Top Things First Time Visitors Should Do While in Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a beautiful place to visit regardless of the time of year. Below, one will be able to find a variety of attractions that are a must, especially if it is one’s first time visiting Gatlinburg.

#1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The best attraction that one can see when visiting Gatlinburg for the first time is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is by far one of the best places to visit for anyone that loves and enjoys the outdoors. There are a variety of different stops that one should see while driving over the mountain and the park rangers are always there to assist anyone and everyone that is visiting the park. There are hiking trails, camp grounds, and even abandoned home site villages that one can view.

#2 Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

For anyone that enjoys marine life, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is a must when visiting Gatlinburg. They have a variety of different marine life aquariums to enjoy. Some of the favorite attractions are the shark tank, the sea turtles, and many other animals of the sea. This is a wonderful attraction for older couples or families that have younger children. It offers a great experience for anyone who has a love for animals.

#3 Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community

The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community is a definite stopping place for anyone and everyone that enjoys shopping, arts, and crafts. The entire community consists of locale artisans and artists that have all of their wares on display for anyone to purchase. It’s a nice and leisurely visit. Some of the things that one can find at the community are paintings, metal smithing, and even basket weaving.

#4 Smoky Mountain Riding Stables

According to the people that have attended the Smoky Mountain Riding Stables, this is considered to be the best riding stables in Gatlinburg. The tours of this stables has trails that go up the side of the mountain and even into the National Park. It is considered to be a definite spot to visit if one’s family enjoys riding horses and likes the whole outdoor experience.

#5 Baskins Creek Falls

If one enjoys the outdoors, this is a wonderful attraction that has to be seen when visiting Gatlinburg for the first time. This is not a large waterfall, but it is still beautiful, and there are two different hiking paths that one can choose to take to reach the falls. Therefore, if hiking and beautiful waterfalls is one’s idea of a great time, this is definitely the place to visit.

#6 Wild Bear Falls Indoor Waterpark

Thanks to the fact that Wild Bear Falls Indoor Waterpark is indoors, this is a great Gatlinburg attraction that can be visited throughout the year. It offers a variety of different water attractions, and this is a wonderful place to go if there are children involved. Not only are their wonderful waterpark activities, there is also a small restaurant on the premises that will allow the family to enjoy pizza, hot dogs, and a variety of other similar selections. Although this is not a huge waterpark, it is a wonderful place to come and enjoy the cool and refreshing water.

#7 Ripley’s Moving Theater

If one enjoys going to the movies, then this is the perfect place to visit when coming to Gatlinburg. At Ripley’s Moving Theater, one can experience the thrill of their favorite movies on a ride that is powered by Real D 3D. Some of the movies that are offered for their customers’ enjoyment are Transformer, Harry Potter, and a lot of others. This is extremely recommended if one has small children.

#8 Old Town Gem Mine

If one has never been to a gem mine, the Old Town Gem Mine will be a wonderful attraction to visit. Upon entering it is practically guaranteed that one will be able to find a gem. This is basically for the children, but it’s a wonderful experience for anyone that enjoys doing things with their hands.

#9 Amazing Mirror Maze

The Amazing Mirror Maze is a must see if it is one’s first time visiting Gatlinburg. Upon entering into the maze, it is recommended to pay $1 extra in order to get a pair of 3D glasses. The glasses make this attraction absolutely amazing, and it is something that everyone in the family can enjoy.

#10 Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre

Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre is a small hometown theatre, and they put on skits throughout the year. Depending on the time of year, one can see a well done Christmas skit or a mid-summer comedy. Regardless of the time of year, this is a wonderful attraction, and one should definitely take the time to visit this theatre when visiting Gatlinburg for the first time.

Spine-Chilling Halloween Festivities in Gatlinburg

Fall has arrived, with leaves turning beautiful reds, golds and oranges. The air is getting chilly and you wish to spend your time enjoying getting scared out of your mind. That’s right, it is time for Halloween. The time of year we mindlessly venture out into worlds that normally give us nightmares with ghosts, goblins and the supernatural. When looking for spine-chilling activities in the Gatlinburg area, look no further than the excellent choices assembled here for your frightening pleasure.

Start with an evening at the Iris Theater with their special Shocktober Halloween show with Comedy Hypnotist Guy Michaels. While designed to be a family show with plenty of laughs while you or your friends become the stars of the show, when you think about the crazy antics that you were performing for the whole audience, you will be suitably a bit creeped out at how easily Guy Michaels was able to have you performing imaginative feats in front of complete strangers. A great show, designed for a wonderful trip into your imagination that will have you laughing hysterically. And make sure you stop by and have your face artistically painted in any mask you wish with the newest offering for Shocktober 2014: spooky face painting. The extreme face painters can give you the scariest face in Gatlinburg this Halloween season. The face painting artists aren’t your typical run-of-the-mill carnival booth face painters. They take face painting to the extreme. Celebrate the spookiest time of year by joining the ghosts and ghouls of Shocktober.

When looking for something with a bit more screams, check out Fright Nights at Ripley’s Haunted Adventure. This attraction is open year round with live actors jumping out at all turns to make you scream, but at Halloween they turn things up several notches. Set in an old casket factory where, legend has it, people started disappearing in the 1900’s; including the owners of the casket company, Ripley’s has decided to deliver an amazingly scary way to spend an evening. During Halloween the number of creepy actors running around to make you scream multiplies, and the 10,000 square foot facility is made scarier than ever. Ripley’s uses all its wonderful science knowledge to tap into your worst fears, piping in sound, sights and even smells that will have you screaming and crying for your mommy. There is an age limit imposed during the Fright Nights that take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October starting at 6pm, so find a babysitter for the little ones.

Available year round, but especially fun during Halloween, is a night spent with Ghost & Haunt Tours, where you will “See the real Gatlinburg”. Take a night time stroll with your special guide for a hair-raising ninety-minute tour into the spirit realm of Gatlinburg. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through historic areas and search along streets and alleys of Gatlinburg to hear stories of the unexplained and strange. Hear about a number of haunted hotels and buildings in the downtown area, about a gruesome murder committed at a very famous hotel here and the young girl and security guard who still haunt it. Learn all about the tale of a young man who made a foolish mistake and continues to pay for it to this very day. See actual pictures taken of paranormal activity on the tour route throughout the years.

One of the true jewels of Gatlinburg’s Halloween scene is the Mysterious Mansion. Scaring people for 30 years, the Mysterious Mansion gives you a three story, self-guided adventure through winding hallways, secret passageways and barely lit corridors designed to make you wish you brought your blankey. Complete with ghosts, goblins and other evil creatures, you will feel the chills in the air, and along your spine. The Mysterious Mansion comes complete with witches, ghosts, creaks, rattles and the must have spooky dungeons. The mansion's army of spooks and creeps make every effort to give you a thrilling scare and do everything from jumping out of unexpected places, following you around the mansion and even chasing you up stairs and into scary dungeons. It is recommended that you do not enter the mansion alone. Friends, in times like these, can be a big comfort. Open from May till October, a moderate entry fee is required. For the remaining time of the year, you will have to call and confirm whether the mansion is open for visitors. Halloween is the perfect time for a trip to this Mysterious Mansion of horror, as it is guaranteed to make your day a shuddering reality.

No matter which attraction you decide on, or if you are feeling particularly brave and want to try them all, Gatlinburg definitely has some frightening options for you to explore. With a true haunted history in the area you can find some terrifyingly entertaining ways to scare yourself this Halloween.

Fun Activities for Children in Gatlinburg

At last, the best moment of your life has come; you are going on vacation. Or better still, you just want to have some great fun with your children during the weekend. Do not start a fresh search; just settle on visiting the Gatlinburg area. This area and its environs have something for everyone in the family. Whether it is the history of the area, interesting animals to see, or exciting activities to indulge in, you are sure to have fun. Some of the kids’ activities that your children can participate in any time you visit this area are discussed below.

Alpine Slide at Gatlinburg

This activity combines a ride of a Scenic Chairlift up the mountain with a great fun filled wandering, weaving and dipping descent. There are two 1800-feet tracts that pass through ski trails and woods. You can use either of these tracks during this activity. Each sled has a breaking device that helps you to control your own speed. As kids ride down the mountain through straight-aways, curves and hairpin turns directly into the valley, they have the opportunity to slow or accelerate the lift. Only those who can walk are allowed to take this ride. Also, all kids below six years will have to take the ride accompanied by a paid adult.

Flyaway Indoor Skydiving

This is another must-participate activity for your children. It is a vertical wind tunnel that will allow your kids to have a first-hand experience of the freedom of human flight. You can locate this tunnel at a traffic light number five in Pigeon Forge. Before you begin this activity, you have to attend a twenty-minute training class, receive a helmet, suit, and any other required safety equipment. Each flying session consists of five flyers and an instructor. Anyone weighing at least 40 lbs is free to undertake this activity.

Ice Skating

You and your children can enjoy participating in this activity. This indoor ice arena is usually open throughout the year for anyone interested in ice skating. The arena covers an area of 140x75 feet and is located at the center of Ober’s enclosed mall. The facility has over 400 pairs of rental skates for children, men and women. Take an hour in the afternoon and participate in this exciting activity. Although skating for children under the age of four is free, those under six years can only skate with a paid adult.

Chair Swing
Do you want to explore that wonderful breezy experience? Then going for a chair swing will give you just that. The speed of this swing increases with time and you get to enjoy being spinned through the air. The swing chair will give you a near-flying experience. For you to take part in this activity, you must be able to sit up straight, have a good upper body control, and measure at least 42 inches in height.

Amaze'n Maze

This activity goes beyond just getting lost. No matter the age of your children, their navigational skills can be sharpened using this activity. A kid will have the opportunity to compete against his or her friends, family and the clock. In this activity, your kid can win a prize if he or she emerges the best. Just before entering the maze, all guests are issued with a passport. This passport is usually stamped at major checkpoints as they work their way to the exits and clock their time for prizes. This is a great activity for the entire family.

Blue Cyclone Rapids

The activity will present you with thrilling excitement. Each participant has to take a good hold of the handles of an air-inflated raft as he or she plunges from a height of over 60 feet into a dark hole. This hole pushes white water waves as a participant races down a fiberglass chute that is fully enclosed. The participant has the opportunity to ride high on the chute’s sidewalls. This will help him or her to achieve a maximum speed of 30 mph and pull 2.9Gs as he or she turns and twists through over 600 feet of water. For a child to ride alone, he or she must be above seven years of age. Otherwise, he or she will have to ride with a paid adult. The weight range for riders is between 75 and 400 pounds. Most importantly, you must be able to walk for you to take this ride.

Mini Golf Courses

This outdoor miniature course is made of 18 holes. You can set a series of hazards and obstacles and ask your kids to try to put through them. Irrespective of your skill level or age, you can be sure to have great fun.

Kiddie Land and Rides

This entertainment point consists of ladders, tunnels, a web crawl, chutes for sliding on, cars, trains and swinging bridges. This is a must-visit place if you have very young children. Once you purchase a ticket, your kids can visit this area unlimited number of times during the same day. Adults should accompany children under the age of six years.

Aerial Tramway

Riding the Aerial Tramway gives you the best view of the glorious Smoky Mountains. It is a cable car that regularly departs from downtown Gatlinburg and takes you on a breathtaking and spectacular 2.1-mile ride up to the Amusement Park and Ski Resort. Irrespective of your age, you can use either of the two counter-balanced cars available in this area. These cars can carry a total of 120 passengers. While on this trip, you can park your car downtown and take this tram to your target destination. This is not only convenient for you but also makes the entire experience a pleasant one. Most importantly, you have to ensure that before you board this tram, all strollers have been folded.

Monster Truck Rides

For a thrilling and powerful experience, this is the best activity for the entire family. Your adrenaline levels are likely to go up while on this ride. A participant can climb into the truck’s bed and enjoy that bumpy ride or just sit next to the driver and watch him or her maneuver around the course.

Apart from these activities that you and your children can participate in, you can also visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Rain Forest Adventures Discovery Zoo, and WonderWorks Interactive Experience among others. A visit to this place will bring great excitement to all your family members.