Gatlinburg, TN

Located a scenic hour and a half drive from Waynesville, Gatlinburg, TN is one of two small Tennessee towns that make up the "Myrtle Beach of the mountains." While nearby Pigeon Forge's claim to fame mainly stems from Dollywood and a carnival like collection of arcades and go kart tracks that line the main street, Gatlinburg is the more grownup getaway.                                                                                  Like Pigeon Forge, the attractions at Gatlinburg are anchored by one franchise - in this case, Ripley's Believe It or Not.  The small town contains several Ripley's attractions, one of the best being a large aquarium featuring a shark tank, underwater tunnel, sting ray touch tank and a kid's section with small tanks and an activity center.  Other activities include numerous  mini golf courses, a ski lift that operates year round for those that wish to see Gatlinburg from above, and moonshine breweries on every corner.                                                                                           Public parking is both hard to find and expensive, but fortunately nearly everything in Gatlinburg is within walking distance and for those few attractions that are not, there is an extensive trolley system that runs from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge.  

Strolling around Gatlinburg, you will notice two things immediately (well, besides the moonshine).  One is a love of all things bears - carved bears grace benches, store fronts, stream beds, or just hang out on the sidewalk.  The other is an eclectic mix of architecture.  Although Gatlinburg is in Tennessee, some of the buildings look as though they would be more at home in Austria.  

  

Gatlinburg is also dominated by the Pigeon River which runs through the town.  Outdoor sports such as white water rafting are popular during the summer and nearly every hotel in town features river front balconies.

Although River Road may seem one of the most crowded and commercial spots in the Smoky Mountains with its abundance of arcades, haunted houses and souvenir shops, Gatlinburg also borders the Smoky Mountain National Park.  Even downtown Gatlinburg is prone to black bear sightings (real bears, that is, not just the carved ones).

So whether your pleasure is bar hopping downtown, playing round of mini golf with the family, or simply relaxing to the sound of the river, Gatlinburg has something for everyone.  Even the bears.

We anticipate reopening the Red Leaf River Inn in the Spring of 2015 and hope you will follow along as we renovate and restore this beautiful property in Waynesville, NC.  Find us on Facebook and Google+, follow us on Twitter @RedLeafRiverInn, or visit us at our website.