Taking time off from work to go on a vacation is necessary. It lets you take a much-needed break from your hectic daily life and indulge in new experiences that will stay with you all life long. Besides, it is a great way to de-stress and improve your mood, as exploring new places makes you happier and ecstatic.
However, choosing the perfect destination for your dream vacation is essential. Selecting a location according to your budget, convenience, preference, and suitable accommodation is vital. Therefore, choosing Gatlinburg for your dream vacation is a perfect choice.
The city is in eastern Tennessee and attracts tourists from all over the world. It is also the gateway to the stunning Smoky Mountains. Visitors here can experience breathtaking sunsets and scenery, have the best shopping experience, do sightseeing, explore various theme parks, and so much more.
Thus, the following guide combines the best places to explore in the city and tips to help you make the most of your vacation in Gatlinburg.
Excellent Accommodation
The most vital part of any vacation is finding the right place to stay. Selecting the right hotel makes your stay convenient by offering valuable services and features like housekeeping, concierge services, and complimentary food.
Gatlinburg is known for its excellent, luxurious hotels that can upgrade your trip. One of the best accommodations to stay in the city is the Parkway which offers beautiful views of the Smoky Mountains and has many unique shops and restaurants. Finding lodging is a simple task if you search online. For example, if you are staying in Gatlingburg, you can easily find a Gatlinburg hotel online that suits your needs.
For example, Appy lodge is one of the most well-known lodges in the city as they prioritize keeping their guest satisfied and happy. They offer fantastic amenities such as free guest parking, an indoor and outdoor pool, continental breakfast, etc.
The lodge is also a pathway to the Appalachian Trail, where you can start your day with a fresh morning hike. It is also within walking distance of the Great Smoky Mountains national park, allowing you to be near nature.
Visit The Great Smoky Mountains, National Park
No trip to Gatlinburg is complete without visiting the Smoky Mountains national park. The park is home to natural beauty, spectacular scenery, incredible waterfalls, and rivers. The park is also one of the country’s most visited, inviting 200,000 people each year. Besides that, it attracts 14 million visits from around the world every year.
The park is popular among locals and tourists because the blue mist that hovers around the mountains gives it a unique smoky effect. Furthermore, the park is a great way to retreat into nature and spend quality time outdoors.
You can also explore cades cove in the park, where you can spend your afternoon biking or hiking, admiring nature. The park also has preserved and rehabilitated historic sites like houses, barns, churches, and grist mills for visitors to explore.
Besides that, you can beat the heat in the park with many of its water activities. For example, the Great Smoky Mountains national park allows a bunch of water activities, such as swimming in the famous midnight hole in the big creek. You can also do tubbing in the deep creek, where you will be able to find many tub rentals.
Go To All The Fun Attractions
The city is full of exciting attractions where visitors can spend the day and have new experiences and unforgettable memories. One of the most incredible places you can visit is Anakeesta, an award-winning outdoor amusement park. The park is near the Smoky Mountains, giving you spectacular views, and has yummy food, shops, and stalls.
It also offers thrilling rides like mountain coasters and zipline tours where you can view the beautiful city from the top. In Anakeesta, you can enjoy soulful live music in the black bear village. In addition, every ticket in the park allows a tour of the Anavista Tower, treetop skywalk, and tree venture challenge course.
After having an exciting day at the park, you can finish by visiting the park’s dining areas. The clifftop restaurants are the famous spot to dine in the city where you can satisfy your taste buds by trying their excellent fast food and bbq. Finally, you can end the night by cozying up near the bonfire, sipping hot chocolate, and gazing at the starry night.
You can also visit Ripley’s aquarium of the smokies. It is in downtown Gatlinburg, one of the city’s popular areas. You can explore multiple species of fish and marine life that you have never seen before. In addition, the aquarium offers a shark lagoon, stingray exhibition, and tropical forest.
Try All The Yummy Southern Food
If you are a food lover, the south has some scrumptious food for you. When in the south, it is vital to try southern delicacies, and no experience of the south is completed without trying their delicious crispy fried chicken. Mama’s chicken kitchen is the best place to get excellent fried chicken. They offer the perfect juicy fried chicken with comfortable sides like waffles, biscuits, and mashed potatoes.
Moreover, Gatlinburg is known for its scrumptious seafood delicacies and has some of the best restaurants that offer finger-licking seafood. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is a famous restaurant with an extensive seafood menu. You can try their famous Mama’s blue shrimp gumbo and shrimp shack mac and cheese there.
Finally, after a delicious savory feast, end the day with some delightful southern desserts such as pecan pie. Calhoun’s in Gatlinburg has the creamiest and butteriest pecan pie that will make you come back for more. Besides that, don’t forget to try pancakes from the Pancake Pantry.
Conclusion
There’s nothing like taking time off from your daily routine, hitting the road, and having the vacation of your life. However, your dream vacation requires a dream destination, and what is a better location than Gatlinburg? The city is abundant in attractive sites, affordable accommodation, and delicious food. It also offers visitors spectacular scenery and views and has excellent national parks that offer free entry. Thus, all these reasons truly make Gatlinburg the perfect spot for an unforgettable vacation.