The spaceIf youâre looking for a chalet that is cozy and perfect for a small to medium sized family, this is the chalet for you! Scroll down for a list of fun things to do âŹď¸
đđť Pros from actual guests
â "... Secluded in the woods"
â "... large kitchen was great if you are planning to cook and grill outside"
â "... game room for kids and check out the chest of board games"
â "... awesome 2nd floor deck where we had our coffee every morning while the kids slept in"
â "... plenty of room to hang out/relax alone or together"
â "... Smarts tv in every room (came in soooo handy specially when you have kids that love Disney+/YouTube)"
â "... we just left and my kids keep asking to go back to the âbear houseâ" đ§¸
đ Potential Cons
â "... driveway has a slight incline but no issues parking and leaving as well"
â "... cozy one bedroom with privacy, living / family rooms with sofa beds. Great for parents upstairs, kids downstairs"
â "... one queen bed, three queen sofa beds, one twin sofa bed"
⼠Before doing anything else please click the heart in the upper right hand corner of the listing because this will help you find it again and share it with other people!
â All bed linens provided
â Fully Stocked Kitchen
â Full size onsite Washer and Dryer
â Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand/bath towels, and hand soap provided
â Hi-chair & Pack n Play for the kiddos provided
â Charcoal grill outside provided for your convenience
â Three Clubhouses less than 5 minutes away! (Guest pass provided as part of stay, check out chaletvillageownersclub.com/our-clubhouses/ for more!)
⼠Fun things to do in the Smokies âĽ
Any of the activities below sound fun? Like the chalet? đ¨ Book now before someone else snags it!
đ´ââď¸ 1. Bike Through Cades Cove
Of all the things to do around Gatlinburg, the most popular is a visit to Cades Cove. This beautiful little mountain valley is tucked in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and was once a thriving community. A number of rustic log cabins, cantilever barns, and grist mills are still preserved which gives Cades Cove a quaint air of times past.
An 11-mile one-way loop runs through Cades Cove allowing you to tour it by car, bicycle, or on foot. Because Cades Cove is so popular, you can expect there to be lots of traffic during the summer months and in the fall when the leaves are changing color around Gatlinburg.
The best way to see Cades Cove is, without a doubt, by bicycle. The Cades Cove loop road allows only bicycles (and foot traffic) before 10:00am on Saturday mornings and Wednesday mornings from May to September.
đ 2. Drive to Newfound Gap
Another popular activity in Gatlinburg is to drive through the national park to Newfound Gap, which is split between Tennessee in North Carolina. While there, you can stand with one foot on each side of the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. The mountain pass sits at an elevation of 5,046 feet so youâll have fabulous views of the foothills below. The Appalachian Trail also runs right through Newfound Gap, so if you have ever dreamed of hiking part of the AT, now is your opportunity. If you start hiking northeast on the Appalachian Trail youâll reach Charles Bunion in ~4 miles. Or if you head southwest on the AT for 7.5 miles, youâll reach Clingmanâs Dome, the highest point in the state of Tennessee.
â°ď¸ 3. See the View from Clingmanâs Dome
From Newfound Gap you can continue heading up the windy mountain road to Clingmanâs Dome. At 6,643 feet, Clingmanâs Dome is the highest point in Tennessee and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. From the Clingmanâs Dome parking lot, itâs a half-mile walk on a paved trail to the top of the mountain where a long spiraling concrete ramp leads up to an observation deck from which you can enjoy the spectacular views. On a clear day, you can enjoy up to 100 miles of visibility from the top of Clingmanâs Dome.
The 23-mile drive to Clingmanâs Dome from downtown Gatlinburg can take over an hour with traffic so make sure you plan accordingly. There is also limited parking at the top. Itâs best to arrive early in the day so youâre not stuck waiting for a parking spot.
Clingmanâs Dome Winter Road Closure:
The final 7-mile stretch of road to Clingmanâs Dome is closed from December 1st until March 31st. It may also be closed if there has been recent snowfall or cold temperatures. In the winter, there is significantly more snow at this elevation than there is in Gatlinburg.
𼞠4. Take a Hike
Our favorite thing to do in Gatlinburg is to get out in nature and take a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies have over 600 miles of trails offering sweeping panoramic views, cascading waterfalls and more. Some of the best day hikes in the Smoky Mountains include:
Laurel Falls (2.6 miles roundtrip): The hike to Laurel Falls is one of the most popular in the park. The entire trail is paved so youâll find itâs possible even for those with limited mobility. This hike does get crowded so itâs best to do it early in the morning or right before sunset.
Grotto Falls (2.8 miles roundtrip): Grotto Falls is a popular hike that is also relatively short and easy and is also on a well-maintained trail. This beautiful hike takes you directly behind a waterfall for a breathtaking experience.
Chimney Tops (3.3 miles roundtrip): The Chimney Tops trail is one of the Smokiesâ most iconic hikes. Itâs a short hike and offers amazing views at the top, but donât be fooled by the relatively short distance this hike covers. The last mile has an elevation gain of over 800 feet making it a strenuous climb to the top. The Chimney Tops themselves were closed after the huge Gatlinburg fire of 2016, but a new viewing platform has been built where the trail currently ends.
Alum Cave (4.4 miles roundtrip): One of our favorite hikes in the Smokies, the Alum Cave trail starts on Newfound Gap Road and follows Alum Cave Creek before heading up towards Mount LeConte. Youâll hike through a rock tunnel known as Arch Rock, and at the end of your hike youâll reach Alum Cave which is actually an 80-foot tall concaved bluff you can rest under before heading back down.
Charles Bunion (8 miles roundtrip): This hike starts at the Newfound Gap parking lot. From there, it follows the Appalachian Trail east for 4 miles to a rocky outcrop known as Charles Bunion. This strenuous hike is worth the reward of the spectacular views at Charles Bunion as well as at several other points along your hike.
đď¸ 5. Drive the Roaring Fork Motor Trail
The Roaring Fork Motor Trail is one of the most popular drives through the national park. This one-way loop is only 5.5 miles long, but it is a narrow winding road with lots of places youâll want to stop to explore and take pictures. Most people take around 2 hours to drive through the entire trail.
For the best experience, itâs best to stop at one of the parkâs visitor centers beforehand to pick up the National Park Serviceâs guidebook to the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Itâs only $1 and contains information on the flora and fauna of this area, as well as the history of the community that existed here before it was displaced by the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Towards the second half of the drive, youâll encounter log cabins, grist mills, and a church that are all very well-preserved and quite interesting to visit. Youâll also drive past the Place of a Thousand Drips which is one of only two waterfalls in the national park that you can drive to.
đŽ 6. See the Fireflies
Once a relatively unknown natural phenomenon, seeing the Smoky Mountainâs synchronous fireflies has now become a major bucket list item for many visitors to Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountains just happen to be home to the Western Hemisphereâs largest population of synchronous fireflies (Photinus Carolinus).
Itâs hard to do this unique experience justice with words, but you can imagine thousands of tiny lightning bugs all lighting up simultaneously in a visually stunning mating ritual. You can only see them for about 2-3 weeks each summer, typically at the end of May to the beginning of June.
The best way to see them is to book a campsite at Elkmont Campground, just a 25-minute drive from downtown Gatlinburg. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance online at xxx or by calling xxxx. Itâs impossible to predict the exact time that the fireflies will put on their show but planning on the first day of June will be your best bet.
If the Elkmont campground is already fully booked or you donât want to bother with camping, you can also attempt to purchase a parking pass for the event. There are only 225 parking passes available for each night and parking passes are awarded via a lottery system.
đ 7. Go Whitewater Rafting on the Pigeon River
If youâre looking to get your adrenaline fix during your trip to Gatlinburg then how about a little whitewater rafting? Rafting at the nearby Pigeon River is considered one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Most rafting outfitters in town offer two different trips on the Pigeon River.
The Upper Pigeon River is the more exciting of the two trips. Over the course of ~5.5 miles, youâll raft through 60+ rapids including twelve class III rapids and three heart-pounding class IV rapids. Kids generally need to be at least 8 years old and weigh over 70 lbs. to raft this section of the Pigeon River.
The Lower Pigeon River is a much more mellow 5.5-mile float that is geared towards families with young children or anyone that prefers taking in the beautiful mountain scenery over navigating class IV rapids.
The best white-water rafting companies in Gatlinburg are Smoky Mountain Outdoors, Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), and Rafting in the Smokies. Rafting trips start in Hartford which is about a 40-minute drive from Gatlinburg.
đŁ 8. Go Fishinâ
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has almost 2,900 miles of rivers and streams and is home to one of the USAâs last wild trout populations. Fishing is permitted year-round in all the national parkâs waterways. Youâll need a fishing license for either Tennessee or North Carolina and both are valid in the national park. Fishing licenses are not available at the park headquarters, but you can purchase a Tennessee fishing license at lots of stores around Gatlinburg. You can also buy one online at xxxx and have it emailed to you in a matter of minutes.
If you didnât bring your fishing tackle with you on your trip to East Tennessee or if you just prefer to have a local guide, there are several shops that offer fishing tours in Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountain Angler or Fly Fishing the Smokies are a couple of good options.
đ´ 9. Go Trail Riding
Located right at the entrance to the Smoky Mountains National Park, Sugarlands Riding Stables is just 2 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. They have trail rides ranging from 4 miles to 15 miles (1-4 hours in duratoin) through the national park.
Smoky Mountain Riding Stables is located about ~4 miles east of Gatlinburg. They offer a 45-minute horseback ride over 3 miles of wooded trails and mountain streams. Even if you have never ridden a horse before you can participate in a trail ride in the Smokies. Both stables have gentle horses that require almost no guidance so you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery.
đş 10. Drink a Super Mug at the Smoky Mountain Brewery
The Smoky Mountain Brewery is a Gatlinburg mainstay. It is the oldest craft brewery in East Tennesee and it used to be one of the only places you could get a decent beer in Gatlinburg. Luckily, times have changed and now youâll find craft beer all over Gatlinburg, but the beers from âThe Breweryâ (as it is affectionately known) are still local favorites. The Cherokee Red Ale and Black Bear Ale are both quite popular. Or if you want something lighter try the Velas Hellas, an easy-drinking German-style lager.
The Smoky Mountain Brewery is located just a few blocks from the entrance to the national park and is the perfect place to stop for a beer after a long hike. And if you really need to unwind you can get a âsuper mugâ â 33.8 ounces of beer (almost the equivalent of half a six-pack) â for just $6.75. The Smoky Mountain Brewery also hosts live music, trivia nights, and karaoke, so there is almost always something going on. Thatâs one of the reasons why itâs always been my favorite bar in Gatlinburg.
đ¸ 11. Sample Moonshine
As you walk around Gatlinburg, youâll no doubt start to notice several establishments selling moonshine. Youâll probably be thinking to yourself, âisnât moonshine illegal? Has the town of Gatlinburg totally forsaken the rule of law for a quick tourist dollar?â
Well, the only thing that ever really made moonshine illegal was that no one paid taxes on it to the federal government. There is nothing actually illegal about distilling grain alcohol, known as âwhite dogâ, which is then aged in oak barrels to make whiskey. In fact, the generic grain alcohol is often sold to college students as âEverclear.â All of these âMoonshineâ distilleries are essentially just selling Everclear in mason jars â very clever marketing! Gatlinburgâs moonshine distilleries are fun to visit and typically offer free samples of their hooch. Plus, you can see the distilling process and pick up a unique boozy gift for your friends back home.
The âshine is infused with dozens of different flavors you can choose from ranging from the ever-popular apple pie to stranger choices like maple bacon or peanut butter and jelly. The moonshine is when it has been soaked into fruit so be sure to try the moonshine cherries or moonshine peaches.
The 3 moonshine distilleries in Gatlinburg are Sugerlands Distilling Co., Ole Smoky Moonshine, and Doc Collier Moonshine.
đ 12. Walk Across the SkyBridge
Gatlinburg is now home to North Americaâs longest pedestrian suspension bridge. The Gatlinburg Skybridge spans 680-feet and is 140-feet high at its highest point. From here youâll have unparalleled views of the Smoky Mountains and of Gatlinburg far below. There is also a glass panel at the highest point along the Skybridge so you can look straight down 140-feet and scare yourself silly.
The suspension bridge is part of the SkyLift Park and to reach it youâll need to first ride the SkyLift from downtown Gatlinburg to the SkyDeck 500-feet above the town. This chairlift was first opened in 1954 making it one of Gatlinburgâs oldest attractions, but it got a major revamp after the Gatlinburg fire in 2016. Both the SkyDeck and SkyBridge are new additions.
đ¤ 13. Be Skeptical at Ripleyâs Believe it or Not
Probably the quirkiest thing you can do in Gatlinburg is to visit the Ripleyâs Believe it or Not Odditorium. Cartoonist and anthropologist LeRoy Robert Ripley worked with the fact researcher Norbert Pearlroth to create the famous cartoon panel, Ripleyâs Believe it or Not. This grew into a media empire that included books, radio, television and an ever-growing chain of museums and attractions.
Thanks to the extensive fact-checking by Norbert Pearlroth, most of Ripleyâs outlandish claims are actually trustworthy. But Iâll leave it up to you to decide whether you believe them⌠or not!
đ 14. See the Sea Life at the Aquarium
Ripleyâs Aquarium of the Smokies has been voted the best aquarium in the USA and is home to ~10,000 exotic sea creatures spread over 10 themed exhibits. Crowd favorites include the penguin encounter, the touch-a-ray stingray bay, and, of course, the underwater shark tunnel.
Make sure you check the schedule for the live dive shows before planning your visit to the Aquarium of the Smokies so you can see the penguins or stingrays being fed. And if youâre traveling with young kids, you wonât want to miss seeing one of the aquariumâs mermaid shows.
đ¸ 15. Get an Old-Timey Photo
One of the most iconic and entertaining activities in Gatlinburg, is taking an âold-timey photo.â You can find dozens of old-timey photo studios lining the main strip of Gatlinburg. Your group will get to dress up in hoop skirts, waistcoats, trench coats, gun belts, garter belts, feather boas, and anything else you can find in the costume closet. Youâll then have your photos taken with a period-appropriate backdrop and developed in sepia for that old-timey look! Itâs great fun for the whole family and makes for a great souvenir from your trip to Gatlinburg!
A word of warning: Make sure you are very clear on the pricing ahead of time as the pricing options are often confusing. Clarify whether the sitting fee is for the whole group or per person, how many different poses you can choose, how many prints youâll get, and whether you receive digital copies of the photos.
đ¨ 16. See Artwork at Arrowmont
The historic Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts has been educating artists and artisans for over 70 years. Here you will find classes and workshops on jewelry making, weaving, woodworking, ceramics and more! If you really want to get a feel for the Appalachia, then taking a class at Arrowmont is a great place to start. Of course, if you donât have time for a workshop, seeing their art collection is reason enough to visit Arrowmont. The school runs five art galleries that are open to the public with pieces from local and international artists. Arrowmont has a permanent collection of over 1,000 works of art as well as rotating exhibits. You can also visit the studio of the current artist in residence.
Arrowmontâs Art Galleries are open from 8:30am â 5:00pm Monday â Friday and from 10:00am â 4:00pm on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday.
đď¸ 17. Play Putt-Putt Golf
There are seven miniature golf courses in Gatlinburg. The most unique of them all is definitely Hillbilly Golf as it was built right onto the side of a steep hill and has been open for almost 50 years! Before beginning your game of putt-putt, youâll head 300 vertical feet straight up the hillside on Hillbilly Golfâs inclined railcar. Then youâll play a true Appalachian-themed game of miniature golf by putting your way down the mountain through tractors, moonshine stills, and outhouses.
If you are trying to figure out what to do on a rainy day in Gatlinburg, miniature golf is still an option! Head to Blindshot Barnabyâs Circus Golf or Gatlinâs which both offer indoor blacklight golf courses.
Other options for a round of putt-putt golf include Davy Crockett Mini-Golf, Cooterâs Place (if youâre a fan of The Dukeâs of Hazard), Treasure Quest (another indoor minigolf course), and a small miniature golf course at Ober Gatlinburg.
đ 18. Ride the Tram to Ober Gatlinburg
Another long-standing institution of Gatlinburg is the Aerial Tramway. Carrying up to 120 passengers at a time, the Gatlinburg Tram departs downtown and travels 2.1-miles to the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort high in the Smokies.
Youâll have great views of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains both during your tram ride and when you arrive at the top. There are also lots of fun things to do at Ober Gatlinburg all year round! You can go skiing in the winter, ride the Mountain Coaster or Alpine Slide in the summer, and go ice skating regardless of what season youâre visiting Gatlinburg.
âˇď¸ 19. Go Skiing
Ober Gatlinburg is Tennesseeâs only ski resort and if you are visiting in the winter, skiing or snowboarding is one of the best things to do in Gatlinburg. The ski area at Ober Gatlinburg is rather small, especially in comparison to many proper ski resorts in the Western part of the USA or Canada. Lift tickets are significantly cheaper on weekdays than on weekends. So, if youâll be visiting Gatlinburg for several days you should plan your skiing for a weekday as the slopes will also be much less crowded midweek. Ober also offers both ski rentals and lessons. They also have snow tubing which is quite popular with families visiting Gatlinburg in the winter.
Oberâs ski season generally lasts from mid-December until early March, but it is dependent on the weather so there is no way of saying for sure. If you plan to ski during your trip to Gatlinburg, then you should plan on visiting in January or February.
â¸ď¸ 20. Go Ice Skating
Another popular activity for visitors to Gatlinburg in the Winter is to go ice skating at Ober. The skating rink is open year-round, so if youâre visiting in the summer itâs also a great way to beat the heat in Tennessee. Itâs quite cold in the ice-skating rink, so if youâre heading to Ober Gatlinburg in the summer and want to go ice skating, make sure you bring a jacket or sweater.
Ober Gatlinburgâs ice-skating rink has been around for as long as I can remember and is home to Tennesseeâs annual Special Olympics ice-skating competition. At only $8 per person (including ice skate rentals) it is also one of the most affordable things to do in Gatlinburg,
đ˘ 21. Ride the Mountain Coaster
If youâre visiting Gatlinburg in the summer, you will miss out on the skiing, but luckily you can ride one of Ober Gatlinburgâs newest attractions, the Mountain Coaster. Youâll sail down 2,750-feet of winding track reaching top speeds of 25MPH. You control the speed of your car with a hand brake so you can choose whether to make your descent a leisurely ride or an all-out adrenaline rush!
I also recommend the Alpine Slide which is similar to the Mountain Coaster. On the slide, you descend a steep winding track down the mountain in a small vehicle that you control with a hand brake. The biggest difference is that your car is not attached to the track.
đť 22. Be Terrified at the Mysterious Mansion
The Mysterious Mansion looks like a very creepy Victorian-era mansion from the outside, and through the windows youâll spot shadowy figures moving around in the interior. The Mysterious Mansion has been a Gatlinburg mainstay for quite some time, but it went through a major renovation in 2012 which made it scarier and more realistic than ever. You can expect three floors of secret passageways, creepy special effects, and a legitimately scary haunted house. No refunds are given if you get too scared and leave early so make sure your whole group knows what theyâre getting themselves into!
If you really love haunted houses, then make sure to also check out Ripleyâs Haunted Adventure just a few blocks away on Gatlinburgâs main strip.
đ§ 23. Visit the Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum
If youâre looking for something weird to do in Gatlinburg, then look no further than the worldâs only salt and pepper shaker museum! Here youâll find a completely overwhelming collection of over 20,000 salt and pepper shakers plus an equally impressive assortment of 1,500 pepper mills.
This eclectic museum is the brainchild of Andrea Ludden, a Belgian archaeologist who wanted to showcase the variety and creativity of everyday items as mundane as salt and pepper shakers. Youâll find her ever-growing collection of salt and pepper shakers stacked 3-4 rows deep on dozens of wooden shelves and in glass cases.
The Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers is open daily from 10:00am-2:00pm, though you may want to check their Facebook page for current hours before heading over. Admission is $3 per adult and if you purchase something in the gift shop your cost of admission will be refunded!
đ¸ 24. See the View from the Space Needle
If youâre looking down on Gatlinburg from the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook or from the SkyLift Park, youâll quickly spot the Space Needle towering high over everything else in town. At 407-feet tall the Space Needle is the tallest structure in Gatlinburg, and when it was built in 1969, it was the second tallest building in Tennessee.
Guest access⼠The whole home is for you and your party!
Additional notesWe have one queen bed and three queen sofa beds. The sofa beds have 6" memory foam mattresses, they're super comfy!
We also have 18 pillows of varying softness / firmness. Take your pick!
Guest interaction⼠I am here for you during your stay, but our level of interaction is up to you. I'm only a phone call or message away. You will be able to self check-in upon arrival.
Neighborhood overview⼠Check out Airbnb's guide to my neighborhood: airbnb.com/s/Gatlinburg--TN/things-to-do
Getting aroundRenting a car? Save up to 70% off using my codes!
⼠Avis: X196290
⼠National: XZ23956
⼠Hertz: CDP#2052200
