Fallin’ For Gatlinburg

Being from a slow-paced, small town in North Carolina, moving to the hustle and bustle of Atlanta calls for some time away from the madness every once in a while. A little time off the grid is good for the soul, so I packed up and headed to the Great Smoky Mountains for a weekend getaway! Here’s my guide to what you should see and do during a weekend in Gatlinburg!

Come During Fall

I visited during the first weekend in November and I’ll be the first to tell you that it is the best weekend of the year. Fall is in full swing! The trees are perfectly colored and the weather is exactly how you’d want it for a weekend away - warm enough to enjoy yourself on the open landscapes of the mountain tops, but cool enough to break out that fall wardrobe that's been gathering dust in your closet all summer.

Where to Stay

Sevierville is a small mountain town near Gatlinburg that gives you that feeling of being disconnected from the city, with civilization just down the road in Gatlinburg. It's just a short drive from Gatlinburg (15 minutes) and Pigeon Forge (10 minutes). You can snag a cabin with a mountain views, hot tub, pool table, and much more for around $400 for the weekend. I recommend booking through booking.com because they include hotels and cabins.

I’ve also stayed in a hotel on the river in Gatlinburg before, which is equally as fun, but doesn’t really feel like you’re one with nature.. ya know?

What to Do

Anakeesta I’m not really sure what you would call Anakeesta. Google claims that it's an amusement park, but I’d say its a bunch of awesomeness crammed at the tallest point in Gatlinburg with the most beautiful view of the town. Anakeesta is the newest thing in Gatlinburg, built only a year ago, and it is home to mountaintop bars and restaurants, zip lines, a mountain coaster, swinging bridges, and more. To get up to Anakeesta you ride a “Chondola” up the mountain and are almost guaranteed to see a black bear or two. We saw 4 black bears while we were at Anakeesta!

The restaurant at Anakeesta is called Cliff Top and has one of the most amazing views I’ve ever seen. The food though, not so great. I’d recommend eating in downtown Gatlinburg and grabbing a drink at Cliff Top to enjoy the view!

Mountain Coaster I’m such a thrill seeker.. so there was no chance I was going to drive past this and not stop. The Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster is a a mixture of a roller coaster and go carts. You sit on a cart and ride all the way up the mountain like a roller coaster and as you go down, you are able to control how fast or slow you go down... Obvi we went full throttle down the mountain. I recommend going at night because the track is lit up with different colored lights and you can see the city lights of Pigeon Forge from the top.

Pigeon Forge Also known as the Myrtle Beach of the mountains, here you will find a 2-mile strip of anything and everything you could ever think of. Tons of restaurants, museums, go-carts, arcades, stores, you name it and it's probably there.

Walk Around Downtown Gatlinburg The town of Gatlinburg is a quaint little mountain town that almost feels like you’re in a different country. Here you will find restaurants, souvenir shops, Ripley's Believe It or Not, etc. My favorite two places were Pancake Pantry (try the peanut butter syrup!) and Donut Friar (for homemade donuts). And then I immediately went home and slipped into a sugar coma.

Stop on the Drive Up Some of the most breathtaking views you will see of the Great Smoky Mountains were on the drive up. Use the time to stretch your legs and calm your anxiety from the windy roads by pulling off on a lookout spot and taking in the beauty.

Where To Eat

The restaurant scene isn’t really one to rave about. The Local Goat (in Pigeon Forge) is a good spot for dinner but no other restaurants really wow-ed me. My recommendation is that you make plans for home-cooked meal at your cabin at least one night to get that rural feel that you’re looking for! Definitely hit up yelp for suggestions.

If you’re looking for a drivable weekend getaway, Gatlinburg is your spot! I hope this guide has been helpful and will help you plan your trip to the Great Smoky Mountains!