When you come to the Smoky Mountains for your family getaway, you want to do things that the entire family will enjoy. Finding activities that anyone of any age will enjoy isn’t hard! Keep reading to find a list of 5 of the best family friendly things to do in Gatlinburg while you’re on your vacation!
1. Anakeesta
You’ll find all kinds of things to do when you visit Anakeesta. Ride up the mountainside in a chondola overlooking the beautiful Smoky Mountains, and once you’re at the top, the kids can play at the Treehouse Village Playground for hours or take a walk around the botanical gardens. The kids will love the Tree Canopy Walk where they’ll feel like a bird in the trees. Feeling adventurous? Take a ride on the zipline or the mountain coaster. In the Firefly Village, there’s plenty of places to grab meals and snacks. You’ll also find lots of unique shops where you can pick up souvenirs before you head back down the mountain.
2. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Kids absolutely love seeing all the deep-sea creatures and animals of the rainforest in Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. They can get hands-on experience with horseshoe crabs and manta rays. Everyone loves traveling on the glidepath through the tunnel under Shark Lagoon. Plus, it’s fun to try and spot Sally the sea turtle! You and the kids will enjoy watching the penguins play with each other at the Penguin Playhouse. If you want to see all kinds of strange creatures, head over to the Gallery of the Seas! The aquarium is one of the best family friendly things to do in Gatlinburg.
3. Gatlin’s Mini Golf
One of the most fun family friendly things to do in Gatlinburg is play mini golf. It’s something that will keep the whole crowd entertained with different obstacles on each hole and a variety of features throughout the course. At Gatlin’s Mini Golf, you have two outdoor courses to choose from that are on the side of the mountain, or you can play indoors on the blacklight course. No matter which course you choose, you’ll have a ton of fun!
4. Ripley’s Super Funzone
Playing games at Ripley’s Super Funzone to win prizes is something any kid or adult will have a blast doing! Everyone plays games they like to win points or even play two player games just for fun. There’s a ton of cool prizes that range in number of points, so no matter how many you earn, you can take something home. And if anyone in your family has a sweet tooth, you can stop by the candy shop and pick out favorite treats before you leave.
5. Ober Gatlinburg
If you and your family come to Gatlinburg during the winter, you should head to Ober Gatlinburg. You can ski and snowboard down man-made snow hills or go snow tubing. Ober provides equipment you can rent, so you don’t have to bring your own. Even if you come during warmer months, Ober has plenty of activities for your family, including the aerial tram that takes you over downtown Gatlinburg for amazing views of the mountains. You can also ice skate any time during the year on the indoor skating rink. Ride the alpine slide down the mountain, climb the rock wall, or see native animals at the Wildlife Encounter during warm months.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to stay when you visit all these amazing attractions, choose one of our family friendly cabins in Gatlinburg! You’re sure to find all kinds of things to do while you’re in town. Want to know more about area attractions? Check out our family friendly things to do in Gatlinburg!
