Park provides a self-guided tour book at the Cove's entrance. The 11-mile loop road takes approximately 45 minutes to complete casually from your vehicle. A more detailed look at the homesteads, some of which require brief hikes, can take several hours. Or you can make an entire day of Cades Cove if you stop at the Cable Mill area visitor center and include a 5-mile (round trip) hike to Abrams Falls.

Hiking - The best part of the Smoky Mountains area is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself, which has over 800 miles of trails, and more than 500,000 acres of land. During your visit to the Smokies, you should enjoy several of the hikes the Park has established. Highlights: Alum Cave Bluff, Ramsey Cascades, Abrams Falls.

Fishing - To fish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you need a valid Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license. They are not available in the Park, but can be obtained from sources in the towns adjacent to the Park. Fishing is permitted year round in the Smokies from one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset. You should know your fish before you go, because there are restrictions. Highlight: Treat yourself to a day with professional guide Bobby Shults at the Smoky Mountain Angler in Gatlinburg TN (865) 436-8746

Mt LeConte Lodge - For viewing spectacular Smoky Mountain sunrises and sunsets, there is no better place than Mt. LeConte. Countless visitors have huddled together to view the sunrise from Myrtle Point on the eastern side, and hurried to see the sun set over Clingman's Dome from Clifftops on the western flank. LeConte Lodge can accommodate an average of 45 guests per night, and normally fills up a year in advance. Details and photos. Directions: From Gatlinburg travel 9 miles on Newfound Gap Road to the Alum Cave Bluff trailhead. At the back of the parking area, you will begin your 5-mile hike to LeConte Lodge. Highlight: The views...absolutely!

Fall Foliage - Fall officially begins September 23, and we need bright sunny days and cool nights--without too much frost or freezing temperatures--to trap the sugars in the leaves, which give us the best reds and most vibrant colors throughout the month of October. However, small pockets of color will remain into November--something to consider when deciding whether to fight the unbelievable crowds in certain areas of the Park. More info and photos Highlights: Newfound Gap Road, which winds 32 miles between Gatlinburg TN and Cherokee NC, is a sampler of everything the Park has to offer--including some of the best color. The many different types of deciduous trees (contrasting with the evergreen of hemlock and balsam fir) and range of altitude to include thousands of feet make for wonderfull Fall color. In addition, Little River Road--on the way to Cades Cove--offers many miles of auto touring amidst the season's grand finale.

Amusements & Entertainment

Smokies Class AA Baseball - Ground has been broken for a new Class AA minor league baseball team called the "Smokies". The stadium will be built on the northeast corner of the intersection of Interstate 40 and State Hwy 66 at exit number 407. We will keep you informed as to progress and the proposed opening date.

Outdoor Adventure

Whitewater Rafting - Whitewater fun for the entire family at five area rivers including the Pigeon, Ocoee, Nantahala, French Broad, Nolichucky, and the Chattooga in North Georgia. Opportunities for Class II through Class IV challenges. Guide-assisted trips and lunch can be included. Highlight: Rushing through the Nantahala Gorge in the Nantahala National Forest, this half-day 8 mile trip culminates in a plunge through Nantahala Falls. see whitewater rafting companies

Hiking - Fishing - Backcountry Camping - The Great Smokey Mountains National Park is the best attraction the area has to offer. Get complete Park details here.

Regional Interests

University of Tennessee Volunteers: For Tennessee Volunteer fans who can't get enough Vol football or make it to Big Orange country for the games we provide the following links.

Biltmore Estate - Biltmore Estate is America's largest private home. The 250-room French Renaissance chateau is nestled among 8,000 acres in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina.

Cherokee, North Carolina - Cherokee is one of five major gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and home of the Cherokee Indian. Highlights: Museum Of The Cherokee Indian and "Unto These Hills" Outdoor Drama and Directions: Cherokee is the southern gateway to the Smokies and can be reached via old route 19 or Hwy 441.

[ Back to Top ]