Great Fun (and Free!) Things to Do in Gatlinburg

Find Adventure Along The Parkway
Put on your walking shoes, get out of the car, and join in the great family tradition of the downtown Parkway stroll also known as the center of excitement to those who visit Gatlinburg frequently. Explore every nook and cranny where you’ll find more than 200 unique shops, dozens of restaurants, and attractions for all ages. As you stroll, be on the look-out for homemade mountain taffy pulling, mouthwatering caramel apples being dipped or delectable fudge being prepared. You might just choose to play miniature golf, experience the world’s largest underwater aquarium tunnel, ride America’s largest aerial tram, take an elevator of chair lift to the top of the town, visit the unique museums or take a turn on live-action rides along the way. You can even people-watch!

Stroll River Road By The Little Pigeon River
If you need an “away from it all” moment, take a leisurely stroll along the Riverwalk that runs along the Little Pigeon River one block off the downtown Gatlinburg Parkway. Feed the ducks, watch as fishermen cast their flies in hopes of landing a mountain trout, or relax along the riverbank as you listen to the swift river flow before you. Admire beautiful arrays of flowers and dip your feet in the brisk mountain river. Find the perfect photo spot and help assure that your moments in Gatlinburg are never forgotten.

Drive The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Need to rest your feet? Jump in your car and explore a collection of historical sites on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail including the preservation of a homestead owned by the Noah “Bud” Ogle family who lived in Gatlinburg after the Civil War. See log cabins, Roaring Fork Cemetery, and the remains of a village that supported some two dozen families more than 150 years ago. The motor nature trail is accessible to automobiles via the eight-mile one-way paved road. Many stops along the way allow you to get out, take a deep breath of mountain air, step back in time as you visit the sites and enjoy the aura of the mountains.

Absorb Sugarlands Visitor Center
Located at the main northern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park two miles south of Gatlinburg along Newfound Gap Road, (U.S. 441) Sugarlands is a visitor center you should visit. A free 20-minute orientation motion picture provides an in-depth look at the Smokies and the enormous diversity of plant and animal life in the Park. Natural history exhibits include mounted specimens of park animals in recreations of their habitats and reproductions of journals kept by the first park naturalists. Ranger talks and slide shows are presented daily from spring through fall.

Explore The Greenbrier
Just a few miles outside of Gatlinburg and is a hidden jewel known as Greenbrier. A plethora of daytime fun and free outdoor activities can be enjoyed at this area of the National Park, located just east of Gatlinburg. Tube, swim, picnic, hike, sunbathe, or mountain bike. Ramsey Cascades Trail Head is also located here. Discover Cades Cove Historical cabins, farmhouses and churches are maintained in Cades Cove, a western valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. First settled by Europeans in 1819, today, the National Park Service maintains a historical and cultural preserve of log cabins, churches and other structures. The 11-mile one-way road passes by 19 numbered tour stops as identified in the pamphlet available at the entrance. Be sure to bring your camera in hopes of spotting wildlife such as deer, bear, turkey, owl and fox. If you prefer, you can also experience the loop on horseback or bicycle!

Take In The Gatlinburg Overlook
See Gatlinburg from a bird’s eye view from the two overlooks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s the perfect souvenir photo spot and one of the most popular places to watch the sun rise. So grab your cameras and head up to Gatlinburg Overlook and enjoy the view!

Visit Arrowmont School Of Arts & Crafts
Indulge in a little culture as you browse the galleries of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Arrowmont has developed into a leader of contemporary arts and crafts education. Founded in 1945, the school has developed into a leader in arts and crafts education, with an annual enrollment of more than 2,000 students from the United States and abroad. Stop by and tour select collections of the art galleries, the resource center and the book and supply store.

Investigate Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community/The Glades
Take a trolley ride or take a leisurely drive to visit the eight-mile loop of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community and see craftsmanship at its best, as artisans using simple tools and skillful hands whittle, carve, cast, sew, weave and transform raw elements into works of art and function. Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community is recognized internationally as the largest group of independent artisans in North America with nearly 100 shops, studios, galleries, cafes and lodging options.

Enjoy Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales
All summer long visitors can meet characters, hear mountain music and learn about life in the Smokies on the streets of Gatlinburg. In conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, enjoy storytellers, musicians and cloggers performing along the Parkway every evening during this fourth annual event!

Noted Author to Present Hiking Guidebook

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host author Danielle “Danny” Bernstein on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at 10 AM at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Bernstein’s newest guidebook, Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage, lists 66 day hikes, ranging in length from 1 to 13 miles. On the front porth of the visitor center, Bernstein will talk about hiking within the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, an area designated by Congress for its natural, cultural, historical and recreation attributes within the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains.

Bernstein will be available to sign books, which can be purchased at the center’s bookstore, and talk with visitors until 1 PM. The guidebook provides a full description of each hike, clear maps and detailed directions, mileage and elevation gain, trail highlights, fees and hiking regulations, and even books and movies related to each hike location. The new guide also includes three auto tours with shorter walks.  Throughout the book, Bernstein discussed the unique history of specific trails and hiking areas, from moonshining and the origins of NASCAR in Stone Mountain’s Wilkes County to Moses H. Cone’s Flat Top Manor on the Blue Ridge Parkway. She tells how they can follow the path of the Overmountain Men during the Revolutionary War, visit the fragile environment of Bat Cave Preserve in Hickory Nut Gorge, and walk beneath the monumental and controversial Linn Cove Viaduct.

The new book has been endorsed by the Blue Ridge Natural Heritage Area designated by Congress in 2003. Bernstein, also author of Hiking the Carolina Mountains, is an Appalachian Trail end-to-ender and recently completed the more than 800 miles of trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She leads hikes and writes about the outdoors from her home in Asheville, North Carolina.

Wild Bear Falls Offers Fun for All Ages!

• Ideally located in the heart of Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort
• World-class, mountain-themed family indoor water park
• Largest indoor water park resort in the South
• State-of-the-art retractable roof
• Ramsey Cascades interactive treehouse play area
• Cades Cove lazy river
• Clingman’s Dome & Laurel Falls waterslides
• Swimming Hole pool
• Grotto Falls indoor hot tub
• Moonshine Hollow indoor/outdoor hot tub
• Roaring Fork Café
• Bearfoot Arcade

For more information about Wild Bear Falls Water Park at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, visit www.wildbearfalls.com.

The Visual Wonders of the Smoky Mountains

Light breaks over the peaks surrounding Newfound Gap and another day begins in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The forests are teeming with the sounds of nature and the diverse flora and fauna are waking to the morning splendor. From the ridges and peaks that endlessly dot the landscape to the fertile valleys that mark the end of one mountain and the beginning of the next, the scenery is beyond breathtaking. Perhaps that’s why Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most popular destinations for travelers from all over the globe.

No matter what your interests entail, you’re bound to find yourself in awe of the natural beauty inherent in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where the picturesque views are only eclipsed by the number of ways to see them. Hiking and horseback riding trails are the method of choice for those who want to explore the cavernous lowlands while a helicopter ride is more suitable for getting a bird’s-eye view. For those who wish to immerse themselves in the wild, there are multiple campsites available, from the tame to the extreme. Another widely used method of exploring the region is by river raft, which offers some of the most unique perspectives as well as the excitement of the occasional whitewater. Though peaceful and serene at most points along the waterways in the Great Smoky Mountains, there are plenty of places that require deft maneuvering. If you want to experience Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the assistance of a guide, you can sign up for one of the many guided tours offered daily, which will provide a visual feast as well as interesting tales of occurrences that took place within the mountains so many years ago.

For those who would rather go it alone, Great Smoky Mountain National Park can also be toured by car, allowing you to cover a great deal of ground and experience panoramic views of the topography, wildlife and surrounding settlements with their historic architecture. The next time you decide to get away from it all and get back to nature, there is simply no better place than Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Best of all, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort provides the ideal locale for your Great Smoky Mountains escape. Nestled on approximately 70 acres adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort features the 60,000-square-foot Wild Bear Falls water park (the largest indoor water park in the South), two outdoor pools, two hot tubs, fitness facility and 24-hour marketplace. Enjoy award-winning barbecue at the casual Westgate Smokehouse Grill. The adjacent Mason Jar Lounge serves appetizers and snacks along with your favorite beverage. Escape to the new Serenity Spa by Westgate and indulge in a mountain hot stone massage, manicure, pedicure or facial. For more information about Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, visit www.wgsmokymountains.com.

Top 10 U.S. National Parks

The AAA magazine, Going Places, has published its list of the “Top 10 U.S. National Parks,” which includes Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as Yosemite National Park in California, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Congaree National Park in South Carolina, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Everglades National Park in Florida and Acadia National Park in Maine.

Make Plans to Attend Dollywood’s KidsFest

Kids crafts, karaoke, puppets, clowns, jugglers, magicians, a trained dog show, extreme sports and much more will highlight the festivities during Dollywood’s 2009 KidsFest from June 12 through August 2, 2009. Don’t miss Creature Adventures, which takes audiences on a worldwide expedition through the eyes of the Kratt Brothers, stars of the popular PBS series, “Zoboomafoo.” 2009 KidsFest at Dollywood will also feature Journey to the Center of the Earth: The 4D Adventure and Dolly’s Imagination Playhouse.

Seeking affordable accommodations during your visit to Dollywood KidsFest this summer? Look no farther than Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort! Visit www.wgsmokymountains.com for more information.

Facts About Dollywood

Dollywood, which first opened on May 3, 1986, is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tennessee’s No. 1 ticketed attraction, Dollywood attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. Highlights of Dollywood include thrilling rides, crafts and award-winning live entertainment. Dollywood also hosts five annual festivals: Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, KidsFest, National Gospel & Harvest Celebration, BBQ & Bluegrass and Smoky Mountain Christmas.

Smoky Mountains Offer Peaceful Escape

Not all vacations leave us with the impression that we’ve actually had a vacation. One of the biggest mistakes we make when going on holiday is to pack too much sightseeing, exploring and other activities into our schedules, leaving little time for relaxation and personal reflection. A lot of why we do this has to do with where we choose to go on vacation. By choosing destinations that are high on points of interest and low on scenic beauty, we feel that we must visit and photograph each and every museum, ruin, architectural wonder and street scene.

The Great Smoky Mountains area of Tennessee doesn’t have an Acropolis, Eiffel Tower or St. Paul’s Cathedral, nor does it hum with the hustle and bustle of city life. There are no man-made skyscrapers, no concrete and steel canyons and no heavily traversed canals to be found in the Great Smoky Mountains. What the area does have to offer is some of the most breathtaking views of nature in existence, and the peaceful serenity that accompanies only a place as visually magical and wondrous as a mountain retreat.

That’s not to say that activities aren’t available for those who are so inclined. In fact, one can fill his or her schedule quite easily with activities such as hiking, fishing, horseback riding, river tubing, whitewater rafting and camping at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, even these activities are less about sightseeing and more about active participation, which is something today’s couples and families do very little of together.

Whether urban or suburban, the pressures of work, school and our individual interests often guide us away from spending quality time with our families. This is why vacations can be so important. Vacations should give us the opportunity to reconnect and strengthen the bonds between us and our loved ones. Vacationing in the usual tourist destinations is all about taking us out of our element and providing external stimulus, which doesn’t always have the effect of bringing people closer together. Vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, on the other hand, is conducive to exploring the wonders of nature together, spending time in activities that require human interaction and appreciating the world around us, including each other.

Best of all, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort provides the ideal locale for your Great Smoky Mountains escape. Nestled on approximately 70 acres adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort features the 60,000-square-foot Wild Bear Falls water park (the largest indoor water park in the South), two outdoor pools, two hot tubs, fitness facility and 24-hour marketplace. Enjoy award-winning barbecue at the casual Westgate Smokehouse Grill. The adjacent Mason Jar Lounge serves appetizers and snacks along with your favorite beverage. Escape to the new Serenity Spa by Westgate and indulge in a mountain hot stone massage, manicure, pedicure or facial. For more information about Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, visit www.wgsmokymountains.com.

Dollywood Hosts Festival of Nations

An international celebration, Dollywood’s Festival of Nations offers live entertainment, cultural exhibits and great food. In addition, “Imagine presented by Le Grand Cirque” makes its debut at Dollywood’s Festival of Nations in 2009. Festival of Nations runs through April 27, 2009 (closed on Tuesdays).

Seeking affordable accommodations that provide easy access to Dollywood, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gatlinburg during your next Great Smoky Mountains vacation getaway? Look no farther than Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort (home to Wild Bear Falls water park!). For more information about Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, visit www.escapetothesmokies.com or www.wgsmokymountains.com.

New Facilities Set for Sugarlands Riding Stables

New concession facilities are set to open this month at Sugarlands Riding Stables in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  On Thursday, April 9, 2009, at 11 AM, park officials will dedicate the new concession facilities during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The public is invited to attend and tour the new buildings.  Improvements at Sugarlands Riding Stables include a modern, 10,940-square-foot wood and steel horse barn, office, hay shed, wash rack, hitch rails and fencing, feed bin and covered manure pad. Sugarlands Riding Stables is one of four guided horseback operations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and lies approximately 1 mile South of Gatlinburg on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441).

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2009. If you are seeking comfortable, affordable accommodations for your next vacation getaway to the Great Smoky Mountains, look no farther than Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, a rustic mountain resort that sits on approximately 70 acres adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort boasts spacious suites and an abundance of onsite amenties, including the 60,000-square-foot Wild Bear Falls water park, two outdoor pools, two hot tubs, fitness facility and 24-hour marketplace, as well as the Westgate Smokehouse Grill, Mason Jar Lounge and the new Serenity Spa by Westgate. For more information about Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, visit www.wgsmokymountains.com.