Vacation Guide for Gatlinburg, TN

Gatlinburg is one of Tennessee’s best vacation destinations. A favorite tourist attraction for those who love the Smoky Mountain area, this mountain town is a perfect combination of natural landscape and urban tourism. My family took annual trips there throughout my childhood, and these are some of the best highlights of this charming area.

Chalet Rentals

Chalets and cabins are nestled throughout the mountains surrounding Gatlinburg. While there are hotels all along the strip, I don’t recommend them. By staying in town, you miss the experience of actually being in the mountains. Perhaps I’m biased; I’ll always cherish my childhood memories of our annual chalet rentals. I remember one that had pinball machines, a pool table and jacuzzis. That year, the kids didn’t want to leave the cabin. There are several companies in the area that offer good deals on chalets and cabin rentals. Chalet Village and Alpine Chalet Rentals are two that I’ve dealt with in the past. Their cabins and chalets can be rented during non-peak season for as low as $120 per night.

Ober-Gatlinburg Ski Resort

With 9 nine different slopes, Ober Gatlinburg is one of the few places where one can go skiing in the south. In addition to skiing, it offers snow boarding and snow tubing. Its schedule and hours vary, as do its pricing. Most slope sessions throughout the week are in the evenings. The session pricing fluctuates between $30 and $50 depending on factors that include age, day of the week and holidays. Its website is updated frequently. Ski rentals and lessons are available.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium

This is my favorite attraction in Gatlinburg. For fans of the strange and unusual, this place is absolutely mind-bending. From mummies to two-headed goats, you’ll see things here that you’ll find nowhere else. Last time I went I got to touch a piece of the Berlin Wall. Ticket prices are: $14.99 for ages 12 and older, $7.99 for children ages 6-11. For kids 5 and younger, the tour is free.

Ripley’s Aquarium

Not quite as chock-full of oddities as the “odditorium”, Ripley’s Aquarium features over 350 different aquatic species. Here you’ll see sharks, giant sea turtles, penguins and a coral reef-just to name a few. Last time I visited the aquarium, my daughter was absolutely thrilled to get the chance to pet horseshoe crabs and stingrays. (I feigned excitement. To be honest, I was a bit terrified.) Ticket prices for the aquarium are: $22.99 for ages 12 and older, $11.99 for children ages 6-11, and $5.99 for kids from ages 2-5.


Space Needle

Gatlinburg’s Space Needle offers a 360 degree panoramic view of the mountains. For those afraid of heights, be warned; a glass elevator lifts you over 400 feet into the air to the observation deck. While visiting the Space Needle, Old Time Photo is a great place to get a photographic souvenir of your party as bank robbers, saloon girls, cowboys or jailbirds. Photo prices start at $10.95.

More from Angela Woods:
How I’m Making the Family Vacation Happen Again
How to Sneak in 5 Educational Activities During Winter Break


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