Recommendations for Knoxville/Gatlinburg summer trip

[G in MP]

Originally Posted by GWoodle

Best value is to stay somewhere in Gatlinburg. You can be 1/2 mile from Ripley's Aquarium. Then you can try Ober Gatlinburg or Gatlinburg Space Needle. Wherever you stay be on the lookout for bears. They can be in the creek behind your place. Several shops, moonshine, usual tourist shopping up & down the Parkway.

At some point check out the Smoky Mountain National Park.

Between Sevierville and Pigeon Forge plenty of attractions to get your money. Check if you can get discount tickets. Because of the crowds at times plan ahead.

Cool, thanks! Yes, our motel is around a 7 minute walk from the aquarium. DA BRZ! Sorry, I'm from Chicago.

[G in MP]

Originally Posted by sluggermatt15

This is an excellent suggestion. Go early! And be mindful if one parks their vehicle longer than 15 minutes, a parking pass is required.

Definitely on the to do list, thank you! Any suggestions on which way to go about it? On the website for the park, they list various auto tours to take, and also paths. We wouldn't mind doing both, but easy hikes on paths, nothing too crazy. We won't have proper hiking gear for like full-scale hikes.

[sluggermatt15]

Originally Posted by G in MP

Definitely on the to do list, thank you! Any suggestions on which way to go about it? On the website for the park, they list various auto tours to take, and also paths. We wouldn't mind doing both, but easy hikes on paths, nothing too crazy. We won't have proper hiking gear for like full-scale hikes.

If you don't have hiking gear or boots I would do the driving tours. You can definitely take in some nice scenery there. Also if there are any stopping points to look, do those.

[TheShadow]

You will want to do the Roaring Fork Motor Trail which is just outside of downtown Gatlinburg. There are several places to stop along the route to explore the cabins of early settlers' families that lived here, and a few hiking trails. There are short walks and little easy hikes around the cabins. There are several easy walks like the flat trail from Gatlinburg to the Sugarlands visitor center. There's another easy trail near the visitor center to a waterfall. There's the always crowded Laurel Falls trail which is right off the river road. Throughout the park you will find signed easy trails called "Quiet Walkways". The Cades Cove Loop is a loop road through the cove and there are various historical cabins, old churches w/cemeteries, and a grist mill to investigate. You may even see some bears if you're lucky. None of these requires anything other than tennis shoes and a bottle of water. And don't forget your camera.

[G in MP]

Originally Posted by TheShadow

You will want to do the Roaring Fork Motor Trail which is just outside of downtown Gatlinburg. There are several places to stop along the route to explore the cabins of early settlers' families that lived here, and a few hiking trails. There are short walks and little easy hikes around the cabins. There are several easy walks like the flat trail from Gatlinburg to the Sugarlands visitor center. There's another easy trail near the visitor center to a waterfall. There's the always crowded Laurel Falls trail which is right off the river road. Throughout the park you will find signed easy trails called "Quiet Walkways". The Cades Cove Loop is a loop road through the cove and there are various historical cabins, old churches w/cemeteries, and a grist mill to investigate. You may even see some bears if you're lucky. None of these requires anything other than tennis shoes and a bottle of water. And don't forget your camera.

Thanks, that's great info! Definitely want to check out the settlers' cabins!

[sluggermatt15]

I was in Gatlinburg yesterday. My wife really wanted to visit Anakeesta and to see the Astra Lumina. The park was OK. There is not a whole lot to see inside it if you don't have kids. Astra Lumina was impressive. We probably won't go back to the park, but will visit Gatlinburg again.

[G in MP]

Originally Posted by sluggermatt15

I was in Gatlinburg yesterday. My wife really wanted to visit Anakeesta and to see the Astra Lumina. The park was OK. There is not a whole lot to see inside it if you don't have kids. Astra Lumina was impressive. We probably won't go back to the park, but will visit Gatlinburg again.

Wow, that Astra Lumina thing looks awesome, thank you, we're definitely gonna check it out after dinner/drinks!

Do you have to pay for both Anakeesta and Astra Lumina?

[TheShadow]

Yes. The Astra Lumina is $13 extra I think. We've done AL twice. We have season passes to Anakeesta because they only cost about the same as 2 visits, and they give you one day free guest pass with each season pass. We always take guests to Anakeesta to enjoy the fabulous views, see live music (usually on weekends), have a meal (2 restaurants plus a takeout and food trucks) and a few drinks, and maybe do a zipline or the tree canopy walk. You do have to reserve for the zipline in advance at extra cost. The view from the tower is awesome. We enjoy the lift up to the top of the mountain too. It's just so pretty when all the flowers are in bloom, and a pleasant way to spend a few hours. Go late in the day, have dinner, and then the Astra Lumina starts after dark. If you have a TN address on your ID, there's a discount for season passes. There's also a military discount.

[sluggermatt15]

Originally Posted by TheShadow

Yes. The Astra Lumina is $13 extra I think. We've done AL twice. We have season passes to Anakeesta because they only cost about the same as 2 visits, and they give you one day free guest pass with each season pass. We always take guests to Anakeesta to enjoy the fabulous views, see live music (usually on weekends), have a meal (2 restaurants plus a takeout and food trucks) and a few drinks, and maybe do a zipline or the tree canopy walk. You do have to reserve for the zipline in advance at extra cost. The view from the tower is awesome. We enjoy the lift up to the top of the mountain too. It's just so pretty when all the flowers are in bloom, and a pleasant way to spend a few hours. Go late in the day, have dinner, and then the Astra Lumina starts after dark. If you have a TN address on your ID, there's a discount for season passes. There's also a military discount.

^This.

Most activities at Anakeesta are add-ons, which means they are extra $. With the general admission to Anakeesta you get transportation to the mountain, the tree top walk, access to the top of the observatory tower, and maybe a couple others. It's not a lot.

[Igor Blevin]

Originally Posted by TheShadow

Yes. The Astra Lumina is $13 extra I think. We've done AL twice. We have season passes to Anakeesta because they only cost about the same as 2 visits, and they give you one day free guest pass with each season pass. We always take guests to Anakeesta to enjoy the fabulous views, see live music (usually on weekends), have a meal (2 restaurants plus a takeout and food trucks) and a few drinks, and maybe do a zipline or the tree canopy walk. You do have to reserve for the zipline in advance at extra cost. The view from the tower is awesome. We enjoy the lift up to the top of the mountain too. It's just so pretty when all the flowers are in bloom, and a pleasant way to spend a few hours. Go late in the day, have dinner, and then the Astra Lumina starts after dark. If you have a TN address on your ID, there's a discount for season passes. There's also a military discount.

I wish SkyPark had season passes.