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Gatlinburg is a beautiful town nestled in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. It is mainly a vacation town, so there is much to do and all within walking distance. There are many great hotels and motels in the city, and I do recommend staying in Gatlinburg, not Pigeon Forge which is a few miles away though there is also much to be done there.
Do your research and decide what best suits you in accomodations but I use the Rocky Waters Inn, a riverfront hotel in downtown Gatlinburg. They offer wood burning Fireplaces in the rooms as well as whirlpool suites (highly recommended) and balconies over the Pigeon River.
Gatlinburg is chock full of activities and attractions. Just go to the main strip (easy to find) and start at one end and walk your way down. You will find many specialty shops that sell just about anything you could ever want to buy, and don't forget to bargain with the shop owners, they will usually come down in price, sometimes very significantly! My husband and I talked a shop owner down $50 on an $80 item, so don't be afraid to ask.
There are also many museums and a Ripley's Aquarium in the city, as well as arcades and a couple of haunted houses you can tour any time of the year. Make sure you ride the Gatlinburg Sky lift. It is a chairlift that takes you up the side of a mountain with a 1,200 ft vertical drop, but don't worry, unless you are super scared of heights you will have no problem and the view of Gatlinburg and the surrounding mountains is gorgeous! When you get to the top of the mountain, they take your photo and you get to browse a gift shop before heading back down.
Last, but not least, is dining. This is a city that believes in food, and a short drive to Pigeon Forge affords more choices. Whether you want to just grab a quite bite, sit down for a nice lunch, or have a romantic dinner you will no doubt find something that you enjoy. I recommend The Peddler Steakhouse, Smokey Mountain Trout House, Flying Pig Smokehouse, and Lineberger's Seafood Co. Those are all in Gatlinburg.
Whatever you decide to do, you can make a perfect romantic weekend retreat or a week long romantic vacation in Gatlinburg, once you get there you may not want to leave! |
