*This post was written by Blog Contributor Heather Little
Don’t get me wrong…as a Florida resident, I love living near the beach, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery. This summer, my kids asked to take a trip to the mountains, so we decided to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. The great thing about Gatlinburg is that there is something for everyone – from quaint, romantic cabins for couples to fun, family resorts and everything in between. The list of activities is just as wide-ranging. For nature lovers, there are hiking trails of all levels that take you to beautiful sights like waterfalls, mountain overlooks, meandering streams, and wildlife encounters. For the more adventurous, there are mountain coasters, the famous Ober Gatlinburg Alpine Slide and gondola ride, moonshine distilleries, a space needle, and even a few haunted houses! Downtown you will find local art and crafts stores, restaurants, homemade candy, donut, and popcorn shops, as well as other fun attractions like mountain miniature golf and the Ripley’s Aquarium.
Photo Credit: TripAdvisor.com
If you take the main road through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, be sure to stop at the visitor’s centers on both ends. Oconaluftee at the south entrance offers a historic perspective of the area and Sugarlands on the north side is a great place to stop and talk to a park ranger and discover some of the wonderful plant and animal life in the area.
Summer in the mountains is a great time visit. The trees and vegetation are lush and green and on warm days, you can enjoy a dip in one of the creeks that runs through the Smoky Mountain National Park and downtown Gatlinburg. Fall in the Smokies is famous for its beautiful colors as the leaves change, making it one of the more popular times to visit. During winter and the holiday seasons, the streets are lined with holiday lights and the entire town has a festive mood. There’s nothing quite like bundling up with a cup of hot apple cider and a warm donut on a chilly, mountain night. But no matter what time of year you decide to visit, with beautiful scenery and activities for the whole family, it’s sure to be a fun-filled trip!
Have you ever visited Gatlinburg?
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