Quick Guide to Areas Around Gatlinburg
I took the photo above from a cabin in Black Bear Ridge Resort located off of Lost Branch Road in Sevierville. (This resort is not far from Walden's Creek)
Smoky Mountain Area Guide
for the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, & Sevierville
(See Map Below)
Wears Valley
Description: Off the beaten path
A small community to the west of Pigeon Forge. Wide valley surrounded by breathtaking mountains.
Known For: A valley with breathtaking views, slower pace, antiques, relaxing, festivals, farms, shops, expensive real estate
Some Things You Will Find There - Riverwoods Home Furnishings, Elvira's Cafe, The Preserve Resort, Mountain Brothers General Store, Wears Valley Antiques, The Missing Link & Foothills Parkway, Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch, Metcalf Bottoms Trailhead/Picnic area in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Ski Mountain
Description: Off the beaten path
A long road that takes you from downtown Gatlinburg up into the mountainous area above Gatlinburg that also branches off into Chalet Village.
Known For: Breathtaking views, ski chalets, Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Skiing, short drive to downtown Gatlinburg, mountainous terrain, ice skating, snowboarding, snow tubing and other winter fun, abundant Black bear sightings.
Some Things You Will Find There - Ober gatlinburg Amusement Park, Puzzled, Ober Gatlinburg Snow Tubes, Ski Mountain Pizza, Mount Harrison, Sky Lift, Downtown Gatlinburg, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Gatlinburg Trail, Sugarland Visitor Center.
Walden's Creek
Description: Off the beaten path
A small rustic area tucked into the western side of Pigeon Forge that is less developed, also convenient to Wears Valley. Wooded, beautiful and serene.
Known For: Convenient to Pigeon Forge, less developed, rustic mountain scenery outside of town, horseback riding stables, quiet privacy, cabin resorts.
Some Things You Will Find There - The Summit on Bluff Mountain Cabins, Wedding Chapel at Little Valley, Goats on the Roof Mountain Coaster, Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, Friendly Falls Attraction, Moonshine Ridge, Little Valley Mountain Resort, Wears Valley Zipline Adventures, Whaley's Country Store.
Gatlinburg
Description: A small, charming vacation town and extremely popular tourist mecca in the mountains that draws millions of people each year with a variety of competitive lodging options.
Known For: Mountain town with German and Scottish roots, cozy, busy and bustling, 2016 wildfires, top tourist destination in the US., beauty and history, closest to, and bordering on Great Smoky Mountain National Park, bear sightings, cabins, hotels, condos, the downtown strip, distilleries, nightlife.
Some Things You Will Find There - Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Ripley's Aquarium, Entrance to The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Ole Smoky Moonshine, Sugarlands Distilling, Gatlinburg Space Needle, Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster, Herbert Holt Park, Anakeesta, Ripley's Davey Crockett Mini Golf, Park Vista Hotel, Ole Red's, Mysterious Mansion, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Rafting in the Smokies, Crockett's Breakfast Camp, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Smith & Sons Restaurant, Burg Steakhouse, Cherokee Grill, and much more.
Pigeon Forge
Description: Sweeping, mountain vacation town with a wide, flat Parkway that blankets the land in between Sevierville and Gatlinburg, with many area attractions.
Known For: Family-friendly tourist attractions area, Dollywood Theme Parks, theater shows, a variety of lodging choices, distilleries, dining, car shows.
Some Things You Will Find There - Dollywood and Splash Country, The Old Mill Restaurant, Dolly Parton's Stampede, Titanic Museum, Parrot Mountain, Wonderworks, Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show, The Mountain Mile, Hard Rock Cafe, Country Tonite Theatre, Biblical Times Dinner Theater, Christmas Place, The Tomb, Rocky Top Harley Davidson, The Island & The Wheel, Alcatraz East Museum, Patriot Park, The Ripken Experience, Hollywood Wax Museum, The Local Goat Restaurant.
Sevierville
Description: Fast growing small town with a big personality. The first town you come to on your way into Sevier County from Interstate 40. County seat for Sevier County.
Known For: Hometown of Dolly Parton, toursim and attractions, county seat, shopping, less mountainous terrain than Gatlinburg.
Some Things You Will Find There - The Apple Barn, Tanger Outlets, Nascar SpeedPark, The Appalachian Restaurant, Adventureworks Climb Zipswing, The Wilderness Waterpark, Forbidden Caverns, Helicopter Tours, River Plantation RV Resort, Escape Reality Comics and Collectibles, Bluff Mountain Adventures, Sevier Air Indoor Trampoline and Ninja Warrior Park, Tennessee Museum of Aviation, "The Dolly Statue" and much more.
The Glades
Description: Off the beaten path
The very definition of the word glade is an open space in the woods. Glades Rd and Buckhorn Rd area. 8 Mile Loop, small community of 120 artists and craftspeople.
Known For: Home of the Arts and Crafts Community just outside downtown Gatlinburg, lovely wooded and rustic area with cabins, resort options, unique eateries, and shopping. Close proximity to Gatlinburg and Pittman Center.
Some Things You Will Find There - Too many to list here but to name a few, Three Jimmy's Good Time Eatery, Alewine Pottery, Apple Annie's, Cliff Dweller's Gallery, Fox and Parrot Tavern, Earthworks Rock Candles, Glades Soda Fountain, Greenbrier Pottery, "Wine a Little" Wine and Tapas Bar, Holly & Willow Pet Barn, Mohr Custom Knives, Smoky Mountain Slate Candles, and Many More.
Kodak
Description: Main Entrance to Sevier County for out-of-state travelers. I-40 intersection with Main Parkway leading into Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg.
Known For: Convenient to interstate location and gateway exit where millions of tourists come in. Douglas Lake, hotels, Lake Cabins and camping, Flea Markets, Shadrack's Christmas Light Show, The Wilderness Resort and Soaky Mountain Waterpark
Some Things You Will Find There - Douglas Lake, Helicopter tours, Campgrounds, Knifeworks, The Wilderness Waterpark Resort, Smokies Baseball Stadium, Flea Markets, Bass Pro Shop, Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson, Tennessee Legends Distillery, River Islands Golf Club, Seven Islands State Birding Park, and Soaky Mountain Waterpark, Buccees
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