{"id":526963,"date":"2025-10-08T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/?p=526963"},"modified":"2025-10-07T17:27:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T21:27:02","slug":"find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/","title":{"rendered":"Find Outdoor Adventures and Exciting Attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When choosing a home base for exploring the Smoky Mountains, visitors flock to Gatlinburg. Between the unusual attractions and Appalachian cuisine, the former logging town bursts with happy people thrilled to be on vacation. Within minutes are Sevierville, the birthplace of Dolly Parton, and Pigeon Forge, where the country music star built her entertainment complex. But Gatlinburg\u2019s proximity to the mountains makes it Tennessee\u2019s top destination for outdoor adventure.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This story is part of our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/in-this-issue\/in-this-issue-september-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blue Ridge Mountain Getaways cover story<\/a>. We\u2019ve created itineraries for the best places to eat, shop, stay, and play at each stop along the 450-mile-plus expanse of the Blue Ridge Parkway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Getting there: <\/strong>From the terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Cherokee, North Carolina, take Newfound Gap Road for 33 miles through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-to-do\">What to Do<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gatlinburg is nestled in the Little Pigeon River Valley and surrounded by massive mountains. The picturesque arts-and-crafts architecture was constructed from stone and timber with a \u201clodgy\u201d feel inspired by the town\u2019s Appalachian roots.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/grsm\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Great Smoky Mountains National Park<\/a> was established in 1934, Gatlinburg was the closest village to the Sugarlands entrance, transforming it into a busy resort town. Visitors come for the fresh mountain air and assortment of lodging options. Artists and craft beverage makers have an enthusiastic audience here, and the locals embody a deep-rooted ethos of Southern hospitality.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a lot to do, so consult the experts at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gatlinburg.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gatlinburg Welcome Center<\/a>. Their tip: Park your car and ride the free Gatlinburg Trolley to tour downtown. Depending on your interests, they may recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ripleys.com\/attractions\/ripleys-aquarium-of-the-smokies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ripley\u2019s Aquarium of the Smokies<\/a>, shopping at <a href=\"https:\/\/thevillageshops.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Village<\/a>, or the pet- and bike-friendly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gatlinburg.com\/great-smoky-mountains\/hiking-trails\/gatlinburg-trail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gatlinburg Trail<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gatlinburg is all about stunning scenery mixed with high-energy thrills. Ride to the top of <a href=\"https:\/\/obermountain.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ober Mountain <\/a>on the Gatlinburg Tramway, the highest cable lift in Tennessee, where you can zipline over the treetops on The Cloud Catcher. Or if there\u2019s snow, go snowboarding, skiing, and tubing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get your steps in at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gatlinburgskypark.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gatlinburg SkyPark<\/a>, home of the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America. Take SkyLift to the top or hike the Towhee Trail, then climb Tulip Tower\u2019s observation decks for different perspectives of the undulating Smokies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a busy day, it\u2019s time to sample local beverages. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gatlinburgwinetrail.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Gatlinburg Wine Trail<\/a> features five makers of homemade wine, mead, and cider. Stop into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smokinbanjo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Smokin\u2019 Banjo<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oldmountainwine.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Old Mountain Wine Company<\/a> to taste Tennessee-centric flavors like blackberry and apple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With so much to do, it\u2019s easy to see why Gatlinburg reigns as Tennessee\u2019s most popular vacation town.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SkyLift.webp\" alt=\"Gatlinburg SkyLIft\" class=\"wp-image-526965\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Courtesy Gatlinburg SkyPark, photo by Nick Lambert<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-where-to-stay\">Where to Stay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are accommodations in and around Gatlinburg for every price point and interest. Family-friendly <a href=\"https:\/\/greystonelodgetn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Greystone Lodge on the River<\/a> is close to downtown but feels like a peaceful retreat. The adults-only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rockywatersinn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Historic Rocky Waters Inn<\/a> offers luxurious rooms overlooking Little Pigeon River. Outside of Gatlinburg are three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dollywood.com\/resorts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dollywood resorts<\/a>, along with cozy cabins at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hiddenmountain.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hidden Mountain Resort<\/a> and elegant condo-style rooms at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.riverstoneresort.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">River Stone Resort &amp; Spa<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-where-to-dine\">Where to Dine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gatlinburg is called the \u201cPancake Capital of the South\u201d thanks to the town\u2019s abundance of breakfast restaurants. Try <a href=\"https:\/\/crockettsbreakfastcamp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Crockett\u2019s Breakfast Camp<\/a> for a traditional country brunch or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.logcabinpancakehouse.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Log Cabin Pancake House<\/a> for buttermilk, cornmeal, buckwheat, and whole wheat hotcakes. <a href=\"https:\/\/greenbrierrestaurant.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Greenbrier Restaurant<\/a> is beloved for its dry-aged beef and romantic mountain setting. Sevierville\u2019s notable eateries include The Appalachian, serving modern takes on country classics. The <a href=\"https:\/\/applebarncidermill.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple Barn &amp; Cider Mill<\/a> bakes divine apple fritters, and Five Oaks Farm Kitchen features regional comfort foods.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-day-trips-from-gatlinburg\">Day Trips from Gatlinburg<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Anakeesta.webp\" alt=\"Anakeesta\" class=\"wp-image-526967\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Anakeesta (Courtesy Gatlinburg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-anakeesta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/anakeesta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Anakeesta<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Anakeesta is like a city on the hill with enough activities to stay busy all day. Begin your journey riding the Chondola or Ridge Rambler 600 feet above Gatlinburg, where you\u2019ll discover this sprawling park with breathtaking vistas of the Smoky Mountains. In the heart of the park is Anavista Tower, and the longest tree-based hanging bridge in North America, TreeTop SkyWalk. The TreeVenture challenge ropes course is geared to families, while the two mountain coasters and Dueling Ziplines are designed for adrenaline junkies. Wind down your visit touring Vista Gardens Arboretum or try one of Anakeesta\u2019s dining options, like The Cliff Top Restaurant or Tap House before Astra Lumina, an immersive year-round light show, begins.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Dollywood.webp\" alt=\"Ride at Dollywood\" class=\"wp-image-526966\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Courtesy The Dollywood Company<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-dollywood-parks-and-resorts\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dollywood.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dollywood Parks and Resorts<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This year, Dollywood celebrates 40 years of entertainment and hospitality developed by country music icon Dolly Parton, who founded her theme park to support residents in her birthplace, the Smoky Mountains. She designed two hotels: DreamMore Resort &amp; Spa with a homey, welcoming atmosphere, and HeartSong Lodge &amp; Resort, which immerses guests in Smokies-inspired d\u00e9cor and mountain views. For groups and families, there\u2019s Bear Cove Cabins, luxury chalets that are perched on a mountainside. The Dollywood theme park features rides, artisan demonstrations, live performances, and seasonal events such as the fall Harvest Festival and Flower &amp; Food Festival in spring. A highlight is The Dolly Parton Experience portraying Parton\u2019s life through interactive exhibits that showcase her career and philanthropy.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Great-Smoky-Mountains.webp\" alt=\"Great Smoky Mountains National Park\" class=\"wp-image-526968\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Great Smoky Mountains National Park (stock.adobe.com)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-great-smoky-mountains-national-park\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/grsm\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Great Smoky Mountains National Park<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are multiple entrances into America\u2019s most-visited National Park, but all require a parking tag available at a visitor center. The entrance closest to Gatlinburg is Sugarlands, which is often the busiest section but offers pedestrian trails for every skill level. Beginners can follow the 2.6-mile Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls. For advanced hikers, 4.6-mile Alum Cave Trail passes Arch Rock and Inspiration Point, culminating at the 80-foot-high Alum Cave Bluff. The misty hike to Rainbow Falls is another strenuous walk with an elevation gain of about 1,500 feet. You won\u2019t have to break a sweat on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The drive through old growth forests, fast-moving streams, and historic log cabins leads to some incredible views. A parking tag is $5 daily and $15 weekly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Feature image, Kevin Ruck\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong><em><strong>This story originally ran in our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/in-this-issue\/in-this-issue-september-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">September issue<\/a>. For more stories like this,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.secure.darwin.cx\/I34AWEBN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">subscribe<\/a>\u00a0to Northern Virginia Magazine.<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Just beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Smoky Mountains, this resort town promises a fun-filled getaway.","protected":false},"author":1001265,"featured_media":526969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-526963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.2 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Outdoor Adventures Await in Gatlinburg, Tennessee<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Just beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, promises a fun-filled getaway.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Find Outdoor Adventures and Exciting Attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Just beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, promises a fun-filled getaway.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Northern Virginia Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernVirginiaMag\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-08T11:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Renee Sklarew\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@NorthernVaMag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@NorthernVaMag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Renee Sklarew\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Renee Sklarew\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c61912a367aa3b2a9c2734ae4dab1238\"},\"headline\":\"Find Outdoor Adventures and Exciting Attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-08T11:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/\"},\"wordCount\":1047,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Travel\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/\",\"name\":\"Outdoor Adventures Await in Gatlinburg, Tennessee\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-08T11:00:00+00:00\",\"description\":\"Just beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, promises a fun-filled getaway.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"Kevin Ruck\/stock.adobe.com\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Find Outdoor Adventures and Exciting Attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/\",\"name\":\"Northern Virginia Magazine\",\"description\":\"Discover Northern Virginia&#039;s best places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. Get the latest on restaurants and fun things to do.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Northern Virginia Magazine\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/NVMlogo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/NVMlogo.jpg\",\"width\":1199,\"height\":385,\"caption\":\"Northern Virginia Magazine\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernVirginiaMag\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/NorthernVaMag\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/northernvirginiamag\/\"],\"description\":\"Discover Northern Virginia&#039;s best places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. Get the latest on restaurants and fun things to do.\",\"foundingDate\":\"2006-01-01\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c61912a367aa3b2a9c2734ae4dab1238\",\"name\":\"Renee Sklarew\",\"description\":\"A contributor to Northern Virginia Magazine since 2007, Renee Sklarew writes about travel, restaurants, and Mid-Atlantic landmarks. She is the co-author of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Washington DC, and her writing and photography has appeared in The Washington Post, Boston Globe, AAA The Extra Mile, Washingtonian, Arlington Magazine, and more.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/travelanddish.com\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/travelanddish\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/author\/rsklarew\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Outdoor Adventures Await in Gatlinburg, Tennessee","description":"Just beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, promises a fun-filled getaway.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Find Outdoor Adventures and Exciting Attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee","og_description":"Just beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, promises a fun-filled getaway.","og_url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/","og_site_name":"Northern Virginia Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernVirginiaMag\/","article_published_time":"2025-10-08T11:00:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"Renee Sklarew","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@NorthernVaMag","twitter_site":"@NorthernVaMag","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Renee Sklarew","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/"},"author":{"name":"Renee Sklarew","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c61912a367aa3b2a9c2734ae4dab1238"},"headline":"Find Outdoor Adventures and Exciting Attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee","datePublished":"2025-10-08T11:00:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/"},"wordCount":1047,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp","articleSection":["Travel"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/","name":"Outdoor Adventures Await in Gatlinburg, Tennessee","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp","datePublished":"2025-10-08T11:00:00+00:00","description":"Just beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, promises a fun-filled getaway.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gatlinburg.webp","width":1200,"height":800,"caption":"Kevin Ruck\/stock.adobe.com"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/things-to-do\/travel\/2025\/10\/08\/find-outdoor-adventures-and-exciting-attractions-in-gatlinburg-tennessee\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Find Outdoor Adventures and Exciting Attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/","name":"Northern Virginia Magazine","description":"Discover Northern Virginia&#039;s best places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. Get the latest on restaurants and fun things to do.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization","name":"Northern Virginia Magazine","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/NVMlogo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/NVMlogo.jpg","width":1199,"height":385,"caption":"Northern Virginia Magazine"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernVirginiaMag\/","https:\/\/x.com\/NorthernVaMag","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/northernvirginiamag\/"],"description":"Discover Northern Virginia&#039;s best places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. Get the latest on restaurants and fun things to do.","foundingDate":"2006-01-01"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c61912a367aa3b2a9c2734ae4dab1238","name":"Renee Sklarew","description":"A contributor to Northern Virginia Magazine since 2007, Renee Sklarew writes about travel, restaurants, and Mid-Atlantic landmarks. She is the co-author of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Washington DC, and her writing and photography has appeared in The Washington Post, Boston Globe, AAA The Extra Mile, Washingtonian, Arlington Magazine, and more.","sameAs":["http:\/\/travelanddish.com","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/travelanddish\/"],"url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/author\/rsklarew\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/526963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1001265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=526963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/526963\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/526969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=526963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=526963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=526963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}