A Family Guide To GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE
Written: May 02 '04 (Updated Sep 02 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very scenic location. Abundant and diverse activities.
Cons: Crowded and expensive. Can be difficult for disabled. May be too "touristy" for some.
The Bottom Line: There's plenty to do for the whole family. If expense and crowds are not barriers, then you're sure to enjoy "The Gateway to the Smokies."
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| radioroger's Full Review: Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
Gatlinburg's location in the heart of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains is its greatest asset. Surrounded by gorgeous mountain scenery, there's no shortage of activities for families, singles and couples. Shopping is plentiful, dining options are abundant and Gatlinburg is chock full of family attractions, some of which are quite unusual. We visited near the end of August, when the summer tourist season was beginning to wind down. This was the final stop on our 2003 summer vacation. Traveling with my 10 and 12 year old daughter and my disabled mother, we stayed at the Park Vista Hotel for two nights and one full day.
According to Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Gatlinburg, Tennessee was named for Radford Gatlin, a man who the town came to hate because of his pro-slavery views on secession. He was beaten by his fellow townsfolk and in 1860, Radford Gatlin was chased out of Gatlinburg! Gatlinburg's population was never huge. Today, it has a population of about 3500 permanent residents. However, the area's popularity as a ski resort and tourist destination has increased steadily for decades. Gatlinburg is now home to about 90 hotels / motels, 5 private campgrounds, 80 restaurants, 400 gift and specialty shops, and countless cabins, condos, b&b's, etc., all crammed into a very small area. Therefore, Gatlinburg is very crowded.
Due to the topography, Gatlinburg is long and skinny. It stretches nearly 3 miles in the valley along the Little Pigeon River, Nearly all of the restaurants, shops and attractions are located on or very near one main drag, The Parkway (US Rt.441). Directions are given in the form of the nearest of ten traffic lights. For example, Ripley's Aquarium is located at Traffic Light #5. This is actually an efficient method. The traffic signals are clearly marked and it gives a good sense of distance between landmarks. It leads one to wonder though. If Gatlinburg grows to the point that it necessitates another signal BEFORE Traffic Light #1, would it be called Traffic Light ZERO? Would it become #1 and all the others would increase by 1? Would it not be numbered at all? Anyway, traffic on the Parkway is very congested. Parking and getting around quickly is difficult. Very few of the shops, restaurants and attractions have their own parking lot, so it's best to leave your vehicle in one place and explore Gatlinburg on foot. This is fine for most, but it may be prohibitive for the disabled and those traveling with small children. Gatlinburg has two small free parking lots, but space is very limited and they fill very quickly. We paid $6.00 to park for the day near the entrance to the Aerial Tramway (Traffic Light #9). During our full day of sightseeing, we took the Aerial Tramway up to Ober Gatlinburg and spent 3 or 4 hours there. When we came back down we walked the length of the Parkway (all the way to Light #1) and back, visiting shops and attractions on the way. Trolleys run up and down the Parkway making several stops throughout town, Fare is only 25 cents, but it seemed that they weren't frequent enough to warrant taking the time to wait for one rather than to just keep walking. The trolleys have several circuits. They provide transportation to and from some of the outlying hotels. And for a higher fee, they provide rides to nearby Dollywood and Pigeon Forge.
As mentioned, Gatlinburg has plenty to see and do for people with all different interests. Just be prepared to pay. As is the case with most tourist hotspots, Gatlinburg is very expensive. A family of 4 can expect to pay $250 - 300 or more a day to visit a few of the major attractions, have a bite to eat and maybe buy a couple of souvenirs.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum has some weird exhibits. If you're a big fan of Ripley and/or really love the bizarre... then you certainly won't want to miss Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum. If you're indifferent to this type of thing and you're traveling on a shoestring budget, then it's probably not for you. If you're interested, then please read my separate review of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum - Gatlinburg.
Ripley's Haunted Adventure will definitely be a hit with haunted house fans, but it's not for the timid or those who are easily disturbed. It's well constructed and has quality special effects, but it's not a cartoonish haunted house and some of the images may be unsettling. For more, check out my separate review of Ripley's Haunted Adventure - Gatlinburg.
Ripley's Moving 3-D Theater is just as its name implies. 3-D glasses are issued at the ticket booth. They're the polarized kind, not the old fashioned red/blue ones, so the colors in the movies are not altered. The theater holds maybe 50 or 60 people. Visitors are strapped snugly in their padded high-back chairs. When the movie begins, the chairs and the platform begin to move... corresponding to the motions depicted on the screen. There are 2 movies shown... about 10 minutes apiece. The first movie we saw put the viewers in the front seat of a fantasy cartoon roller coaster. We encountered foreign objects on the track (like a huge ball a la "Indiana Jones") and moments when the coaster appeared to leave the track. The motion is often quite intense and jerky. With the huge screen, 3-D effect, moving chairs and great sound system... the effect is quite profound. I'd love to tell you more details of the movies... but alas, I can't. You see, gentle readers... I have learned that I am prone to motion sickness. Soon after the ride/movie began, I became queasy... then extremely nauseous. I removed my 3-D glasses and averted my eyes from the screen. It took some effort, but I focused my eyes on a stationary point on the wall to my left. This was to little avail and I began to hyperventilate. My face and lips became numb, I was sweating profusely and the nausea became even more intense. By this time, my kids (10 and 12 year old girls) had noticed my behavior and expression of agony and became concerned. Not wanting to ruin their experience, I told them I was OK (they knew better) and I sat through the entire experience. Fortunately, I had not recently eaten... or things could have become REALLY ugly for everyone in the theater. After it was over, it took considerable effort to unstrap myself from the chair. My limbs were heavy, my entire face was numb and I could not speak. It took all of my energy to stagger up the stairs and stumble into the lobby. As I looked around, none of the other movie-goers seemed to be suffering from similar ill-effects, but some were taken aback by my skin's unusual greenish hue. We made our way back out onto the street to find a place for me to sit. Although it was hot and humid, I was surprised that it took only 5-10 minutes to completely recover from my debilitating condition. Well... motion sickness notwithstanding... this is a unique and intense experience. I would recommend it to those who can hack it. Just remember to pack some Dramamine. Ripley's Moving 3-D Theater is located on the Parkway near Traffic Light #8. I believe admission is about $7, but I don't remember exactly.
Since we had visited the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans just a few days earlier, we did not go to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. It is the only attraction in Gatlinburg with AAA's "gem" designation, and is arguable the town's centerpiece, so it deserves a mention. The modern-looking building is situated on a big chunk of beautifully-landscaped land at Traffic Light #5. According to the AAA 2003 Tour Book, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is a 100,000 square foot facility featuring six galleries, a tropical rain forest exhibit, coral reef, "Stingray Bay", thousands of tropical fish, a giant octopus, giant crabs and an acrylic shark tunnel. Admission (2004) is $17.95 for adults and kids 12 and over, kids 6-11 are $9.95, kids 2-5 are $3.95 and babies are free.
One of Gatlinburg's signature attractions is the Aerial Tramway, two 120-passenger cable cars which transport passengers from downtown Gatlinburg to the mountaintop amusement park / ski resort, Ober Gatlinburg. The terminal is located on the west side of town, just off the Parkway. Although there may be long lines to get aboard, the views are tremendous and the experience is exhilarating. My 12-year old daughter was a little nervous. The car sways a bit when it crosses the support tower. Once you are aboard, the 2.2 mile trip takes only about 6-8 minutes each way (once you are aboard and the trip begins). Round trip fare is $9... $6 for kids 7-11 and $8 for seniors.
Ober Gatlinburgis a small, yet enjoyable amusement park and the three of us really had a great time there. The Aerial Tramway terminal is located in a very large building with shopping and many activities including a huge video / game arcade and ice skating on their large indoor rink. The outdoor activities includes go-karts, a "strap-in" trampoline, miniature golf and water rides (no bathing suit necessary). The fun alpine slide is a long ride down a cement trough in a fiberglass cart that has nothing but a brake. The scenic chairlift takes visitors to the top of the alpine slide and/or all the way to the mountain top. The view from the upper part of the scenic chairlift is awesome. At the top, you'll find a snack bar, perhaps some live entertainment, and more great scenery. This is not a large fast-paced, Six Flags type of amusement park. It's casual and it's not fancy. We visited in the early afternoon and unlike downtown Gatlinburg, it was not crowded at all. The lines were short and waits were minimal. We stayed for 3 or 4 hours and had a terrific time. We did just about everything but the ice skating. As with everything in Gatlinburg, Ober Gatlinburg is on the pricy side. Tickets are available for all day or by individual ride / attraction. See their website for all of the details. (Unless you just HAVE TO see a bear, don't fork over 2 bucks a head see the Bear Habitat. We saw 2 hot, lazy, scroungy-looking bears trying to stay cool in their confined environment.).
So far, I've listed just the attractions that we visited (aquarium excepted). Other popular attractions that we didn't visit include:
The Space Needle - A 342-foot tall observation tower in downtown Gatlinburg (Traffic Light #8)... now the dominant Gatlinburg landmark.
Star Cars Museum - A collection of automobiles featured on TV and in the movies... like the Ghostbusters ambulance, the Beverly Hillbillies jalopy, and "K.I.T.T"., the talking car from "Knight Rider". They also have some vehicles that were once owned by celebrities like Elvis, Frank Sinatra and the Grateful Dead. "Herbie the Love Bug" is on display for all to see at the museum's entrance.
Guinness World Records Museum - self-explanatory
One to avoid... the World of Illusions. Dubbing themselves as "the world's largest exhibition of action packed grand illusions", it seems the thing that they do best is make your money disappear. I have no vivid memories of this place except that it was a grand disappointment. Many of the illusions are ones that most of us have seen before (e.g. Is it a goblet or profiles of two faces?). The more "elaborate" illusions were unimpressive. They were all very similar and appeared to use combinations of mirrors, holograms and lighting to achieve their mediocre effects. Despite a slick-looking facade, once we were inside, we discovered that the interior was sparsely decorated and plain looking. It appeared to be slightly run down. Some of the interactive exhibits did not function. It is quite small. I think is was about $20 - 25 for one adult and two kids. We were there for only 15 or 20 minutes. Even the kids thought it sucked... and they didn't have to pay for it! Moral of the story... Even though Gatlinburg has many fine attractions, they also have at least one stinker. Do your homework before you visit, and choose your activities carefully.
As mentioned in many of my reviews, shopping is really not my gig, although I sometimes browse and window shop with my kids. Gatlinburg has countless shops scattered throughout town. They range from tacky, touristy shops to beautiful crafts and fine merchandise. Many of the stores are beautiful and unique. There are also several fudge and candy shops. Again... watch out for ripoffs. I picked out a pound of fudge at a shop and was about to pay for it. The clerk told me I would get 50% off of a second pound of fudge, so we picked out another chunk of fudge in a different flavor. We repeated the process with yet a third pound of fudge. When she rung me up, the total came to the FULL price of all 3 pounds of fudge. When I questioned her about it, she told me I'd get 50% off the NEXT time I came to Gatlinburg. It had been 18 years since my last visit to the area, and she didn't seem prepared to present me with a coupon or other documentation that I was in fact entitled to 50% off when I return to her fudge shop in 2021 with my future grandkids, so we left her fudge on the counter and skipped off. I am certainly not attempting to characterize all Gatlinburg merchants as unethical... I'm sure the vast majority are very honest, but since we had two bad experiences within a couple of hours, I felt it should be mentioned.
Judging from the AAA Tour Book, Gatlinburg doesn't have anything that would be characterized as "fine dining", but they do have a large number of very nice sit-down restaurants. Most of the locally-owned restaurants feature traditional American food (meat & potatoes, BBQ, etc.). An occasional seafood or German restaurant can be found. Gatlinburg is also home to a few recognizable chain restaurants like The Hard Rock Café, Outback Steakhouse, Damon's, and TGI Friday's. And of course, they have fast food. We had an outstanding, 5-star dining experience at the Outback Steakhouse. Even though it was late (about 9:45), our waitress was very friendly and attentive (not overbearing). Our food arrived quickly and was perfectly prepared and delicious... I had a spicy sirloin steak. Mom and the kids really enjoyed the experience and my giant 28-ounce glass of Foster's sure went down nicely after a day long drive from Pensacola. The next day, we ate at the Smoky Mountain Trout House (Traffic Light #2). This restaurant is small and quaint and is easy to miss. The restaurant has their own trout farm. Fresh trout arrives daily and is served 12 different ways.
Sevier County, Tennessee is dry, except for Gatlinburg... which means Gatlinburg is the only place where alcohol is served within about a 40-mile radius. The Parkway bustles well after dark. The Hard Rock Café and several of the other restaurants are open until 11 during the week and midnight on the weekends. Most of the major attractions are open until 11 PM.
Gatlinburg is located at the north entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This beautiful park is by far the most visited national park in the country and has much to offer. Admission to the park is free. Backpacking is popular as the park has over 800 miles of horse and foot trails. Shorter hiking trails can be found along the roadways. Motorists enjoy the scenic drive across the park on US 441, a short drive to the lovely Cade's Cove area, and the drive to the top of Clingman's Dome, Tennessee's highest point (6643 feet). Visitors must hike the final half-mile to the top of Clingman's Dome on a paved trail leading to an observation tower overlooking the entire area. A quick way to see the some of the park is the Roaring Fork Auto Tour. From Traffic Light #8 in Gatlinburg, take the road past the Park Vista Hotel (the large cylindrical hotel at the top of the road), Cherokee Orchard Road and follow. It is about a six mile drive on a narrow paved road. The drive and it begins and ends in Gatlinburg. Even though it's short, you'll feel as though you're far away from civilization. Visitors are treated to scenic overlooks and numerous streams and waterfalls. I took this drive at about 8 AM. It wasn't crowded at that time of the day, but I noticed that parking and places to pull over were limited.
Gatlinburg is located in a beautiful area and it's a little quirky. There's plenty to do for the whole family. If expense and crowds are not barriers, then you're sure to enjoy "The Gateway to the Smokies."
Gatlinburg Dept. of Tourism Site: www.gatlinburg-tennessee.com
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Site: www.gatlinburg.com
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg Museum: www.ripleys.com/bion/gatlin.html
Ripley's Aquarium Website: www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com
Ober Gatlinburg Website: www.obergatlinburg.com
My other Gatlinburg reviews:
Park Vista Hotel - Gatlinburg
Ripley's Haunted Adventure - Gatlinburg
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum - Gatlinburg
TO SEE OUR GATLINBURG FAMILY PHOTOS, PLEASE VISIT MY TRAVEL WEBSITE:
www.mikebechtol.com
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
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radioroger
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