COVER STORY

SUMMER IN THE SMOKIES Experience the beauty and wonder of Gatlinburg, Tennessee

By Heather Turk

It is estimated that 1,900 black bears live in the Smokies. Sightings are common in Great Smoky Mountains National Park SkyBridge at Gatlinburg SkyLift Park

A vacation destination unlike any other, Gatlinburg, Tennessee offers breathtaking beauty and adrenaline-pumping adventure around every corner.

Surrounded on three sides by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is a great place to reconnect with the outdoors. Not only are many of its restaurants, shops and attractions within walking distance of one another, but the charming mountain town also offers three separate entrances to the park, making it easy for visitors to access more than 380 miles of scenic roadways and 800 miles of trails. Although Great Smoky Mountains National Park experiences its highest visitation rates during the summer and fall, there are still lesstraveled trails guests can explore to experience true solitude. Guests can also try to avoid the crowds at more popular destinations like

Cades Cove — a valley that offers some of the park’s best wildlife viewing opportunities — by visiting early in the morning.

For more adventurous sightseers, Anakeesta has plenty of sky-high thrills. The outdoor family theme park features an assortment of aerial attractions, including a dueling zipline and the longest tree-based skywalk in North America with 880 feet of suspended bridges. It’s also home to the only singlerail mountain coaster in the United States, where riders can experience 1,600 feet of downhill twists and turns at speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Summertime is actually the perfect time to visit Anakeesta, as from June 6 through Sept. 11, visitors can experience the award-winning “Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks” exhibit showcasing beautiful works of art that explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems and mankind’s relationship with nature. The exhibit coincides with Anakeesta’s Summer in the Smokies celebration, which features live music daily in its Black Bear shopping village, chef specials throughout the park and custom specialty drinks.

Visitors can experience even more family fun “just an aerial tram ride away” at Ober Gatlinburg. In addition to such popular year-round attractions as Ice Bumper Cars and indoor ice skating, the amusement park and Tennessee’s only ski area has several seasonal activities guests can enjoy, including Summer Tubing and sledding down an Alpine Slide. There’s also a Wildlife Encounter where guests can see a variety of animals in a safe environment, including black bears, river otters and bobcats.

Guests can get up close to an array of animals at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, too. Visitors can glide over 12-foot sharks on an indoor Glass Bottom Boat Adventure, touch a stingray and book a painting session with a playful African penguin. During June and July, it’s even common to see mermaids swimming at the aquarium!

Continued on page 9 OberGatlinburgAerialTramway

Cades Cove inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Photos courtesy of Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau AnaVistaTower atAnakeesta

For those feeling brave, some of the best views in town can be found at Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. Visitors will embark on a 10-minute ride onboard the first four-season scenic chairlift in the South to soak up panoramic views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains from the 680-foot-long SkyBridge. The longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America, the SkyBridge features 30 feet of see-through glass panels in the middle of it, providing guests with an exhilarating view of downtown Gatlinburg 500 feet below. The park’s new SkyTrail provides additional viewing opportunities, including a unique view of the SkyBridge. If you’re visiting during the Fourth of July, there’s arguably no better vantage point in Gatlinburg to watch the fireworks than on the SkyBridge!

While Gatlinburg is renowned for its attractions, its dining scene is equally impressive. Breakfast lovers are sure to flip over the area’s many delectable pancake houses, like Crockett’s Breakfast Camp. Known as much for its giant cinnamon rolls and breakfast skillets as its griddle cakes, the Appalachian-inspired restaurant makes sure guests never leave hungry thanks to its generous portions.

Country music superstar Blake Shelton’s Ole Red is another dining favorite. Diners can enjoy live country music while savoring some of the best Southern cuisine in town, like the Hillbilly Bones Smoked Half Rack of St. Louis-style ribs. Guests never know who might show up for a performance, from former contestants on “The Voice” to Shelton himself. Even if Shelton isn’t onstage, he has been known to call the restaurant on occasion to give guests a special shoutout.

When it’s time to call it a night, Gatlinburg has several lodging options within walking distance to many of its top attractions, like the island-inspired Margaritaville Resort. The Appy Lodge is another standout that’s conveniently located at the entrance of Gatlinburg. Themed after the Appalachian Trail, the rustic 101-room property features such relaxing amenities as outdoor fire pits and indoor and outdoor pools.

With so much to experience, visitors might just turn their summer vacation in Gatlinburg into an annual trip! gatlinburg.com

Treetop Skywalk at Anakeesta

Blake Shelton has performed twice at Ole Red Gatlinburg since it opened in 2019

Ripley’sAquarium of the Smokies

Gatlinburg is known as a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park