Top 18 Things to Do in Gatlinburg Tennessee

Jennifer writes for Venture Smoky Mountains, sharing vacation planning tips, travel insights, and property highlights to help guests make the most of their time in East Tennessee.

Planning a trip to Gatlinburg and looking for fun things to do while you’re here? You’ve come to the right spot! As local experts on all the ways your family can enjoy East Tennessee, we’ve compiled our top to-dos for families, adults, kids, couples, and even free activities! While we always encourage our guests to get out and explore, these options are a great jumping-off spot—especially if you’ve never been before. 

Check them out and remember to book your stay directly with Venture Smoky Mountains so you get the best rate on your stay, as well as over $400 in free activities you can enjoy every day of your trip! Don’t worry, we’ll tell you more about that later.

In This Article:

• Things to Do in Gatlinburg for Adults
• Things to Do in Gatlinburg with Kids
• Free Things to Do in Gatlinburg
• Things to Do in Gatlinburg, TN for couples
• Things to Do with Family in Gatlinburg
• How to Save on Your Stay

Things to Do in Gatlinburg for Adults

Moonshine and Wine Tastings

There are plenty of distilleries in Gatlinburg, and even a few wineries, each offering unique tasting experiences. As you stroll the strip, stop in at Sugarland, Ole Smoky, the Smokin’ Banjo Wine Company, or whichever spots catch your eye. Many tasting rooms offer complimentary samples of their most popular items. Plus, the folks slinging the shine do it with a smile and plenty of jokes to keep everyone entertained.

As a former Ole Smoky employee, this writer confidently recommends the Mountain Java, Blackberry, and the Moonshine Pickles!

See Some Live Music

For a night of fun (or day), be sure to check out some local live music at spots like Ole Red Gatlinburg, the Smoky Mountain Brewery, or right outside the Ole Smoky distillery in The Holler! You’ll find all kinds of bands in Gatlinburg, from bluegrass and country to cover bands, and more.

Go White Water Rafting

Not for the faint of heart, white-water rafting in Gatlinburg is destined to be one of the most memorable parts of your trip—if you’re brave enough to try! At Raft Outdoor Adventures, you’ll find a couple of different Pigeon River trips. The Upper Pigeon excursion is best for folks who want a thrill and the chance to ride some class III rapids, while Lower Pigeon is great for a calmer intro to rafting.

Reach New Heights on the SkyBridge

If you’re not afraid of heights, this is the perfect thing to do in Gatlinburg on your next visit. As the longest cable bridge in North America, it’s a sight to behold, spanning more than two football fields. And at 1,800 feet above sea level, it certainly lives up to its name.

You can only access SkyBridge via the SkyLift, so make your way to the yellow chairs off Parkway and enjoy this fun activity the next time you’re in town.

Things to Do in Gatlinburg with Kids

Visit Ripley’s Museum and Aquarium

From “believe it or not” wonders at the museum to underwater secrets at the aquarium, kids will love immersing themselves in the world of Ripley’s activities in Gatlinburg. Our favorites are the touch tank, where you can pet a ray, and Shark Lagoon, where Nurse and Reef sharks swim with vibrant fish and turtles. Over at the museum, don’t miss out on comparing your height with the world’s tallest man. With thousands of feet of oddities, it’s easy to spend an afternoon here that the family will love. 

Hike in the National Park

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful areas in the country. When you’re visiting with kids, take time to get out in nature. If you’re wondering how far your child can hike, or what you need to make a hiking trip with kids a success, check out our article: 10 Tips for Kid-Friendly Day Hikes in the Smokies. In it, we go over the best way to plan for a day on the trails, plus which hiking trails are best for little ones.

Explore Cades Cove

Cades Cove is the most visited part of the national park, and once you see it, you’ll understand why. Designed as a scenic driving loop, it’s great for families who need an easy outing. You can choose to make the loop or park and check things out on foot.

There are stables for horseback riding, bikes to rent, trails, and historic buildings to explore. And if you need some tips for how to make the most of your visit, we’ve got you covered there, too, with the most unique list of things to do in Cades Cove.  

Free Things to Do in Gatlinburg

Ride the Gatlinburg Trolley

Every day of the year, rain or shine, you can hop aboard the Gatlinburg Trolley and enjoy a sightseeing ride through town. Hop on and off as you go and visit local shops and attractions.

Enjoy Free Tickets from Venture Smoky Mountains

Did you know if you book your vacation rental directly with Venture Smoky Mountains, not only do you get the best rate on your stay, but you also have access to our exclusive guest rewards that give you more than $400 of free activities? And these aren’t one-off perks. You get each offer every day of your stay.

So, what’s included? One free admission to each of the following:

• Rocky Top Mountain Coaster
• Crave Miniature Golf Course
• Paula Deen's Lumberjack Supper Show
• Wonderworks
• Alcatraz East Crime Museum
• Array Variety Show
• Tickets to Illusionation
• Country Tonite Tickets
• Dig'N Zone
• Beyond the Lens
• Gatlinburg Sky Lift
• Soaky Mountain Water Park

Access to these perks is emailed directly to you once you book your rental.

Learn More About Xplorie Benefits

Things to Do in Gatlinburg, TN for Couples 

Date Night at a Local Restaurant

You’ll find restaurants around every corner in Gatlinburg, but if you want a truly unique dining experience, the Heirloom Room is a must. Perfect for a date night, this popular spot features items like wild boar, spicy venison, and other game meats you don’t typically find on a steakhouse menu. Ask for a seat on the outdoor patio beside the creek for a truly romantic night.

Buy Each Other a Special Souvenir

Visit the local shops in Gatlinburg and find each other a unique souvenir to commemorate your trip. Maybe it’s a set of coffee cups so each morning, you can remember your time in the mountains. Maybe it’s a handmade piece of jewelry or a hand-carved wood sculpture. The talented artisans of Gatlinburg have something for everyone.

Hit the Mini-Golf Course

While this could certainly be a kid-friendly activity, let’s be honest, mini-golf is for all ages and makes for a really fun couple’s activity. We recommend Hillbilly Golf, where you ride a 300-foot incline up the side of a mountain. Two 18-hole courses await, complete with some of the most interesting and unusual hazards you’ve ever seen. At just over $14 per adult, it’s also a really affordable thing to do in Gatlinburg. 

Soak in Your Vacation Rental’s Hot Tub

Booking a vacation rental with Venture Smoky Mountains means you have tons of hot tub homes to choose from. Nothing beats coming back to a beautiful home away from home, pouring a glass of wine, and sinking into a relaxing spa as you watch the twinkling stars shine over the mountains.

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Things to Do with Family in Gatlinburg

Dinner and a Show

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are hotspots for dinner theater shows like Medieval Times, the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud, and Pirates’ Voyage. When you want a break from cooking dinner at your vacation home, let someone else do the work, and see a full production at the same time! These popular attractions are praised as some of the most fun family-friendly things to do in Gatlinburg, so no matter which one you choose, you’ll have a great time.

Ober Gatlinburg

Open year-round, this amusement park is great for visiting families. In the winter, you can race each other down the snow tubing lanes or go skiing and ice skating. In summer, the alpine coaster and ziplines take center stage. There’s even a wildlife habitat where you can see creatures native to the Smoky Mountains. With more than 15 unique activities all in one central location, Ober Gatlinburg is perfect for families with different age ranges and interests.

Anakeesta

Ziplines, suspension bridges that thread through the treetops, and the tallest observation tower in Gatlinburg—you’ll find all this and more at Anakeesta. This adventure park spans more than 90 acres of mountain forest, providing skywalks, gardens, coasters, play areas, restaurants, and retail space. Everything you need for a full day of family fun!

The park is currently undergoing a $100 million expansion, so be sure to check their website before visiting. The rollout is being done in phases, but some upgrades will require park closings or certain areas to be off limits.

General admission tickets begin around $35 for adults, with add-ons available for things like night walks and special events.

Dollywood

This one is technically not in Gatlinburg, but Sevierville is just a short drive away, and more than worth the trip for a visit to Dolly Parton’s theme park! Roller coasters, water rides, performances, and great food are all part of the fun.

Older kids will love the Big Bear Mountain coaster, while littles can enjoy wandering Black Bear Trail or riding the Busy Bees mini-coaster. Tour a replica of Dolly’s childhood home, visit the eagle sanctuary, and more when you plan your visit.

Traveling with kids five years or younger? Be sure to register for the Dollywood Pre-K Imagination Pass so you can get free admission for your child at both Dollywood and Splash Country!

What is the Pre-K Imagination Pass? 

Enjoy Your Vacation Rental

Not every moment of your vacation has to be filled with activities. Sometimes, the best thing to do is relax and enjoy the downtime with your family. At Venture Smoky Mountains, we make it easy to do just that. From in-home theaters and private pools to game rooms and even properties with putting greens, your home is its own private haven where everything you could want is at your fingertips.

Equipped kitchens make family meals easy. Plush furnishings invite you to relax and take in the mountain scenery. With your loved ones around you and a rental that covers all the bases, what more do you need?

How to Save on Your Stay

Activities cost money, so why not make sure you have as much in your pocket as possible? When you book direct with Venture Smoky Mountains, you get the best rate on your stay. That’s because, unlike online travel agencies like Airbnb or Booking.com, there are no hidden fees, extra commissions, or upcharges that only serve a middleman.

Skipping the third-party and coming straight to the source gives you:

• Access to our full inventory of properties
• Connects you to a local team—not a call center
• Provides you with additional perks like Xplorie Deals
• Provides seamless communication for any issues that may arise

Check out our inventory of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley, and Sevierville vacation rentals and find your dream getaway today!

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