Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

Five reasons to take the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway instead of driving — the views, the 2.1-mile ride at 300 feet off the ground, and no parking hassle.

Ober Gatlinburg's bike park has 11 downhill-only trails — green to double black diamond — accessed by chairlift, with rentals and lessons available.

Three places to forge your own knife in the Smoky Mountains — Iron Mountain Metal Craft, Circle Bar T Forge, and Dollywood's Valley Forge Blacksmith.

Gatlinburg SkyLift Park has run up Crockett Mountain since 1954 — and the 680-foot SkyBridge at the top is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America.

Four scary Gatlinburg experiences — Mysterious Mansion since 1980, Ripley's Haunted Adventure, and two ghost walking tours covering the town's haunted history.

Take a journey through the Smoky Mountains and discover why Gatlinburg and Dollywood make such a perfect pair! Find out how far it is from this charming mountain town to the renowned theme park owned by country music legend Dolly Parton.

Four Gatlinburg-area waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Grotto Falls, Laurel Falls, Rainbow Falls (80 ft), and Ramsey Cascades (100 ft, tallest in park).

Seven ways to avoid Gatlinburg traffic — the Bypass, Trolley, alternate routes via Townsend and Cosby, off-peak timing, and strategic parking tips.

Atlanta to Gatlinburg is about 200 miles via I-75 North and I-40 East — a 3.5 to 4 hour drive with Chattanooga at the halfway point and mountain views building on approach.

Four Smoky Mountain mountain coasters — Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, Rocky Top, Ripley's in Gatlinburg (open midnight weekends), and the Goat Coaster for families.

Gatlinburg's free trolley runs four color-coded routes year-round — Red Line (Parkway), Yellow (Arts & Crafts), Purple (park trail), Blue (Ober Gatlinburg).

The Gatlinburg Wine Trail connects five tasting rooms for $10 — Tennessee Homemade Wines, Old Mountain, Smokin' Banjo, Tennessee Cider Co., and more.

Gatlinburg is worth visiting for the national park access, Ober Gatlinburg, Ripley's Aquarium, SkyLift Park, the Arts & Crafts Community, and Ole Smoky Moonshine.

Four Gatlinburg coffee shops — Gatlinburg Grind in the Arts & Crafts Community, Ski Mountain Grind Haus at Ober, the Donut Friar open at 5 AM, and Coffee & Company.

Seven mother-daughter Gatlinburg ideas — the Arts & Crafts Community, Cades Cove, Anakeesta, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, spa day, history, and cabin time.

September in Gatlinburg brings cooler temps, early ridge color, Dollywood's Harvest Festival opening, and fewer crowds than October — here's what to plan for.

Gatlinburg was a Civil War military objective — saltpeter mines, Cherokee Confederate soldiers, and a December 1863 skirmish that most visitors never hear about.

Three horseback riding stables near Gatlinburg — Sugarlands Riding Stables inside the park, Cades Cove Riding Stables, and Smoky Mountain Riding Stables on US-321.

Four Gatlinburg grocery options — Food City for full shopping, Satterfield's for smoked meats, Whole Earth for organic, and Greenbrier Grocery near the park.

Three ziplines actually in Gatlinburg — CLIMB Works on Branam Hollow Rd, Anakeesta's dueling course, and the Cloud Catcher at Ober Gatlinburg, the region's highest launch.