Travel

Gatlinburg Getaway

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Known as the “Gateway to the Great Smokey Mountains”, Gatlinburg is a favorite destination for our family’s Fall Getaway. Surrounded by mountains of beautiful fall foliage, waterfalls, and mountain streams, every view is picture-perfect.

Route 441 is the main traffic artery in Gatlinburg (running north and south). Pigeon Forge is approximately 6 miles to the north and Great Smokey Mountains National Park is approximately 2 miles to the south. Locating area attractions and restaurants are a snap because every light along 441 is marked by a number.

Deciding whether or not to go to Gatlinburg is not a difficult decision. Rather, with so many choices, it’s knowing how to spend the time you have while you are there. I have written about some of our “favorites” below to make the choice a little bit easier.

Need help organizing and planning your trip before you leave? Click on the links at the end of the post for access to my FREE travel planners.

Getting There

If you’re driving to Gatlinburg, you may want to read my post on What to Pack on you next Road Trip. If you’re interested in flying instead, click here to discover the best rates on flights. Look for flights into McGhee Tyson Airport, located 12 miles south of Knoxville. The drive into Gatlinburg will take just over an hour from the airport.

What to do in Gatlinburg

Smokey Mountain Harvest Festival

This 12-week festival begins early September and runs through Thanksgiving. Events include a Chili Cook-Off on Wednesday, November 6th and seasonal decorations found throughout Gatlinburg, including life-size, 3-dimensional Scarecrow people. There is definitely no shortage of pumpkins in Gatlinburg! The mountain stream below Ripley’s Aquarium is always beautifully decorated.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

88 River Rd, Gatlinburg,TN 37738

(888) 240-1358

With two levels to explore, you’ll have plenty to see and do. You’ll find Ocean Realm, Shark Lagoon, Touch a Ray Bay and the Tropical Rain Forest on the upper level. The lower level boasts a Coral Reef, Discovery Center, Gallery of the Seas, Stingray Bay and Penguin Playhouse. Click here for details on the different exhibits.

Click here to buy tickets and save $2.00 online.

Gatlinburg Craftsmen Fair

The convention center is located at traffic light #8 in Gatlinburg
234 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg TN 37738

You will find 200 unique handmade items at the Gatlinburg Craftsmen Fair made from pottery, leather, copper, and more. Sweet tooth? No problem! Local candy makers are there to satisfy your cravings. Live music and concessions throughout the convention center make for a full day of fun.

Miniature Golf

Check out the above websites to find the one that’s just right for your family. With both indoor and outdoor options, inclement weather does not have to get in the way of your fun.

Moonshine Mountain Coaster

The mountain coaster is a must-do in Gatlinburg! With both single and double rider cars available, you can go solo or pair-up with a family member. Either way, this ride is a blast and you get AMAZING mountain views on the way down. For ticketing information, click here.

Arcadia

115 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

865-436-5650

Located below the Gatlinburg Space Needle, this arcade has over 100 games to choose from. Not only will the kids in your group have a blast, but I guarantee the big kids will too (maybe even more!).

Gatlinburg Sky Lift

765 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

865.436.4307

Breathtaking views atop Crockett Mountain await your arrival after riding up 1,800 feet on the newly renovated Gatlinburg Sky Lift. The Sky Deck is still under construction so it is temporarily closed at the top. However, the ride will simply turn you around for more spectacular views on the way down. Click here for information on tickets and pricing. Be sure to smile as you start your descent, a camera is there to capture your memory.

Fannie Farkle’s Family Fun Parlor

656 Parkway,
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 436-4057

You can’t go to Gatlinburg and not stop at Fannie Farkle’s. Play games and enjoy their famous foot-long Ogle Dog for the quintessential Gatlinburg experience.

The Village

634 Parkway, Gatlinburg TN 37738

Looking for a unique shopping experience? Look no further than The Village, a European village themed shopping experience. For a complete list of the 27 shops, click here. Life is Good and Coffee & Company are my favorites while my husband loves to browse Celtic Heritage for items with his family’s Scottish name.

Places to Eat in Gatlinburg

Pancake Pantry

Pancake Pantry • 628 Parkway • Gatlinburg, TN 37738

The long lines speak for themselves. Located at the entrance to The Village the Pancake Pantry will satisfy the hungriest of appetites with a selection of both traditional and unique pancake recipes. Check out the menu to see all 24 mouth-watering choices.

Alamo Steakhouse & Saloon

705 East Parkway

(865)436-9998

Rebuilt after the horrific forest fire in 2016, The Alamo is a Gatlinburg staple. The portion sizes are generous and the menu offers a nice variety of ribs, steak, salmon, chicken, soups, salads, and more. Check out the menu here. A kids menu is also available for those 10 and under.

Hungry Bear BBQ

Address: 2263 E Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN

Phone: (865)325-8048

I have to admit, we initially stopped at this “newer” restaurant because of the adorable soccer bear family. It was fast, friendly, and very tasty. The portions were large enough that we had enough to take back to the cabin for leftovers. The adults enjoyed the bbq brisket while the kids ate macaroni and cheese. The location is easy to access and there is ample parking. Even my husband and I couldn’t resist getting our picture taken with the bear family statues. Never in front of the camera, I’m always the one behind it.

Taste of Italy

1235 East Parkway, Gatlinburg TN, 37738

(865) 325-1750

** At traffic light 2B, in the strip mall at the far end of the Food City lot

We always arrive in Gatlinburg hungry with nothing more than our smashed-up leftover snacks to eat. Not in the mood to grocery shop just yet, we drive over to Taste of Italy to satisfy our hunger pains. It’s super convenient as it is located near Food City, the only grocery store we’ve ever been to in Gatlinburg. This place serves up the best pizza in town along with many other authentic Italian menu items. You may walk in as strangers, but you leave feeling like you just made some new friends. The friendly service and authentic cuisine makes Taste of Italy simply irresistible. Check out the menu options here.

Where to Stay

With so many choices, it can be hard to decide where you want to stay. Whatever you’re looking for, whether you would like a cozy cabin for 2 or a large house to accommodate multiple families, you can find what you’re looking for at VRBO.

Have questions? Click here to find out more about how to use VRBO to find your perfect vacation rental. If you decide to stay in a rental property, be sure to take along my Vacation Rental Packing List to ensure you have everything you need to enjoy your mountain top adventure.