Ober Gatlinburg Review

The most popular part of Ober Gatlinburg is its snowboarding and skiing in the winter. There are many slopes to choose from, as well as a chairlift that provides a breathtaking view of the mountain. The chairlift is open year-round and the entire ride is 30 minutes. A giant ice rink in the mall is open year-round and is great fun for people of all ages. You can skate in the summer and it is a great place for beginners to learn. There is also an arcade, several different shopping areas, restaurants and the famous Smoky Mountain Wildlife Adventure that features bears, otters, squirrels, raccoons, turtles and other native wildlife.

Ober Gatlinburg features a lot of attractions that will appeal to children. From a giant pirate ship playground to the wildlife encounter, they will be kept busy all day. The shopping and dining experience is good as well, and families will have a blast learning to ice skate. The water rides don't require tourists to be wearing bathing suits, so you won't need to change out of your clothes.

There are some drawbacks to Ober Gatlinburg. Most of the rides and attractions are aimed towards children. If you're not there in the winter for skiing, there are limited options. The amusement park mostly contains kid's rides, and if you're from Tennessee, you've seen most of the animals at the wildlife encounter. The water rides are also limited and boring for older children and adults. The events get pricey as well. While the individual attractions are cheap, each one costs something, even the pirate ship playground. This can add up quickly. To get up the mountain, you either must ride the aerial tram or the chairlift, or choose to drive up the narrow lanes. Driving is a hassle, and for those afraid of heights the lifts are extremely scary. If you're just going for the shopping, you'll save some money and time by staying at the bottom of the mountain and seeing the shops there.

Ober Gatlinburg is great for skiing, snowboard and ice skating, but the first two are only open in the winter. While the shopping centers are nice, the same things can be found in the Gatlinburg area without going up the mountain. Getting up the mountain can be scary, traffic and tourists always crowd the roads and shops, and the price of the events adds up. Only younger children will find rides and attractions they really like, and teenagers and adults will probably be bored. Ober Gatlinburg has a few nice attractions, such as the scenic view from the chair lift (if you enjoy heights) and the giant mall which houses the indoor ice rink. But for the price you pay, you may have a cheaper and happier vacation visiting elsewhere.