3 Great Activities in Downtown Gatlinburg

Are you looking for more things to do during your stay at our Gatlinburg large cabins? If so, take the short drive down to the city. It has a variety of activities for visitors of all ages. Need some ideas on where to go? Take a look at our list of some great activities in downtown Gatlinburg:

1. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Voted “Best Aquarium in North America” by USA Today, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is one of the most popular attractions in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountain area. Visitors love the many immersive experiences, one of which is the Glass Bottom Boat Adventure. When you come aboard the boat that floats across Shark Lagoon, you will have more than 8,500 aquatic animals at your feet. There will be small fish, giant 12-foot sharks, and everything in between. The aquarium also houses one of the best penguin exhibits in the world and so much more! No matter what activity you choose, the aquarium’s knowledgeable staff will be there to tell you more about the animals you see. Some of them even participate in live dive shows where they teach visitors from behind the glass.

2. The Gatlinburg Space Needle and Arcadia

Downtown Gatlinburg is also home to the Gatlinburg Space Needle. At the bottom, go inside Arcadia, the largest arcade in Gatlinburg, with over 25,000 square feet of fun games, such as Skee-Ball and Pac-Man. Work hard to win tickets and redeem them for a fun prize! And of course, the main attraction here is the observation deck. Visitors get to it by riding an all-glass elevator 400 feet up! Once you step off the elevator, admire panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains and take a moment to read some of the markers placed around the observation deck to learn more about the area.

3. The Village Shops

The Village Shops is an area of downtown Gatlinburg that is modeled after an old-time European village. It has unique souvenir shops, fun activities, and more! At Gatlin’s Escape Games, see if you and your travel group can complete all the challenges and become Master Magi. The attraction also has a gift shop with great puzzles that you can take home. As for souvenirs, find some sweet scents at Candle Cottage. This is a family founded business that specializes in making great candles. Some of their unique scents include Fresh Peaches and Mountain Air. They also have a collection of MoonPie scented candles as well! Other places to find souvenirs here include the Spice and Tea Exchange. Pick up a cozy hot tea to go with your candle or a refreshing iced tea for summer. Whip up delicious dishes using their extensive collection of handcrafted spices and salts. The shop also has great kitchen accessories like cutting boards and other tools. When you’re done with all your shopping, stop by The Donut Friar to get a sweet treat! The bakery has delicious donuts along with other options, such as cinnamon bread! All of them go perfect with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate!

We hope you get to experience some of these great activities in downtown Gatlinburg! Want to know even more about attractions in the area? Check out our other list of the best things to do in Gatlinburg with a large group!