By Keith Evans
Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a popular
resort town nestled in the southern Appalachian mountains. While couples flock to the town to enjoy its
romantic allure, the town also offers a number of fun attractions designed with kids in mind.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Billed as the largest aquarium in the South, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is home to more than 10,000 creatures of the sea and more than 350 individual species of sea life. The aquarium is laid out in an easy to navigate format, and its kid-friendly halls are colorful, fun and educational at the same time. The aquarium is open 365 days per year, though it closes two hours earlier (at 9:00 p.m. as opposed to 11:00 p.m.) during the winter off-season months.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
88 River Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738-3261
(865) 430-8808
ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com
Hollywood Wax Museum
Chock full of lifelike wax creations of some of the most famous characters in entertainment history, the Hollywood Wax Museum on the Gatlinburg parkway is a great place to explore with kids of almost any age. While younger kids may not know some of the characters--Jeannie from "I Dream of Jeannie" is virtually unknown to today's youth, for example--the colorful outfits and numerous likenesses of current pop culture icons will likely keep children's interest. Families with young children should avoid the "Gallery of Horrors" at the end of the museum, though older kids will likely enjoy the recreations of great Hollywood horror movie personalities.
Hollywood Wax Museum
903 Parkway, Suite 103
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
(865) 430-1800
hollywoodwax.com
The Aerial Tramway
Gatlinburg offers one highly unique mode of transportation to its mountaintop resort: one of the country's only municipal aerial tramways currently in operation. After buying a round-trip ticket (there is no one-way option), riders board a box-like tram at the station and soar hundreds of feet above the town as they are lifted skyward on heavy-duty wires. Children love the flying sensation, and the bear habitat, ice skating rink and arcade at the Ober Gatlinburg Resort (the tram's ultimate destination) are a fun ways to complete the experience.
Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway
1001 Parkway
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
(865) 436-5423
The Space Needle
Towering high above the mountain town, Gatlinburg's own space needle offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the town and surrounding mountains from 400 feet above street level. Families buy tickets on the ground then board an elevator, though highly energetic families may inquire about the option to walk up 40 flights of stairs to the needle's observation deck. After the needle experience is complete, families with kids of all ages can still enjoy the attraction's 25,000 square foot family fun center.
Gatlinburg Space Needle
115 Historic Nature Trail
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
(865) 436-4629
gatlinburgspaceneedle.com
Resources
About the Author:
Keith Evans has been writing professionally since 1994 and now works from his office outside of Orlando. He has written for various print and online publications and wrote the book, "Appearances: The Art of Class." Evans holds a Bachelor of Arts in organizational communication from Rollins College and is pursuing a Master of Business Administration in strategic leadership from Andrew Jackson University.
