Discovering the Great Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, TN
Recently, my mom and I took a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which is considered the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Gatlinburg gave me my first experience with mountains. As a Floridian who has only seen a mountain at Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest, you can probably imagine the amazement on my face seeing actual mountains for the first time.
Driving through the mountains was truly the best part of the long drive. The mountains offered some impressive views, but I was won over by the lush greenery that surrounded the roads. Peering out the window was like experiencing a beautiful dream. I didn’t want to wake up, and lose the nature.
Gatlinburg itself is rather small, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do there. The streets are lined with restaurants, shops, and attractions that each add to the colorful aesthetic.
Obviously experiencing Gatlinburg during the day is a must; however, seeing Gatlinburg at night is an attraction in itself. At night, the town is like a colorful explosion because everything is lit up. It’s like a county fair on steroids.
So Many Tourist Attractions
The first attraction we did was the Gatlinburg Skylift Park. In this attraction, we rode a chairlift up to the top of Crockett Mountain, where we were dispensed onto the SkyDeck. The SkyDeck features a lot of things, but the main showstopper is the SkyBridge. This is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America.
Crossing it was quite fun, but I can only speak for myself. My mom was frightened by the height and occasional shake. When we made it to the opposite deck, we were provided with the most expansive, perfect view of the mountains. Looking at them reminded me how the natural world can be so unique and beautiful. It reminded me to take care of the environment.
Now the fun didn’t stop when we were done with the Skybridge. We still had to descend the mountain on the chairlift. In my opinion, this is more fun than going up because I got this one-of-a-kind view of a bustling town, and not just some grass.
While this attraction is obviously a must during the day, you must also make an effort to go at night because everything lights up. As long as you keep your wristband, you can return the same day without an extra cost. When we returned at night, the vibe was completely different. It was like I was transported back to my childhood, when I went to the county fair at night, and everything was just a whirlwind of fun. Nighttime is definitely my favorite.
Next, we visited Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, where we got to enjoy traveling through an underwater tunnel, where you can see sharks and fish. My favorite was seeing the jellyfish and stingrays. My least favorite was the penguin exhibit because it looked rather sad. However, everything else was cool.
Then, we visited Anakeesta, which is a small, mountain-themed amusement park. We first got to explore the forest by crossing multiple bridges connected to trees. This experience is called Treetop Skywalk, which can feel crowded since the bridges are so narrow. Then, we visited the Vista Gardens, which offers covered seating and spectacular, up-close mountain views. We probably sat up there for hours, and I don’t think we realized it. This is because we were too mesmerized by the glorious works of nature.
Now we didn’t just spend $60 to look at mountains. No, my mom and I were mainly there for the mountain coaster. This coaster completely blew our standards out of the water. It was certainly fast and had a lot of steep drops. Overall, Ankeesta was great. What it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in gorgeous views and thrilling attractions.
The next event we did was the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Pigeon Forge. I’ve only been to one other dinner show, and it was Medieval Times. The only thing I remember from that was being upset that the waiter took my soup bowl away too early.
Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about forgetting the pirate show because it was so entertaining. It was like Cirque du Soleil meets Pirates of the Caribbean. The performers displayed amazing talent with their acrobatics/gymnastics. There were even walruses a part of the act. The cherry on top was the food, which was good for that kind of event. Who knew this pirate show we booked last minute would give us such a great experience?
Where’s the Food
I was really looking forward to the food in Gatlinburg. Unfortunately, I have to report that I was left with some bitter experiences. I tried a salad that resembled school food from the Best Italian Pizzaria & Cafe. I thankfully didn’t get sick from Puckers’ Korean bbq-flavored wings that had some blood and pink near the bone. The veggie flatbread I got from Anakeesta would have been good if they didn’t put cheese on it, even though they said they wouldn’t.
For good food, I didn’t know I had to travel outside of Gatlinburg to a town called Cherokee. On our drive out, we stopped at a cafe called Sassy Sunflowers. I’m glad we did because they had such fresh and healthy food options. I got a tossed salad. I know that sounds boring, but I wanted something light for the drive, and this salad was anything but boring. It was colorful, vibrant, and fresh. The salad from here put the other salad from the Italian place to shame.
Anyone Up for Shopping?
I got some great, handmade stuff from an arts and crafts fair. For example, a magnetic bookmark and two paintings. I also toured the Village Shoppes, which is an area in town known for resembling European streets. I got some amazing spices and tea from the Spice & Tea Exchange.
The Ending to a Great Trip
My mom and I ended our trip by saying goodbye to the mountains. I don’t think I can ever get enough of the mountains’ grandeur and movie-like feel. They simply raise your spirit.
Despite the hiccup here and there, the trip was absolutely amazing. I’m use to beaches and swamp-like settings. Seeing the Great Smoky Mountains was like viewing a different world. I will always be grateful for this experience. I hope for many more to come.
