Top 10 Things to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Gatlinburg is a a fun mountain getaway with lots of great things to do. And more importantly, ENORMOUS amounts of delicious food. Head over to my other blog with my favorite Gatlinburg eats. After three years of visiting, Austin and I are still coming back for more. I love the mountain views, staying in cabins and walking around downtown. Our favorite place to stay with is Mountain Laurel Chalets. For 4 or less guests, we stay at Secret HIdeaway and for 10 or under guests we stay at Mountain Hideaway.
Ober Gatlinburg
Take the aerial tramway up to Ober Gatlinburg, a fun little amusement park and ski town. Next, take the ski lift to the top of the mountain for beautiful views overlooking Gatlinburg.
Moonshine Tasting
Ole Smoky Moonshine
We love to sit in the rocking chairs at the "Holler" and listen to the live country music. We went on a cool little tour here and learned that the XXX you may see on old timey jugs means the number of times theyโve distilled it. Moonshine tasting costs 5 bucks a person, but is well worth the many little shots you will get. They just came out with a moonshine pickle and it is like none other.
Sugarlands Distilling
Possibly my favorite because they have a cute back porch where they serve AMAZING cocktails. Fav drinks: barrel aged cold brew w/ butter pecan sippin cream & strawberry sippin cream w/chocolate milk. We were given a tour by the guy below, Connie. He taught us the ins and outs and mentioned Sugarlands only uses white corn (which ends up being sweeter than yellow corn). They also distill their moonshine 6 times (more distillation = higher proof & more impurities being removed)
Hillbilly Golf
Southern hospitality is extremely prevalent at this fun mini golf course. The people are so kind and inviting and you can tell lots of love and care have been put into this attraction. You ride up 310 feet on an incline car to the top of the hill where there are two 18 hole mini golf courses. Disclaimer: Austin only won by two strokes.
Tennessee Homemade Wines
This sweet wine is likely to rock your world. Austin HATED wine before he tried this tasty nectar. The peach and grape were my favorites and we plan to become members of their wine program.
Gatlinburg Skylift
The best seat in town is 1,800 feet high at the top of Crockett Mountain, experience breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains. This is definitely for those who arenโt afraid of heights!
Shopping at Village Shops
This cute little area of Gatlinburg has tiny shops with a lot of character. We stop here every year for copious amounts of seasoning from The Spice & Tea Exchange and our favorite flavored dipping oil from Zi Olive. We always use the Tuscan oil with pasta and bread.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
You could say Ripleyโs has kind of marked their territory when it comes to Gatlinburg. They have 8 attractions currently, and this is my favorite. Kids or adults, this place is so fun and is "The Best" in the United States. My favorite part is the walkway beneath the large aquarium.
Chimneys Picnic Area
We didn't get to visit this favorite spot of ours this year, so no pictures to share, but go see it for yourself! This scenic picnic area is nestled by large boulders and water.
Gatlinburg space needle
A 407 feet tall observation tower with an outdoor observation level that provides a 360 degree view of the Great Smoky Mountains and the city of Gatlinburg.
Pigeon Forge
Right down the road from Gatlinburg, Pigeon forge is another vacation area worth visiting. It's deifinitely more touristy/over the top, so I recommend staying in Gatlinburg and just visiting this location. Some of our few of many we enjoy are:
- The Island in Pigeon Forge: Shops, restaurants, amusement rides and more
- Hatfield & Mccoy: Popular all-you-can-eat dinner show based off a true story
- Titanic Museum Attraction: A two-story museum shaped like the RMS Titanic
- Outlet Mall
That's All Folks!
It was such a fun little vacation and I highly recommend it, especially for those wanting a drive-able nearby trip (for my Indiana folks). Another MUST mention is that the Biltmore Estate, possibly the most gorgeous monster of a house, is a short hour and a half away. If you have the time, make a day trip down. I will be posting another blog soon about the fun things we saw/ate/did there.