You can explore Gatlinburg during your stay from several different perspectives: along a trail, through crafts, with animal encounters, or by enjoying the attractions at SkyPark. When looking for a hotel, it helps to first sort out these interests. That way, you can plan around the experiences you actually want to include in your days.
Trail, Loop and Crafts
For the Gatlinburg Trail, the approximate length of 4 miles (6.4 km) refers to the entire round trip. So when using the distance to plan, be sure to count both directions.
The Historic Arts & Crafts Trail, by contrast, is an 8-mile loop featuring shops, studios, galleries and restaurants, with more than 100 artists and craftspeople. The figures therefore refer to different types of routes: a complete round trip on the Gatlinburg Trail and a loop with a variety of attractions on the Arts & Crafts Trail.
Gatlinburg’s craft community includes shops and galleries featuring pottery, paintings, quilts, wood carvings, musical instruments and leatherwork. This gives you specific starting points for your visit beyond any one art form: you might be interested in visual, textile, wood or musical works.
SkyPark and Aquarium: Different Experiences
At Gatlinburg SkyPark, you can cross the SkyBridge and then hike along the SkyTrail. A ride on the yellow chairlift takes you to mountain overlooks. Crossing the bridge, hiking and riding the chairlift are different activities at SkyPark, so you can plan your visit around the ones that interest you most.
At Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, you can touch horseshoe crabs, jellyfish and stingrays. For a deeper experience, the staff offer a variety of educational programs. This sets it apart from SkyPark: here, the focus is on animal encounters and educational programs; there, on activities involving the bridge, trail and chairlift.
A Historic Point of Interest
The Ogle Cabin was built in 1807. Its construction date gives the local history theme a specific point in time and offers a different focus from trails, crafts, SkyPark or the aquarium. A historic point of interest and today’s experiences are thus different interests to consider when making your selection.
Trolleys and Choosing Accommodations
The Gatlinburg Trolleys operate daily, 365 days a year; schedules vary by route and special event. There are no fares or fees for rides. Check the schedule and applicable fare information in advance if you plan to include the trolleys in your travel plans.
When choosing a hotel, you can first decide which of the interests described will shape your stay. Then check the specific routes to the places you plan to visit; if you’re considering the trolley, compare your destinations with its route and schedule.
A Regional Look at Sevier
The North of the River Fall Driving Tour offers another regional perspective within the broader destination of Sevier. It explores the area of Sevier County north of the French Broad River, known as Kodak. This part of the destination can also be considered as its own thematic focus.
Discover more destinations: Pigeon Forge, Beech Springs, Seymour, Kodak, Sevierville.
Back to the main travel overview: Sevier.
