Gatlinburg Vacation Ideas

Gatlinburg Vacation Ideas
Gatlinburg is located in Tennessee and, as of a 2000 U.S. Consensus report, has a total population of 3,828. Known for its culture and history, Gatlinburg is most visited for its hiking trails, national parks and natural habitation during the spring.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers travelers outdoor activities, cultural and historical events as well as dining and shopping. Spread out over 500,000 acres of forest land, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has most visitors of all the national parks in the country, according to Gatlinburg.com. With a sanctuary of plants and animals, the national park offers educational programs detailing its preservation efforts to prevent damage to ecosystems, pollution and deforestation. In addition, visitors can enjoy a day of fishing, bicycling, bird watching, camping, golfing, hiking, horseback riding and whitewater rafting.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Wagon Rides

Tour Gatlinburg by wagon. Travelers can enjoy an old-time wagon ride through the downtown area. Old Fashioned Wagon Rides is a non-profit entertainment group that offers wagon rides from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. All proceeds benefit the United Way. Travelers should meet at traffic light number 6 at Mountain Mall during hours of operation. Great for visitors in search of culture and history, wagon rides offer a unique perspective of Gatlinburg and are a great way to tour the city. As of 2009, the price of admission is $4.

Mountain Mail
611 Parkway # F15
Gatlinburg, TN 37738-3264

SpringFest

Visit Gatlinburg in the spring. SpringFest, a three-month celebration that starts in March and ends in June, is a great way for travelers to tour Gatlinburg as pansies, daffodils, tulips, mandevillas, bougainvilleas, lantanas, scaveolas and wave petunias bloom throughout the city. Outdoor enthusiasts and hikers might also be interested in the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, generally held in late April. The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage takes place at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offers 150 different hiking tours. It's a great way for visitors to see delicate wildflowers in bloom.

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Article Written By Charlie Gaston

Charlie Gaston has written numerous instructional articles on topics ranging from business to communications and estate planning. Gaston holds a bachelor's degree in international business and a master's degree in communications. She is fluent in Spanish and has extensive travel experience.

Write for Trails.com
  • Editor's Pick

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...

    More National Parks...
  • Popular Article

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...

    More National Parks...
  • Featured Destination

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...

    More Camping Basics...

Hotel Finder

Destination
Check-in
Check-out
Adults (18+ yrs)
Children (2-17 yrs)
Get Rates and Availability

Outdoor Gear & Equipment

ALL NEW Trails Gear Store powered by:

Trail Finder

US Map

Search by Keyword