Gatlinburg, Tennessee is the gateway to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Tourists can enjoy activities such as fishing, driving scenic byways, and visiting Ripley’s attractions, including the top-rated Aquarium of the Smokies. The Sky Lift Aerial Tramway offers rides against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains. The Parkway shopping district has over 400 shops and restaurants. Outdoor sports and wildlife spotting are popular in the park, which also includes historic buildings for visitors to explore.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee is known as “The Gateway to the Smokies.” Great Smoky Mountain National Park, located approximately halfway between Asheville, North Carolina, and Knoxville, Tennessee, has its board of directors based in Gatlinburg. The park offers tourists of all types plenty to do, from creek fishing for trout to driving the scenic byways. Shopping, experiencing the Sky Lift Aerial Tramway, and visiting Ripley’s attractions are other popular things to do in this part of Tennessee.
Tourist attractions at the Ripley’s in Gatlinburg include the Believe It or Not Museum, miniature golf, a haunted house and the Aquarium of the Smokies. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is one of the top-rated aquariums in the world. Its clear acrylic, tunnel-like tank, which allows sharks to swim over visitors’ heads, is said to be the largest in the world. Hands-on marine life exhibits are another popular feature of Ripley’s Aquarium. The Believe It or Not museum has more than 500 exhibits revolving around the theme of strange facts, such as unusual inventions, works of art, and natural phenomena.
The Sky Lift Aerial Tramway in Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a popular attraction that is more than 50 years old. Designed as an open-frame seat ski lift, this ride lifts tourists up the Little Pigeon River against a backdrop of the Smoky Mountains. Day and night rides are available; tourists should call ahead to ensure availability of the attraction on a given day. The Gatlinburg Sky Lift Aerial Tramway has a picnic area, gift shop, and snack shop.
More than 400 old-fashioned shops selling an interesting array of crafts and gifts are found in the Parkway shopping district. The shops here sell many different items, such as ceramics, teas, candies, children’s toys, cheeses, dried meats, and handmade candles. Restaurants are also abundant in the Parkway area of Gatlinburg, with choices ranging from fine dining to pancake restaurants. There are also Italian restaurants and steak houses on the Parkway.
Gatlinburg’s gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers many opportunities for outdoor sports, such as hiking, biking, skiing, backpacking and camping. The park has 11 picnic areas, as well as cabins and other lodging options. There are horse riding rentals and guides. You may spot wildlife such as deer or bear here; wild plants bloom all year round between scenic waterfalls. A section of the park includes historic mills, churches, schools, barns and houses for visitors to explore.
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