On the Ski Mountain Coaster, you twist down 3,750 feet of the mountain at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (or at their own pace, of course). Its known as Americas Friendliest Ballpark! Paddle through frothing white water rapids, tuck into a hearty platter of smoked meats or soak in the spellbinding scenery from a Mountain Coaster. 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. I'm the Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Wild Hearted. Feel all the romance when checking into your room at the Gatlinburg Town Square by Exploria Resorts with its own fireplace and private jacuzzi, and from the balcony, you might even get lucky and spot a bear or two! Besides the film cars, the museum also showcases the former rides of celebrities like Paul McCartney and Elvis Presley! It would be an excellent idea to head to Gatlinburg and spend a few days in the mountain resort city, especially for a nature lover. Its not hard to get thrilled in this family-friendly attraction that offers plenty of realistic simulated rides and experiences. The Gatlinburg Space Needle is a 407 feet tall observation tower. With over 100 nostalgic pinball machines and retro arcade games lining its walls, Gatlinburg Pinball Museum is one of the best activities in Gatlinburg. Get in touch with your creative side when you witness the ancient art of basket weaving, oil painting, and more at the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. Owned by an enthusiast and professional player who has joined famous global competitions, this fun place guarantees success in sticking the axe on the board in no time. Youll also find fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens, private balconies, and large screen TVs in your rooms. Downtown Drive down the 8-mile-loop road to discover weavers, watercolor artists, soap makers, potters and so many more unique vendors making for the perfect selection of handcrafted, Appalachian souvenirs. The Hillbilly Golf mini-golf course straddles the side of a mountain, requiring a tram ride up the slopes to the top. It sounds fun, doesnt it? It means guests can button-mash to their hearts content on classics like Space Invaders, Pacman, Lord of the Rings and so many more. Travel Like a Local: Guide to the Best Non-Touristy Things to Do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Where the Locals Eat in Pigeon Forge TN and the Smoky Mountains, distilleries in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg, attractions in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, 5 Things You Can Only Do at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, Your Ultimate Guide to the Updates at Ober Mountain, All the Info You Need to Know Before Going Gatlinburg Snow Tubing at Ober Mountain, 6 Playground Attractions in the Smoky Mountains for Kids to Enjoy, Fly Through the Skies With These 6 Rides in Pigeon Forge, Reel Good Spots: 4 Great Places to Go Fishing in the Smoky Mountains, How Sweet: Where to Find the Best Smoky Mountain Fudge. For non-touristy stuff, you're gonna need to drive away from the area, I think. Visiting Gatlinburg next weekwhat fun (but not touristy) things are 1. Riding in these utvs gives you the opportunity to view the National park in a fun new way. Knoxville is one of the bigger cities in Tennessee but still has a very small-town feel. This rustic, family-style diner is the perfect place to get food that really sticks to your ribs. Tickets are affordable and fun; youll see fast-paced hockey with delightful fan interaction. Expect to drop from a height of 70 feet that shoots you down through colorful tubes. Keep an eye out for wild turkeys, deer and even tree-climbing black bears! 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See all Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self Driving Tour 93 Adventure Tours from C$20.86 per adult Mountaintop Zipline 2-Hours Activity 126 from C$153.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Ghost and Haunt Tour of Gatlinburg 775 Walking Tours from C$41.75 per adult 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. Ole Red Gatlinburg is a restaurant, live music venue, and retail space in Gatlinburg, Tennessee inspired by Blake Sheltons chart-topping hit, Ol Red.. Within walking distance from the Mysterious Mansion (making for the perfect back-to-back itinerary), Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies fuses with the amazing interactive experiences of Ripleys museum. Hit up three amazing music museums. Travel Like a Local: Guide to the Best Non-Touristy Things to Do in 2. During the snowy wintery months (typically early December to mid-March), it transforms into a magical skiing and snowboarding resort complete with indoor ice skating and wildlife encounters. The SkyBridge - which offers iconic views of Downtown Gatlinburg TN, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and more - isn't entirely made of glass. A local favorite hiking spot is the Wears Valley. 1.8. Inspired by the fun childhood moments of the entertainer Dolly Parton, this water park sits beside the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park Welcome to the most popular national park in the country! Here are some of the favorite things for locals to do in the Smokies: Tanger Outlets is one of the largest shopping centers in the Smokies with over 100 brand name stores. Choose to tackle everything from Class I to Class IV rapids, and ratchet up the excitement with thrilling zipline add-ons: photo credit: Smoky Mountain Outdoors via Facebook. Home to over 600 critters originating from rainforests all over the world, this family-friendly Smoky Mountains attraction should be high atop any animal lovers bucket list. Or, embrace your inner animal lover with an aw inspiring llama trek. With secret passageways, winding staircases and creepy dark corridors, this is the place to go, especially if youre planning to release any bottled-up screams. Take the entire crew to axe throwing right and hit some targets at the Axe House, located at the heart of downtown Gatlinburg. Family-run pottery studio & store selling handcrafted mugs, plates, pitchers, vases & bakeware. 318 places sorted by traveller favourites. If youre traveling with the kids, Cataract Falls is a great option. Use our epic guide to get an insiders peek into the locals only section of Gatlinburg today! Diverging into plentiful small cascades, its a spectacular sight to behold. Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. These buggies can tackle the harsh off-road terrain with ease, allowing you to witness areas untouched by the majority of locals and tourists. Synchronous Fireflies of the Great Smoky Mountains. Elevate your next Gatlinburg evening when you reserve a table at the Burg Steakhouse. Visit museums, adventure parks, arcades and forbidden caverns, and the travel time between the two towns is merely 15 minutes by car. Grab a spot around the patios fire pit for an unforgettable night. Address: 668 Glades Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA, Website: Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. This watering hole is open seven days a week, offering free tastings throughout. Make sure to stop into Coffee & Company, Gatlinburgs oldest roasting coffee shop, and grab a personalized souvenir for your jealous friends at U Name It. Nestled in downtown Gatlinburg lies the Smokies most unique shopping destination, The Village district. From an overload of exciting outdoor adventures to the weirdest and most wonderful activities, the things to do in Gatlinburg are endless, and youll need at least two days to fully enjoy and experience all that this southern town has to offer. Location: 745 Powdermill Rd. Get spoiled for choice at the Amazing Mirror Maze, one of the most popular family-friendly attractions in Gatlinburg. 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. Skate rental and lessons are available, so just bring yourself and a can-do attitude! 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. All Rights Reserved. Whether you seek stunning vistas or solitary hikes, Gatlinburg delivers a cornucopia of creative attractions. Whet the appetite with an order of pimento cheese and bacon jam crostini before tearing into a Smoked BBQ platter or plate of Cajun chicken pasta. Suit up for a 3-hour scenic tour of the Smokies as you splash your way through Class III and IV rapids. Explore nearly 30 intriguing boutiques, restaurants and galleries, all brought together with an old-timey European flare. Want to do some shopping and have the chance to meet locals at the same time? Dollywood features over 50 enthralling rides spread across 150 acres, a number of award-winning eateries and regular live entertainment. Youll be blown away by the number of elk and beautiful scenery. Mount Le Conte is a mountain in Tennessee located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Explore Gatlinburg and its surrounding Great Smoky Mountains in a unique, adventurous way behind the wheel of an off-road specialty vehicle. Ride the Gatlinburg Trolley - The trolley is free up and down the parkway from June to August. Ways to tour Gatlinburg Book these experiences for a close-up look at Gatlinburg. Research using this guide or read my other Gatlinburg posts.See my packing list. 8 Best Non-Touristy Things To Do In Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Trip101 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. Tennessee Shine Co. - home to Moonshine Brandy, this famed distillery offers free taste testing and even creates their own shine wine! Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee Valley promises an unforgettable nature retreat. TourScanner is the worlds largest website to search for tours & travel activities. As the one-stop shop for fun immersive activities, this treasured locale offers a delightfully disorientating mirror maze and a blacklight mini-golf course to go with it. 903 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 There are few places in Gatlinburg that so perfectly display the spirit of mountain life like the Ole Smoky Moonshine distillery. For even more puzzling adventures, Ripleys Marvelous Mirror Maze is a treat. We don't want to do Ripleys or any of the kitchy dinner shows.anyone know of any off-the-beaten-path things to do? There are plenty of things to do that are not touristy but if thats your thing, Gatlinburgs got it. Be amazed at Gatlinburgs No. We know we want to do some hiking in the. This Pigeon Forge-based venue brings a whole lot of fun to the entire family with timeless songs and outstanding performances. Its only about a 35-minute drive from Gatlinburg but has plenty of shopping, dining and activities to offer.