Absolutely charmed by the mountain back drop I knew that Gatlinburg, TN had to be the place where I said “I Do.” In celebration of our wedding anniversary my husband and I returned to the Smoky Mountains. Here are 6 things to do in (and around) Gatlinburg, TN.

6.) Moonshine Tasting

How can you go to the smokies and not do a moonshine tasting? There are several options to choose from downtown Gatlinburg including Ole Smoky. My personal favorite is Surgarlands.

Surgarlands Distilling Co. is the perfect place for a group, date night or even as a solo traveler because of their tasting style. After spending $5, you get assigned a tasting bar. The bar is circular with the center open for the host.

The host greets the group and lays out the rules before going down the tasting menu for the day (the tasting list is switched out everyday so you will likely try something new every visit). My favorite rule (one of three) is drinking together. Participants have to wait for the host to finish pouring all the drinks before you can toss it back which makes for a community experience.

The hosting style is what sets Surgarlands apart. They are quick witted, incredibly welcoming and absolutely fun. Our host this time around was Maddog Madison.

Finally, the moonshine is delicious! A great mix of bold flavors and traditional blending. Whether you just do the tasting, grab one of their cocktails or take some home Surgarlands does not disappoint.

5.) Ole Red

There are so many restaurants to choose from but I put this on the list because of how blown away I was by the overall experience.

Ole Red is a restaurant located downtown Gatlinburg and is part-owned by Blake Shelton. The whole restaurant is centered around the stage which is booked with incredible talent. Think Hard Rock Café but with country music.

This is what blew me away…the food was amazing! I’ll be honest, I had low expectations considering they had live music. I expected Ole Red to rely on the live music to be the draw and skimp on the food, but that is just not the case.

The menu is classic Americana and full of flavor. The bacon burger was juicy, well seasoned and more delightful than I anticipated. The fries were crispy yet soft. I couldn’t get enough.

4.) View the City from Above

There are various different parks in Gatlinburg that sit in the mountains. Ober Gatlinburg is one of the older attractions and is known for its’ winter activities. Gatlinburg Skylift Park is where you will find the Instagramable Skybridge (and truly a must-do at least once).

The final and my personal favorite is Anakeesta. In addition to the gorgeous panoramic views of the smokies visitors can enjoy a variety of attractions including zip lining, a tree top walk, gardens, a mountain coaster, shops and food.

You can get to the park using their ski lift which has both ski benches and enclosed cabs making the trip to the park more accessible to visitors.

3.) Dollywood

Ok, so this is actually in Pigeon Forge but it’s too fabulous not to include. I’ve heard wonderful things about this theme park and was so excited to attend for the first time.

This family friendly theme park truly has something for everyone. From coasters and games to great food and Dolly Parton what’s not to love? In fact Dollywood has won the Golden Pass award for best theme park food and it’s no wonder why.

The thing I loved most about this park is the incredible live music at every turn. There wasn’t a moment we didn’t hear beautiful vocals. I truly appreciated being able to walk by, enjoy a few songs and continue on to the next live performance.

What made this particular visit to the park special was the harvest festival and Great Pumpkin Luminights. We went for the first day of the special event and it continues through October 31. They had special crafters, vendors, themed eats and of course many designed and staged pumpkins. We had a lot of fun looking at all the different scenes they had set up for the pumpkins.

2.) Great Smoky Mountain National Park

It’s likely that you came to the southern part of Tennessee to enjoy the mountains so why not make a visit (or a couple) to the National Park.

From hiking and horse back riding to sightseeing and nature gazing there is so much to do. Visitors can also drive through parts of the park instead of walking the trails.

I ranked this so high because it was the one thing we didn’t get to do during our first visit (aka our wedding) and we regretted it. I’m so glad we made our way back and took time to hike.

My best advice is to research ahead (here) what trails you may want to check out during your trip. We just showed up and hoped for the best. Luckily the first trail we chose had great views about 1.5 miles up but not much else until another 7 miles. We started ambitious but after 4 miles of hiking realized we won’t make it to the next mile marker and headed back.

1.) Make time to sit with the views

Seriously, carve out a good 30 minutes and just soak in the views. Whether it’s during your hike, at one of the mountain parks or from your accommodations; make that time. There is something mystifying about the mountains and worth soaking in.

There is so much to do in Gatlinburg, TN. While this barely scratches the surface I hope this list help you plan your next trip. For accommodations keep reading.

Accommodations

We have stayed in a cabin and in a hotel. My personal recommendation for cabins is going with Gatlinburg Falls Resort but be sure it is not in Wears Valley. From the research I accrued in 2019 those cabins were not as well taken care of as the others in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Guests also receive several coupons that can be used in the area.

For hotels I truly enjoyed our stay at the Courtyard located on Community Drive. Very clean, a short drive from all the attractions listed and had balconies with a Mountain View. The Mountain View is not the same as the cabins but still nice.

6 Must-Do's in and around Gatlinburg Tennessee