Gatlinburg Attractions

Throw Anakeesta on the list of attractions you must visit on your next trip to the Smoky Mountains! Gatlinburg’s outdoor mountaintop theme park is full of fun activities that you won’t find anywhere else in the Smokies! Anakeesta actually translates to “the place of high ground” in the Cherokee language. Well, there’s no better place to explore the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains than from high above on the mountain at Anakeesta! Here are 5 things you can only do at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg:

The well known amusement park in the Smokies offering skiing, shopping, and dining opportunities, has already been through some big improvements since changing hands in 2022! This mountainside amusement park once known as Ober Gatlinburg is now called Ober Mountain, but that’s not all that is different. Are you interested in finding out what changes are going on at Ober Mountain? We’ve created a guide so you can keep updated on all the changes! Here is your ultimate guide to the updates at Ober Mountain:

Have you ever visited Ober Mountain in the winter? If you haven't, you'll definitely want to the next time you're in the Smokies during this time of year! Ober Mountain Gatlinburg snow tubing is one of the most popular winter activities for locals and visitors in Gatlinburg, and you definitely don’t want to miss out on it! Keep reading to learn everything you could possibly need to know about Gatlinburg snow tubing at Ober Mountain:

If you have young children, you know one of their favorite activities back home is going to the park to run around on the playground. There is something about a slide and swings that cause kids to jump with excitement. Luckily, there are plenty of places similar to your neighborhood park all throughout the Smokies. Here are 6 playground attractions in the Smoky Mountains for kids to enjoy:

Since its opening in 1962, Ober Gatlinburg has been a staple to the Smoky Mountains! The establishment has provided a ski area and amusement park that visitors have enjoyed for generations! Claude Anders has been running the establishment since 1975 and was responsible for the merger of the Aerial Tramway and resort into what we know today as Ober Gatlinburg. There are changes in store in the near future! The torch has been passed to Sevier County natives Joe Baker, Cory Cottongim and Chuck Edwards. Baker is well known for founding Ole Smoky Moonshine and Yee-Haw Brewing and is excited to continue the visions of Anders. Here are 3 changes the Sevier County natives have in store:

A brand new experience that’s the first of its kind has arrived at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg! Astra Lumina Enchanted Night Walks takes visitors on a nighttime journey to discount the illuminating wonder of the stars and connect to an imaginative world through the magic of projections, lighting, and music. Interested in learning more? We’re telling you everything we know so far about Astra Lumina at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg!

If you love to go shopping, the Smoky Mountains is the perfect vacation destination for you! Throughout Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, you will find shops where you can purchase all sorts of wonderful souvenirs for yourself and your family back home. Undoubtedly, one of the most unique shopping experiences can be found just past stoplight #6 in downtown Gatlinburg! Here is the ultimate guide to The Village in Gatlinburg:

One of the most popular things to do when you visit the Smoky Mountains is ride a mountain coaster! Mountain coasters are fun for all ages and allow you to control your own speed. You can go slow and enjoy the views or race around the track at speeds up to 35 miles per hour! There are plenty of great options for mountain coasters in the Smoky Mountains. To help you decide which one to try, we’ve made a list of the top 7 mountain coasters in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

Even though Gatlinburg, Tennessee is miles away from the ocean, our Smoky Mountain city is home to some of the most celebrated sea creatures in the country! The popular travel website TripAdvisor recently ranked Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. Visit My Smokies has the scoop on why the Gatlinburg aquarium deserves this coveted honor.

You may remember in 2020 when Anakeesta in Gatlinburg completed its largest expansion yet, including the opening of the AnaVista Tower! If you thought that was incredible, wait until you hear about their new expansion, which will be their biggest expansion yet! This $34 million expansion will double the size of the guest experience over the next 3 years. We’ve gathered all the details we know so far on the Anakeesta expansion.

The Smoky Mountains is the perfect place for couples to escape from reality for a few days and spend quality time together surrounded by the beautiful mountain scenery. While just having some alone time will be worth the trip, there are some activities that can make your romantic retreat even more memorable. Here are 6 fun things to do in Gatlinburg TN for couples during a date night in the Smokies:

Gatlinburg is one of the top travel destinations in the world, which means it’s full of exciting and popular attractions for visitors to enjoy. But, if you’ve already been to all the main attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium and the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park and are looking to try something new, we can help! We’ve put together a list of 8 things to do in Gatlinburg you’ve never done but have to try.

If you love all things wine, then the Smoky Mountains is the perfect place for you to visit! There is a great selection of wineries in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains you’ll want to visit! You can try all kinds of wines, from muscadine to classic reds. Most places will allow you to taste their wines for free, and you’ll probably like it so much you’ll want to bring some home with you! Here are the top 5 wineries in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains you should visit:

In a time before email, social media, and mainstream television, folks had to find their own unique way to tell stories and spread messages to one another. Oftentimes this came in the form of folklore, songs, paintings, and other forms of art. Today, we have all the technology we need to instantly connect with one another, but there is still a large community tucked away in the Smoky Mountains that is dedicated to keeping the rich history and culture alive. This community is called the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community.

You never know what you’ll see when you explore the mountain top attractions in Gatlinburg! From black bears to birds, you’ll have the opportunity to see all kinds of Smoky Mountain wildlife roaming around. One animal you don’t see very often in the area, however, is a bobcat. Visitors to the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park were in for a special treat when they spotted not one, but two, baby bobcats on the hillside! Watch the video and learn more below: