Things to do around Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg, TN, is a lively mountain town rich with attractions for adventurers and families. Here’s a list of some of our favorites!
Food & Drink
No Way Jose’s Cantina
Good Service, Great Food
"If you are looking for a place for delicious food this is the place to go. food was AMAZING! The ultimate tacos were amazing! Guacamole was outstanding, chips and salsa were great, and margaritas were delcious! We are going to make this place a part of our next trip down here... You get great value for your money here while on vacation."
The Local Attraction Gastropub
Excellent
Just across the street from Three3Bears Lodge, in the little shopping center.
"Food is delicious, we loved everything we tried: pizza, fried shrimp, The wedge salad, and a burger. YUM!!! Oh, and fried cheese curds!! Family friendly earlier in the evening."
Applewood Farmhouse
Southern Home Cooking
"Wow... the apple butter with the fritters they bring to the table is wonderful. You will love this place... The birds... the staff...Everything was really great here... I had the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and Broccoli Casserole, as well as the Fried Chicken. Really great food"
Three Jimmy’s
Delicious Food, Great Service, Reasonably Priced
"We dined at this restaurant while on family vacation. It was one of our favorite meals of the trip! We liked that it was off-the-beaten path, away from the tourism a bit. So many great menu options! And very reasonably priced. Highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner."
The Pancake Pantry
Perfect Pancakes
"Great service, delicious pancakes (where else can you even find buckwheat pancakes? Mine were delicious! I'm coming back for the sweet potato pancakes... They had a good selection of burgers and hot sandwiches as well, but even though we were there at 3 pm we went for the pancakes! Oh, and the bacon was perfectly crisped as well. They deserve their reputation in the #1 place of most "best pancakes" lists I've seen for the area. 5 good sized pancakes filled me up and then some."
Mellow Mushroom
Excellent Pizza
"We always visit Mellow Mushroom for pizza. The staff took excellent care of us every time. There's another popular pizza place here, but this is by far the best."
Old Mill Cafe
Southern Home Cooking
"No trip to the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area is complete until you have eaten at the Old Mill Restaurant and Pigeon Forge! If you leave this restaurant hungry, it is your own fault! Never have we been disappointed with anything. Everything is exceptional. The Philly Cheesesteak may very well be the best I've had anywhere. The desserts are all homemade. And the great thing about it, is the price. It is well worth every penny you spend. We just love it."
Smoky Mountain Brewery
Great Food and Beer
"We enjoyed the casual, welcoming atmosphere. This place is well worth the visit. The staff was very accommodating to our group of 8. There was no hesitation in seating us and the place had a crowd. We ordered a flight of 10 beers, which was a good value. It was interesting to taste the different flavors. The spinach dip and loaded tater tots appetizers were delicious. The burgers, pizza, and skewered steak bites were all tasty and we will return when we are back in the area. I recommend you try this brewery, even if you don't like beer, you'll enjoy the food"
Mama’s Chicken Kitchen
Chicken Good Enough To Cross The Road For
We serve the same fried chicken and homemade sides that you fell in love with at Mama's Farmhouse in Pigeon Forge. Here in Gatlinburg, we do things a little differently. Our chicken and sides are served by the plate if you want to eat with us. Or we offer it by the bucket To Go if you want to take a picnic to the Smoky Mountains or feed that hungry group of athletes at Rocky Top Sports World, which is nearby.
Shopping & Attractions
The Island in Pigeon Forge
Great Location, Tons to do
"An Absolute Must. We love the island. It has restaurants, today had a band at Margheritaville. There are many attractions for Adults, kids and teens. There is plenty shopping. And you cant miss the fountain which is pretty nice as it gets dark. There's so much going on here it would be hard to list it all. This is another place we visit as often as possible."
Anakeesta
Gatlinburg-based theme park is a great family value!
Admission to Anakeesta includes a scenic ride via the Chondola to the summit of Anakeesta Mountain where you enter our magical Firefly Village. Enjoy spectacular views of downtown Gatlinburg along the way. At the top, you’ll experience majestic scenic views of Mt. LeConte, quaint gift shops and casual dining at our Smokehouse BBQ food truck or savory pastries, hot drinks, and of course ice cream at Pearl’s Pie in the Sky. Look for our new mountaintop restaurant, which features a delicious menu, full-service bar, and outdoor seating. Cliff Top Grill & Bar is named after the majestic mountain peaks that serve as the backdrop to our dining pavilion, making it the perfect spot to watch the sunset!
Incredible Christmas Place
We are celebrating 30 years and have grown into the South’s largest Christmas shopping village, located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
Guests experience the spirit of Christmas with every visit to our store, delighting in displays of over 60 designer-themed Christmas Trees, a wide selection of novelty and traditional Christmas Lights, hundreds of Personalized Ornaments, and everything else they might need or want to celebrate the holidays!
Flyaway Indoor Skydiving
Enjoy the thrill of Flyaway Indoor Skydiving in Pigeon Forge, TN. Experience the sensation of skydiving in a 21-foot tall vertical wind tunnel with 120 mph winds. Before you enter the skydive simulator at Flyaway Indoor Skydiving in Pigeon Forge, TN you’ll be given everything you need for a successful skydive including a flight suit, goggles, earplugs, gloves and helmet. Your indoor skydiving experience begins with a 20-minute training session, followed by 15 minutes of equipment preparation. Just about anyone of all ages can fly! You should be in good physical condition and meet height and weight guidelines.
White Water Rafting
Any day on the river is a good day! One thing that makes Smoky Mountain Outdoors a great place for whitewater rafting near Gatlinburg is that it’s perfect for anyone age 3 and older.This is the perfect attraction for the whole family to enjoy!
The Green Roof Mall (Tanger Outlet)
Everything you Need
"This was a vacation and school shopping visit. I enjoy the variety of stores from Justice to Kirkland and the Disney store. Every member of the family can find plenty of stores that meet their needs. I was able to use online coupons at the Yankee Candle store!"
Sky Bridge
The Most Spectacular Experience In The Smokies.
Located at the top of the SkyLift, the Gatlinburg SkyBridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America and the most spectacular experience in the Smokies. From the mountain-top SkyDeck, the SkyBridge quite literally crosses the sky as it stretches 680 feet across a deep valley in a single span. Guests can walk across at their own pace, taking in the panoramic views and enjoying the spectacular setting before walking back when they're ready. With a height of 140 feet at its midpoint, the SkyBridge is an incredible but easily attainable experience you'll remember for a lifetime - especially as you cross the glass-floor panels in the middle of the span.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of black bear, coyote, ground hog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible. Numerous trails originate in the cove, including the five-mile roundtrip trail to Abrams Falls and the short Cades Cove Nature Trail. Longer hikes to Thunderhead Mountain and Rocky Top (made famous by the popular song) also begin in the cove.
Ober Gatlinburg
Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Area offers mountaintop fun for visitors of all ages. Ice skating, outdoor activities, shopping & dining…plus Skiing, snowboarding & tubing (winter).
Pink Jeep Tours
Expert local guides, 4×4 thrills, fun Smoky Mountains tours and more are what you get with Pink® Jeep® Tours. Since 1960, Pink Jeep Tours has guided millions of guests through America’s greatest destinations like the Grand Canyon, the red rocks of Sedona, AZ and Las Vegas. In intimate and personal Jeeps that seat only 7 people, we drive and you enjoy! Buckle up with Pink Jeep Tours for memorable stories, adventure, and fun!
Dollywood
Two Award-Winning Parks. World Class Entertainment. One-of-a-Kind Dining.
Dollywood offers you the chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains and the incredible spirit of its people, all at a place fun for all ages.
We invite you to taste award-winning recipes, experience heart-pounding thrills and witness incredible performances sure to become memories you'll treasure always.
Missing Link
After 50-year-long construction project on the Foothills Parkway is finally completed! Located on the edge of the Smoky Mountains, the Foothills Parkway provides some of the most breathtaking views in the nation. Unfortunately, the Parkway has always been missing a crucial 1.5-mile section. Known as the “missing link,” this piece of the Foothills Parkway has proven infuriatingly difficult to bridge and has resulted in 16 miles of the Parkway remaining unfinished. After years of waiting, the “missing link” is missing no more! The National Park Service recently announced the final phase of construction on the 16-mile stretch of the Foothills Parkway between Walland, TN and Wears Valley, TN. Now that this section of the Parkway is paved, motorists will be able to enjoy a gorgeous 33-mile drive from Chilhowee Lake to Sevier County.
Mingo Falls, Cherokee NC
Mingo Falls is a waterfall located in the Qualla Boundary—a land trust of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians—near the town of Cherokee, Swain County, North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the eastern United States. The waterfall is among the tallest in the southern Appalachians. Mingo Falls, called Big Bear Falls in the Cherokee language, cascades nearly 200 ft. down granite boulders. It's located just five miles from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Big Cove Road (past several big campgrounds) near the town of Cherokee. The beautiful 1/4-mile hike to the waterfall along the rushing stream is short, but you must climb 161 steps. At the top of the stairway, a short path past impressive rock outcroppings leads to a viewing bridge at the base of the falls. The waterfall is especially impressive after some big rains.
Zip Lining
Legacy Mountain Ziplines is a zipline complex located only minutes from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Our high-flying adventure is a family-favorite destination for anyone from three years of age and older, up to 275 lbs. You will love the feeling of flying through the air at speeds up to 50 mph on 4.5 miles of lines up to 500 feet high. This is the place for memories that will last a lifetime. Add Legacy Mountain Ziplines to your vacation to-do-list and discover why we are the premier ziplines in the Smokies.
Food City Groceries
Less than a mile from Glades Road and Shields View Dr. All the Groceries you'll need for your stay.
Beer Wine Liquor Superstore
This place is located right down the street.
Adventures
Bullhead Trail
The Bullhead Trail is an American hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in Sevier County, Tennessee. The trail ascends Mount Le Conte, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River and offers outstanding views before joining the Rainbow Falls Trail before terminating near the LeConte Lodge.
Ramsey Cascades Trail
The Ramsey Cascades Trail gains almost 2200 feet in elevation over its four-mile course, and is considered to be a moderately strenuous hike. However, hikers should note that the trail travels over some extremely rugged terrain over the last third-of-a-mile or so, making this a fairly difficult hike. Despite this, the waterfall is still a very popular destination, and you should expect to see a fair amount of hikers along the route during peak tourist seasons.
Roaring Fork Moter Nature Trail
The drive along Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail begins at the Noah “Bud” Ogle farmstead, where you can take a walking tour of the historic buildings and pick up a tour map of the roadway sights. The trailhead for Rainbow Falls can be found just beyond the farmstead, a moderate hike to a stunning waterfall. It’s a 5.4-mile roundtrip hike to Rainbow Falls (it’s less than 3 miles one way!) and your reward is the 80-foot high waterfall, the tallest single-drop waterfall in the national park.
Trillium Gap Trail Head
The first segment of the Trillium Gap Trail meanders through a beautiful old-growth forest, which includes many large hemlocks. If you have the opportunity to hike this trail during the spring you'll likely witness a smorgasbord of wildflowers along the route, including white and yellow trillium, white violets, stitchwort, squawcorn and Dutchman's breeches, which are common in this area.