The idyllic town of Gatlinburg in Tennessee is one of the most popular travel destinations in the United States of America. Tourists flock to Gatlinburg for its natural beauty, culinary scene, and variety of attractions. Every experience is infused with a unique culture, giving it a distinctive country feel.

Tourism is the backbone of Gatlinburg's local economy, and the community encourages and facilitates visitors who visit the scenic town. It is pertinent to mention that more than 11 million tourists visit the town per year. Located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the charming town provides three separate entrances.

The Great Smoky Mountains are visited by more visitors than any other park in the country - and for a good reason. Nothing can be more relaxing than spending your time in an alluring, peaceful, and picturesque place. The smoky Mountains are one of the oldest mountain ranges globally, have more than 100 tree species, and are known for their salamanders. It's called the Salamander capital of the world.

If you plan a trip with your family to Gatlinburg, it is wise to book cabins before visiting. Due to the influx of tourists, sometimes it becomes difficult to rent a place in real-time. You can book cabins while sitting in the comfort of your home. Google Gatlinburg cabin rentals and several options will pop up in the search results, scan all of them and select the best plan as per your need.

With this being said, let's take a look at some of the reasons why you must visit the quaint yet iconic town of Gatlinburg.

Beauty of Nature

The landscape, air, and the whole environment of Gatlinburg are just soothing and awe-inspiring. With the majestic mountains all around, you can experience a whole day's worth of fun with the entire family. The natural beauty of the town is out of this world.

Gatlinburg is beautiful no matter what the season is. Winter brings snow tubing and skiing, spring brings wildflowers, summer brings alpine slides and water rides, and fall brings colorful foliage. So, visiting in any part of the year will lead to a completely different experience.

It's Impossible to Predict What You'll Find 

It's impossible to know what you'll find in Gatlinburg. It's an unpredictable place full of surprises, whether you're looking for a place to eat or looking to buy clothes. There are specialty shops and boutiques along the Gatlinburg Strip that offer everything you never knew you wanted until now. 

The Dinner Show

The area also hosts famous dinner shows that you can't afford to miss once you're in the vicinity. The dinner is served in an arena or on a stage while guests enjoy entertainment in a country style. You can enjoy a variety of shows each night, including The Wonders of Magic, Lumberjack Adventure, Biblical Times, Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery, Comedy Barn, Smoky Mountain Opry, and Hatfield and McCoy.

If you are a Dolly Paxton fan, don't miss her dinner show, the Dixie Stampede, where horses race around a 35,000-square-foot arena. You can witness the riders jumping over bunched bales of hay and through flaming hoops. Later on, a four-course meal featuring classic American fare such as a chicken rotisserie, corn on the cob, pork loin, biscuits, baked potatoes, and dessert is served along with all the sodas or coffee that you can drink.

Experience Extravagance at the Gatlinburg’s SkyLift Park

Another thing that is worth visiting in Gatlinburg is undoubtedly one of its most thrilling walks over the Skybridge located in the Skylift Park. You can easily access it from Gatlinburg by taking an open-air chairlift up to Crockett Mountain's peak. Here you can experience the engineering marvels at Skylift Park, where the Skybridge is soaring above the gorgeous landscape that surrounds Gatlinburg.

The trail in this park known as the SkyTrail combines different paths leading up to the SkyDeck that features a suspended broadway hanging from a cliff. Similarly, you'll find a rope bridge connecting the broadway to the four viewing platforms of the Tulip Tower. 

Once you've enjoyed enough of the spectacular views of the mesmerizing scenery from the tower, head over to the SkyCenter for another dose of the breathtaking views of the downtown and the Smoky Mountains. 

And if by any chance you're visiting the area by the end of the year, then ensure that you take advantage of the special 'Lights over Gatlinburg' festival, during which the SkyBridge is illuminated by 60,000 bulbs hanging along the bridge to create a 200-foot tunnel of light along the bridge. 

For the Love of Pancakes

Pancakes are quite famous in this town. Over 20 pancake houses are located within 10 miles of Gatlinburg. A variety of toppings and combinations are available for pancakes and crepes. For example, you can order blueberry-filled pancakes or sweet potato pancakes topped with chocolate chips. There are also items on the menu with a geographic theme, such as Caribbean-style pancakes with bananas, chopped nuts, powdered sugar, and coconut. Well, now it's what we call a fantastic start to the day.

Pancake houses serve more than just these popular breakfast cakes; they also serve classic American breakfasts such as apple pie, French toast, bacon waffles, country ham, country-fried steak, and biscuits and gravy.

You can't go wrong when picking the best pancake house. While Tennessee's Pancake Pantry is the first pancake house, the experience is similar throughout, with friendly staff and a homey atmosphere. Therefore, you can go wherever you want and enjoy delicious pancakes.

Final Words

Visiting Gatlinburg will surely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The landscape, environment, people, and facilities are things you will remember for the rest of your life. So, if you’re looking for a place to spend some quality time with your loved ones, Gatlinburg will be perfect for you. Just remember to rent cabins before you get there, as it will save your time.

Hope this article increased your curiosity and encouraged you to visit Gatlinburg and see its breathtaking views.