A trip to Gatlinburg is not complete without a visit to one of the most popular national parks in the country. Inside the park are many picturesque vistas for photo opportunities. Hiking, fishing, camping and exploring are available. There are 800 miles of hiking trails, historic locations such as Cades Cove, and the Sugarland Visitor Center, which details the history of the park. The park celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2009.
Located in the center of Gatlinburg, the museum includes 40 vehicles featured in movies and television, or owned by celebrities. See the jalopy from "The Beverly Hillbillies," General Lee from "The Dukes of Hazzard" and cars from the movies "Gone in Sixty Seconds" and "The Fast and the Furious." The Star Cars Museum is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 10 p..
Leading into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the downtown area is a great place to take a leisurely walk and explore a variety of unusual shops, restaurants and attractions. There are more than 200 establishments located on The Parkway.
Ripley's Entertainment has several Gatlinburg attractions within walking distance of each other on The Parkway. These attractions include Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, which houses more than 500 unusual artifacts; Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, featuring more than 10,000 sea creatures; and Ripley's Haunted Adventure, a former casket factory where strange things occur. Other Ripley's attractions in Gatlinburg include the Guinness World of Records, Ripley's Mirror Maze, Davy Crockett Mini Golf, Ripley's Super Fun Zone and Ripley's Moving Theater. All Ripley's properties are open 365 days a year.
The tramway transports visitors from downtown Gatlinburg to a mountain resort in the Great Smoky Mountains. The tram departs from downtown every 20 minutes, climbing 2,700 feet in 120 minutes. The tram operates 365 days a year. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 7:20 p.m.
After taking the tram to the top of the mountain, visitors can experience an amusement park that's open 365 days a year. Operating hours vary depending on the season. Indoor ice skating, water raft rides, an Alpine Slide, restaurants and photo opportunities await. There is also the Nocturnal House, which showcases small wildlife such as raccoon and skunk, as well as the Municipal Black Bear Habitat.
