10 Best Things to Do in Gatlinburg & the Great Smoky Mountains
America’s national parks are all beautiful and special. From the majesty of Yellowstone and its free-roaming bison, to the breathtaking dramatic landscapes of Arches National Park in Utah to the captivating Grand Canyon, one of the world’s natural wonders.
But only one park can make the claim that it routinely has more visitors than any other.
Covering more than 500-thousand acres in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a one-day drive from 60-percent of the nation’s population. But the popularity of the Smokies goes far beyond their geographical accessibility.
Generations of Americans have made these mountains and the communities which serve as their gateway a vacation destination. The resort town of Gatlinburg, used as home base for many travelers to explore the magic of the mountains and the greater area.
If you’re planning a first-time trip to the Smokies and all the research on what to do has you a bit overwhelmed, you’ve come to the right place. I want to help you with recommendations on the best things to do in Gatlinburg and other spots in the Great Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Townsend, Wear’s Valley. I'm covering it all from my native East Tennessee.
Definitive Guide to Visiting Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, TN
There are lots of attractions in Gatlinburg. But there’s one that has become very popular since opening in 2017.
In the Cherokee language, “Anakeesta” refers to “the place of high ground.” The Anakeesta Formation is a massive rock layer dating back billions of years that encompasses several of the most famous peaks of the Smokies.
It’s a fitting name for the whimsical family adventure park that sits on a mountaintop overlooking Gatlinburg.
For the better part of a century, much of the property belonged to the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity of women. Starting in the early 1900s, the organization operated a settlement school here that gave children something better than the three-month education that had been available.
55 pristine acres that belonged to the fraternity was sold in 2014 and developed into a family attraction that has won many awards from the travel industry.
We first visited Anakeesta shortly after it opened in 2017. Many new experiences have been added over the years, and on a recent trip to the Smokies, we decided to return to take in all the changes.
We want to share with you our guide to getting the most out of your time at Anakeesta and provide some tips on what you can expect when you go.
Admission
Start your adventure at Anakeesta Plaza located in the heart of Gatlinburg at traffic light number five across from Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
This is where you can find out more information about Anakeesta and purchase tickets. As of early 2022, general admission for adults is $32.99. Folks 60 and older pay $25.99 while children between 4 and 11 get in for $19.99.
An Express Pass is available online where visitors can choose the day and time they want to experience Anakeesta, bypassing what can be long waits at the ticket booth.
General admission includes many but not all of the activities that await at the top of the mountain. We’ll have more on what’s not included a little later.
Chondola
Admission includes a ride to the top of the 70-acre mountain that’s 600 feet above the city of Gatlinburg.
To get to the summit, visitors utilize a unique Chondola system. You can choose to ride in an open-air 4-person chair with a safety bar or select an enclosed gondola cabin with room for 6 people. The journey to the top is leisurely and scenic with many riders often spotting black bear in the woods below.
Staff members who man the Chondola are always accommodating when it comes to riders who may have physical limitations. The system can be stopped to allow riders extra time boarding and exiting if needed.
Ridge Rambler
If heights aren’t exactly your thing, Anakeesta provides another transportation option that keeps you on terra firma. A large passenger truck known as the Ridge Rambler is available to take you up the mountain. Like the Chondola, this is included with general admission and you can take as many trips as you wish.
Firefly Village
Upon arrival at the top of the mountain, visitors are greeted by Firefly Village. This quaint little shopping and dining area serves as the community space that’s the heart of Anakeesta.
There are three shops where you can purchase everything from rustic home goods and items crafted in the area to soaps, jewelry and candles as well as plenty of branded souvenirs to help you remember your experience.
Enjoy a homemade pie or some ice cream from Pearl’s or indulge in a variety of southern barbecue classics at the Smokehouse where every seat in the place comes with an awesome view of the mountains and Gatlinburg down below.
Black Bear Village
Another retail area is Black Bear Village. There are a few places where you can get some quick eats and enjoy them in this plaza with tables and beautiful vistas.
The centerpiece of this section of Anakeesta is the Cliff Top Restaurant that serves up traditional American fare like cheese curds, burgers, steaks and soups and salads.
Attached to the restaurant is The Mercantile, a modern take on a general store.
Vista Gardens and AnaVista Tower
Vista Gardens is a multi-sensory botanical garden with meandering pathways and manmade waterfalls. The professional landscaping has a flair of whimsy, with one of the highlights being this Twigloo.
One of the newer additions to Anakeesta and the park’s icon is AnaVista Tower. If you look closely, the structure kind of looks like a blooming flower.
After climbing 84 steps, you’re greeted with 360-degree views of the Smokies, and on clear days, you can see as far as Kentucky.
The tower is designed to act as a giant compass, with wooden pillars marking each direction. Interpretive signs identify more than 50 mountain peaks while two glass panel floors allow you to see the gardens 60 feet below.
A large plaza at the tower’s base features plenty of relaxation spots to sit and take in the views along with the Watering Can, where you can grab a sandwich and a drink.
I would call Anakeesta more of an adventure park than a theme park. Think of it as a mountaintop playground designed for all ages to enjoy. There are several individual attractions to keep you busy most of the day.
Treehouse Adventures
Kids can burn all kinds of energy at two separate tree house-based play areas. TreeHouse Village Adventure and TreeVenture feature a series of tree houses connected with rope bridges and include a number of interactive elements.
Included with general admission, the courses range in difficulty from easy to moderate.
Treetop Skywalk
Visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of nature with a trip down the Treetop Skywalk. Anakeesta bills this adventure as allowing you to experience what its like for the birds in the tree tops.
The Treetop Skywalk is easy to navigate and is included with general admission.
Add-Ons
The price you pay to get to the top of Anakeesta includes most of the park. But there are a few add-on attractions you want to be aware of NOT included with general admission.
Dueling Zipline Adventure
Get your heart rate up by zipping over 2,600 feet through the tree canopy side-by-side with family and friends.
Zip lining ticket prices start at $71 for children with adults paying $88. Those prices include general admission.
Reservations are not required, but strongly encouraged.
Rail Runner
Another thrilling experience is Anakeesta’s very own mountain coaster. The Rail Runner has over 1600 feet of twists and turns with a 400-foot elevation change.
Single Rider: $12.99 Tandem Rider: $14.99
Gem Mining
If the kiddos want to try their hand at gem mining, they can do it at Anakeesta. Prices start at $8.
Accessibility
While much of Anakeesta is wheelchair accessible, some sections of the park are not like the adventure courses and Treetop SkyWalk. Also be aware that Anakeesta’s most prominent feature, the observation tower, does not have an elevator.
Gondola cabins are 32″ wide and 49″ deep to accommodate both wheelchairs and strollers for your ride to the summit.
With the exception of ADA certified service animals, pets are not permitted at Anakeesta.
Best Photo-Op
Looking for the best photo op on property? That might depend on who you ask. But for many, nothing can match crawling up in the lap of Willow to snap that perfect selfie with this larger than life creature.
Smartphone App
Anakeesta offers a pretty comprehensive smartphone app that will tell you things like wait times, any closures and live music performances that are scheduled. The one thing that could be improved is the map. Unlike most of the larger amusement parks, it’s a flat pdf-style map with zero interactivity. Incorporating wait times, prices of the add-ons, and other information would improve the overall user experience.
Lastly
One thing is undeniable about Anakeesta. The spectacular views of Gatlinburg and the surrounding mountains from the summit are what makes this attraction special. They are, in fact, the top attraction at Anakeesta. Everywhere you turn, it seems there’s a comfy spot to soak in the atmosphere. Each season is different. So no two visits are ever the same. It’s definitely a place you should experience when you’re in the area. If you just can’t get enough of the views, annual passes are available.
10 Things You Must Do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
The bustling town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee serves as the doorstep to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Covering more than 522-thousand acres, the park was dedicated by President Roosevelt in 1934 with the promise these mountains would always be free to visit. That’s one of the reasons it is consistently the most visited national park in America.
Gatlinburg is synonymous with the term Smokies. You can’t think of one without the other.
Because of its proximity to the park’s entrance, many travelers make Gatlinburg base camp for exploring the wide array of recreational opportunities available in the mountains. You can find everything from moderately-priced hotels and historic lodges to cabins, chalets and other types of vacation rentals scattered across the mountainsides.
As one of the top travel destinations in the U.S., Gatlinburg is famous for its downtown strip known as the Parkway. Hundreds of shops, restaurants, attractions, and places to stay line this street that only has a few blocks and is less than a mile long.
In the video below, we share with you 10 Things You Must Do in Gatlinburg.
Eat at a Pancake House
The best place to start your first day or any day in the Smokies is at a pancake house. There’s no shortage of these popular breakfast spots in Gatlinburg. You can find an eatery that specializes in flapjacks on what seems like every block.
Ride to the Top
There are more ways than ever to take a leisurely ride to the top of one of Gatlinburg’s imposing mountains.
Anakeesta
A chondola sky lift system is utilized to transport visitors 600 feet to the top of Anakeesta Mountain. Following the 10-minute ride in an open chairlift or enclosed 6-person gondola cabin, visitors can explore two distinct villages with a handful of shopping and dining options, including two sit-down restaurants where the spectacular views from your table make it really hard to leave.
The centerpiece of it all is downtown Gatlinburg’s highest point, AnaVista Observation Tower. After climbing 84 steps, you’re greeted with 360-degree views of the Smokies, and on clear days, you can see as far as Kentucky.
For an additional charge not included with general admission to Anakeesta, visitors can take a ride on a mountain coaster, soar through the forest on a zipline, or go gem mining.
Afraid of Heights?
If the thought of riding in an open chairlift or in a gondola makes you nauseous, Anakeesta has provided a grounded alternative to get to the top of the mountain. It’s called the Ridge Rambler. This huge passenger truck will take you through some pretty forest as it winds to the summit. The Ridge Rambler is included with general admission.
Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
Since the 1950s, vacationers have been hopping on the iconic yellow chairs of the Gatlinburg SkyLift. Today at the top of the mountain you’ll find SkyLift Park and the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America.
Ober Gatlinburg
Board an Aerial Tram to Ober Gatlinburg’s Bavarian-themed amusement park and Tennessee’s only ski area, which normally makes snow in the cooler months when temperatures on the mountain are under 28 degrees.
Watch Craftsmen at Work
Arts and crafts have a deep heritage here in the Smokies. One of the most enjoyable, authentic experiences you’ll have during your time in Gatlinburg is to make a trip to the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community.
This 8-mile loop road is home to the largest independent organization of artisans in the U.S.
Shop at The Village
An archway adjacent to the Pancake Pantry welcomes shoppers to The Village, a landmark in Gatlinburg dating back more than half a century.
The narrow brick-covered sidewalks and Old World architecture transports visitors to a different time and place. I’ve often described it as a Dickens Village come to life with little touches from the old country in the main square.
This is where you can find the Donut Friar, the Cheese Cupboard, Candle Cottage and more than 20 other unique shops and cafes.
Sample the Shine
Moonshine distilleries seem to be outpacing pancake houses when it comes to new openings along the Parkway.
$5 tastings are offered for folks 21 and over. Participants receive a $5 coupon in return, which can be applied to any purchase made in the distillery’s gift shop.
Each tasting gives you the chance to sample a variety of moonshine flavors served in tiny communion cups.
Bartenders make all the difference when it comes to the type of experience you have. So choose wisely.
Do an Attraction
I’m not sure boredom can be a thing in Gatlinburg. The cheese runs pretty thick along the Parkway with all types of carnie attractions like indoor mini golf, mirror mazes and even an earthquake simulator all to keep you entertained when you’re not eating pancakes and drinking moonshine.
Classics like Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum!, Hollywood Star Cars Museum, and Gatlinburg’s Mysterious Mansion are good bets.
Go Under the Sea
One of the top aquariums in the nation can be found in Gatlinburg. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies features galleries on two floors with thousands of sea creatures. Best of all for families - it’s kid friendly!
View the Burg from Above
Topping out at 407-feet tall, the Gatlinburg Space Needle was the second-tallest tower in Tennessee upon completion in 1969. Be sure to bring your camera for some awesome panoramic photos of the resort town and the gorgeous mountains.
There’s an arcade on the ground floor along with a pretty good pizza joint.
Watch Taffy Being Made
Since the 1950s, tourists have been mesmerized by the taffy-making process at Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen.
While the faces have changed over the decades, candy makers dressed in white uniforms still man the machine and offer visitors one of their original old-fashioned taffy logs.
Play Hillbilly Golf
While there are a handful of mini-golf courses around Gatlinburg, there’s only one Hillbilly Golf.
Players travel up a hillside aboard an incline railway where they tackle one of two 18-hole courses. All the way down are hilarious hillbilly-themed interactive props.
In business since 1971, this is the place you have to play putt-putt in the Smokies. But note they normally close in late November to perform maintenance during the winter season.
