non touristy things to do in gatlinburg non touristy things to do in gatlinburg

The Hillbilly Golf mini-golf course straddles the side of a mountain, requiring a tram ride up the slopes to the top. Or day, if youre feeling ambitious. If youre looking for more ideas of places to visit in the Smoky Mountain area, check out these attractions in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. Youll also find fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens, private balconies, and large screen TVs in your rooms. With tour companies like Smoky Mountain Angler, expert guides take guests along the fresh rivers and teach them how to reel in wild mountain trout or whatever other critter floats along. LeConte water is a necessity! It is a popular iconic spot and is home to many hidden gems including historical museums, street murals, art and architecture, beautiful cathedrals, and top-class restaurants. wants to go to No-frills sports bar known for drinks and karaoke. Moving away from the Smokies, visit Charlotte in North Carolina. As well as the many Pigeon Forge things to do, guests will find an array of natural wonders like Cades Cove, Smoky Mountain National Park, scenic overlook, Anakeesta Mountain, Crockett Mountain, tourist attraction draws of the Gatlinburg area, the Pigeon River, Wears Valley, and other parks. Amp up your adrenaline and reach speeds of up to 30 mph when you power through unparalleled Smoky Mountain Scenery on the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster. Come visit us at the Gatlinburg Wine Trail and speak to our friendly staff; theyll be able to tell you even more about the non-touristy gems of the area. We like weird things so much, we even created a second site all about it. The Valley truly shines in fall, best known for its serene beauty and sublime Smoky Mountain views. Now in its tenth season [mid-May to mid-October], the market provides Tennessee grown produce, local products, and foods in a friendly social environment. The murals and granite plaza are later included in this beautiful historical monument. Though this trail can get crowded at times, its not as popular as Laurel Falls or Alum Cave, and it offers gorgeous views! We pride ourselves on serving innovative, tasty wines with an East Tennessee flair. The two-hour Mountaintop option includes five zip lines, four aerial bridges, a platform rappel, and an ATV tour on the top of the mountain. As the route features declines, there are parts of the track that provide a serious adrenaline rush. Pingback: Things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Park Ranger John . View the citys glamor and natural beauty from above while being surrounded by a protective mountain range. Combining a roller coaster with shoot-em-ups, 3D visuals, sensory triggers and epic special effects, this ride simply needs to be experienced to be truly understood. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Sporting modern finishes and less than 100 meters away from the start of The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, enjoy excellent service, views and facilities at the Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg. . Here you will find a collection of 27 unique boutiques, eateries, galleries and clothiers set in a quaint, European-themed village atmosphere. For the most truly authentic mountain-living feels, book out the entire home of The Fish House at Norton Creek, boasting a beautiful location next to a stream. It also features Glow in the Dark mini golf where you can play in an underwater theme with brightly colored creatures, including a mermaid, giant octopus and dolphins. Take your meal to go for a mouthwatering picnic post-Smoky Mountain trails or sprawl out on their pet-friendly patio. The Gatlinburg location boasts two unique experiences that will leave a lasting impression on you and your family: the Mountain Glider and the Alpine Coaster! A second spot whose name helps paint a picture; The Place of a Thousand Drips is one of the waterfalls in the park accessible by car, with no hiking needed to reach it. Time your visit for perfect weather to fly and get a birds-eye view of the magnificent mountain ranges. From the end of November to the end of January, the specially designated trolleys carry their guests on a memorable journey through downtown and adjacent East Parkway, allowing everyone to experience the magical wonder of Gatlinburg Winter Magic. Wine homemade from a variety of fruits offered in a rustic, country-style space with tastings. We love their hearty half-pound burgers and their rotating selection of seasonal and craft beers. You may use these HTML tags and attributes: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A quick, entertaining activity during any day of exploring the main Gatlinburg strip, the 7D Dark Ride Adventure is an immersive, exciting activity for kids and adults alike. This may be one of the most unique things to do in Gatlinburg! With a strong hold on traditions, indulge in prime custom-cut steaks and premium wines at The Peddler Steakhouse. Did someone say snow tubing?! Experience some powerful magic while facing challenges at the escape room Masters of Magic located at Gatlins Escape Games. So long as you dont get too motion sick, tumbling down that 1,000-foot tall hill in a giant bubble is undeniably one of the most fun things to do in Gatlinburg. Entering what seems like endless hallways and rooms creating hundreds of reflections, maze-runners, try to make your way through the flashing LED lights and an infinity of mirrors. Choose from the rafting packages which include ziplining and great deals for visiting other attractions such as the Ober Gatlinburg, Dollywood and Anakeesta. Visitors are able to see the distilling process up close while learning about the history of moonshine production in the Smoky Mountains. 9. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Hydration level is important when taking on any physical activity. Enjoy some seriously soft cuddles when you get friendly with everyones favorite South American mammal. This mountaintop wonderland also provides a fun and refreshing atmosphere for eating, shopping and relaxing with the lush forest and botanical gardens home to more than 3,000 plants. With not one, but five putt-putt courses, playtime at Ripleys Davy Crockett Mini-Golf ensures exciting corners to tee off from, as well as hours of laughter. Hire a car for the duration of your vacation, order a taxi, or hail a cab from the airport to your stay. One of the most popular adventure parks in Gatlinburg, Anakeesta boasts a wide array of thrilling experiences. Appreciate the unchanged mountain tradition of taffy-making when you watch candy makers at work. Mynatt Park 117 Parks By PrimeSteak86 The park itself has a huge pavilion, that you must reserve; as well as several wide open picnic tables. Boasting remarkable and unbeaten views of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park is an essential spot for any visitor. Fill your days with race car events, state mountain park explorations and city sightseeing from museums to interesting architecture. This award-winning company offers options to raft both the Upper and Lower Pigeon River. For the ultimate thrill-seeker, get in line for the Fire Tower Falls! Theyre located in downtown Gatlinburg and are very close to the entrance to the most popular national park in the country! The hike begins at the Newfound Gap parking lot and continues for 4 miles along the Appalachian Trail. Walk across the longest pedestrian bridge in North America, taste test moonshine at Ole Smoky, and go whitewater rafting all in the same weekend. So if you're planning a visit and are looking to stay far off Orlando's tourist-beaten path, here are 18 of Central Florida's non-touristy treasures: 1. For almost 50 years, Smoky Mountain Candy Makers have been supplying Tennessee with delicious homemade taffy. Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau . Definitely for art and handicraft lovers, this is a complete destination for shopping and dining experiences with specialty foods and candies you couldnt resist. What started out as a quest to find the best salt shakers turned into an insatiable hobby for the founders of this museum, and when no space was left in their home to keep their collections, the unique Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum was established. Visiting Roaring Fork is done by a paved one-way, 5.5 mile drivable loop, located near Gatlinburg and one hour away from Cades Cove. Many tourists say its an unforgettable experience, but that depends on how much you drink. 4. Synchronous Fireflies of the Great Smoky Mountains. Take advantage of the guest hot tub after a long day exploring at the Hampton Inn Gatlinburg Historic Nature Trail. The b&b was absolutely lovely and about 10 minutes from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, in the mountains. Considered as the areas only Dine-In theater, The Grand Majestic hosts an array of brilliant entertainment perfect for guests of all ages. Our hotel offers the natural attraction of the mountains and sounds of the nearby creeks. Bringing joy to millions of visitors since its inception in 2001, the zoo located in Sevierville, Tennessee, is about a 40-minute drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg. ), HOLIDAY INN CLUB VACATIONS SMOKY MOUNTAIN RESORT. Roller coaster curves and winds through the woods and mountains forest terrain where you can control your own speed. Come April, the Greenbrier area of the park is chock full of wildflowers. Bike Ride at Downtown Tucson. Many tourists come to the Great Smoky Mountains to hike the beautiful trails. From a selection of mountain-y inns, hotels and resorts, here are some of the best places to stay around Gatlinburg. Watch professional log rolling, axe throwing, speed climbing and the nerve-racking springboard chop. Address: 336 Wa Floy Way, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA, Opening hours: 7am - 2.30pm (closed on Sun). The mountain views are beyond compare. The Rainbow Falls Trail is an American hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tender steaks, smoky cocktails, and unparalleled service make any dinner at the Burg a five-star event. These are some of the best non-touristy things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge if you want to explore the Smokies like a local. Some stops include Sugarland Cellars, Bootleggers Homemade Wine and Little Bear Winery. This golf course features hilly greens, a clubhouse & a picturesque mountain setting. Changing with the seasons; the scenery presents something new to marvel over as the months move from one to the next. Choose between room and suite options with river views to wake to. Winning over hearts thanks to its location, guests love the running river alongside the Greystone Lodge on the River, the mountain backdrop, and the short distance to restaurants and shops. The drive from Gatlinburg to Hamilton takes about 153 mi (246 km), and it should take you about 2 hours 37 minutes in normal traffic. 6. See our privacy policy for more information on how we use your data. You can reach the mountaintop resort by taking the aerial tramway at Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg, which allows you to admire the marvelous scenery during the 2.1-mile transport. for 20 years. Explore the evolution of the shaker which was created way before you would imagine. This interactive game tests your ability to solve puzzles and discover clues, so you can escape death like avoiding the cannibals who are ready to devour you if you cant escape the cellar in 60 minutes. But if you want the quick and easy list of the most bizarre things to do in Gatlinburg, welcome! There is a bar and plenty of seating for you to kick back, relax, and sip on your shine. Its a little spread out, but downtown Knoxville, especially Market Square, is a great place to explore. A 3-mile trail runs through the forest & behind this 25-foot waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains. Give them something from Gatlinburg. Paddle through the gorge, tackle the challenging rapids and swim in the river if you dare. Visit the Gatlinburg SkyBridge. Discover classic American and Southern dishes on its menu, and they also do a mean BBQ. If youre searching for fun things to do in Gatlinburg, its hard to go past an up-close experience with the real 1966 Batmobile! Nestled in downtown Gatlinburg lies the Smokies most unique shopping destination, The Village district. Best things to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee In this article, we have rounded up some of the most visited attractions in Gatlinburg that you must include on your trip itinerary! Museum with kitschy oddities on display, including shrunken human heads & rare animal skeletons. Hear the sinister stories, view real haunted photographs and even test out some actual ghost-hunting equipment. The trail ascends Mount Le Conte, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River, and passes Rainbow Falls before absorbing the Alum Cave Trail and terminating near the LeConte Lodge. The trail travels 1.9 miles one-way from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to the outskirts of the city of Gatlinburg, TN. Tanger Outlets is located in Pigeon Forge (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com) 5. Departs regularly from downtown Gatlinburg to Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area and Amusement Park. Non-Touristy Things to Do in Gatlinburg: Arts and Crafts Community Calling all craft heads! The University of Tennessee campus is also impressive and beautiful. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.