hiker crossing footbridge over mountain stream

Top 4 Family Attractions in Gatlinburg Everyone Will Love

ober gatlinburg tram
September 24, 2019

Gatlinburg has plenty of fun things to do just like Pigeon Forge! Your whole family will find something they enjoy, and you guys get to spend quality time together having fun. Here are the top 4 family attractions in Gatlinburg everyone will love:

1. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

s Aquarium of the Smoky Mountains

If you’ve never been to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, it should be the first stop on your list! This is the perfect attraction in Gatlinburg for kids and adults. Your kids will have fun with the interactive exhibits, such as Touch-A-Ray Bay and the Discovery Center where you can touch horseshoe crabs and jellyfish. There’s a rainforest section where you can see piranhas and poison dart frogs. In the ocean area, there are a ton of colorful fish that would live in a coral reef. Shark Lagoon is neat since you can ride a glidepath under the tank and see all kinds of fish and sharks. Everyone in your family will enjoy Ripley’s Aquarium, especially since it’s been named the number one aquarium and attraction many times!

2. Anakeesta

Want to spend some time outside when it’s nice? Anakeesta is an adventure park you should visit on beautiful days. You can get to the top of the mountain on a chondola or ride a jeep. Once you’re in Firefly Village, you can browse through the different shops and see all kinds of goodies you can bring home. If you get hungry, you have plenty of options; there’s a barbeque place and the Cliff Top Bar and Grill has all kinds of food and drinks you’ll love. Walk through the Vista Gardens to see the beauty of East Tennessee, and take a trip to the Memorial Forest Walk to learn more about the wildfires that happened in 2016. For some adventure, you can ride a mountain coaster or go ziplining down the mountain. There are a ton of fun things to do at Anakeesta!

3. Gatlinburg SkyLift Park

yellow chair on the gatlinburg skylift Gatlinburg SkyLift Park has one of the best views of the Smoky Mountains range. To get to the top of Crockett Mountain, take a ride on the SkyLift. You can’t miss the bright yellow chairs traveling up the side of the mountain. Three riders fit to a seat, and you all will enjoy the ride to the SkyDeck. Once at the top, you will have a chance to take in the views of the mountains. Then you should walk across the SkyBridge, which has three glass panels stretching 15 feet where you can look down into the forest below. On the other side of the bridge is another observation deck. You and your kids won’t forget this attraction in Gatlinburg!

4. Ober Gatlinburg

Ober Gatlinburg is an attraction that’s perfect for the whole family. During winter, you can ski, snowboard, and snow tube. In warmer months, you can tube down the hill, climb the rock wall, play mini golf, and so much more. Ober Gatlinburg has an aerial tram you can ride from downtown Gatlinburg to Ober, providing you with beautiful views of the mountains. They also have water slides during the summer to help cool you off. Kids will love the arcade, carousel, maze, and many other attractions. You can also ice skate and play ice bumper cars any time of the year since the rink is inside.

Want even more family friendly activities? Check out these mini golf courses in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg!

You have plenty of attractions in Gatlinburg your whole family will enjoy. Pigeon Forge also has a ton of great things to do. Find out which attractions in Pigeon Forge you’ll want to try when you stay with us!