There is so much to see and do in Gatlinburg, TN, that planning your vacation activities can be a little overwhelming! To help you make the most of your getaway, Chalet Village has put together a guide to having the perfect day when you stay at our vacation rentals in Gatlinburg. Of course, everyone’s idea of the ideal vacation day will look a little different, but we hope this blog provides some inspiration for your next visit to the Smokies.
1. Pancakes in Downtown Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg may just be the pancake capital of the world! We’re not entirely sure why, but our Smoky Mountain city is home to a seemingly endless parade of restaurants that serve delicious flapjacks and other breakfast favorites. When you stay at Chalet Village, you will be minutes away from all of the superb breakfast joints in downtown Gatlinburg. Here are a few of our favorite places to start the day:
- The Pancake Pantry
- Log Cabin Pancake House
- Crockett’s Breakfast Camp
2. Fun on The Strip
After breakfast, it’s time for some fun on The Strip! Downtown Gatlinburg is home to the region’s best attractions and shops. The Parkway is very walkable, so once you’ve parked, you can stroll along the scenic downtown area and check out all the sights. Here are some of the most popular places to visit in the heart of the city:
- Fannie Farkle’s Arcade
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
- The Village Shops
- Gatlinburg Sky Lift
- Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery
(See Also: TripAdvisor Names Gatlinburg One of the Top Beautiful Little Mountain Towns in America)
3. Picnic in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
For lunch, we recommend having a picnic in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parton’s Deli on The Strip is a great place to pick up some tasty sandwiches, or you can prepare your own meal back at our vacation rentals in Gatlinburg. Once you’ve got your food, you can head over to one of the national park’s scenic picnic areas. Here a few of the best spots for a picnic:
- Cades Cove
- Metcalf Bottoms
- Greenbrier
4. Go for a Hike
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 800 miles of beautiful trails. With everything from 1/2 mile strolls to 12 mile treks, you are sue to find a hike that is right for your group. According to the National Park Service, these are the most popular trails in the Smokies:
- Appalachian Trail
- Abrams Falls Trail
- Laurel Falls Trail
- Alum Cave Trail
- Trillium Gap Trail
5. Relax in Your Cabin
After your hike, you will want to take a load off your feet for a while. We suggest heading back to your cabin to relax for the rest of the afternoon. Our properties have plenty of fun amenities to enjoy as you unwind, such as game rooms, home theaters, and high speed wireless internet. Chalet Village also offers three wonderful clubhouses with seasonal swimming pools, tennis courts, ping pong, foosball, shuffleboard, board games, yard games, and more excellent activities.
6. See a Show at the Gatlinburg Space Needle
In the evening, we recommend seeing one of the shows at the Iris Theater at the Gatlinburg Space Needle. Some of the nation’s best magicians and mind readers perform at the Iris Theater for months (or years) at a time. For dinner, you can enjoy some delicious NY style pizza from the Gatlinburg Space Needle’s Slice Pizza Bakery or visit one of the other excellent restaurants in the downtown area.
7. Rest Up for Tomorrow
We recommend heading to sleep early so you’ll have plenty of energy for even more fun the following day! Our cabins come with the comfiest beds you’ll ever find, so you will be dreaming of the Smokies in no time.
To start planning your getaway, browse our selection of vacation rentals in Gatlinburg!
