7 Most Fun Things To Try Along the Strip in Gatlinburg TN

7 most fun things to try along the strip in Gatlinburg TN

It seems like everything in the Smoky Mountains is expanding. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and even out to Kodak at Interstate Exit 407 are growing, changing what had been for generations kind of hard and fast rules about where you went for fun in the mountains. 

Even the Gatlinburg Strip – which traditionally started where Highway 441 split with River Road and ran up to the entrance to the park – has gotten longer. You could make the argument that the strip now runs all the way down to the former location of Parton’s Deli. The Gatlinburg BMW in its famous parking space welcoming guests to the strip.

But what hasn’t changed is the amount of fun, just waiting to be had on the strip. Fun for kids. Fun for adults. Date night fun. Fun for teens. Fun, Fun, Fun. Gatlinburg – for the right price – is teeming with fun. 

But what fun should I choose? That’s where we come in. We’ve been playing in and around the Gatlinburg strip – in one form or another – for more than three decades. You want to have fun and get your money’s worth on the Gatlinburg strip?

We’re here to help. 

Top seven fun things to do on the Gatlinburg strip

1. Visit one of the mountain top “theme” parks. 

On the strip in Gatlinburg, you have three choices with ski lift, gondola or tram that takes you up into a mountaintop destination. Which one is best? For families I recommend Ober Mountain – formerly Ober Gatlinburg – which has the most for families to do and offer the best value with a bundle that lets you do most of the things including year round ice skating, a variety of sleds and more. But keep in mind, skiing, snowboarding and actual sledding do cost extra.

Anakeesta is probably the fanciest destination and the best for an adults night out. Or if you have teens who want to focus on a little more thrills with the zipline and mountain coasters which are an additional cost past price of admission.

The SkyPark has undergone a lot of improvements and renovations with more on the way. The big selling point is the glass bottom bridge dangling high above a mountain gorge and the new smash burger place they’ve opened. Do you need to do all three? Probably not. But certainly, if you’re looking for a fun day in Gatlinburg, one of the three should be on your radar.

2. Ripley’s Aquarium and/or Ripley’s Believe it or Not

Ripley’s has a dozen attractions in the area – not just on the strip. But the Aquarium and Believe it or Not are the best two. I recommend that you think seriously about bundling them, especially if you also want to do a mountain coaster and mini-golf. The Aquarium – IMO – is starting to show its age in terms of the facility itself. That said, the quality of displays are as good as ever. The walkway under the sharks is thrilling for old and young as are the massive aquariums full of tropical and exotic fish. Plus, you get penguins and who doesn’t like penguins? Yes, the do smell bad but they’re quite cute.

The Believe It or Not! facility is full of the kind of curios, strange and odd displays that built the Ripley’s brand and is known all over the world. The Aquarium isn’t technically on the strip, but it’s right there and Believe it or Not is in the heart of the strip. Others Ripley Attractions have diminishing returns, but the Mountain Coaster and the Davy Crockett Mini-golf are both good and worth the bundle.

3. Get some competition going

Whether it’s mini-golf, escape games or laser tag, there are a lot of ways to compete on the strip. Not all of them are good. In fact, I avoid most of the mini-golf on the strip, the real estate is just too valuable to have courses that are big enough. I’ve given it a try several times and as a result, I’ve decided the indoor mini-golf is just sad.

The best mini-golf on the strip is next to the Regan Terrace Mall where Gatlin’s offers mini-golf, a rugged ropes course, laser tag and escape room options. You could also plan on some axe throwing. But it appears you’ll have to get off the strip to do it. As of this writing, the Gatlinburg axe throwing locations on the strip have closed.

4. Be your own Candy Man or Candy Lady

I was skeptical when Goo Goo Cluster opened a location on the strip. Sure, the iconic Nashville cand bar had been around a long time, but candy has been a solid foundational part of the Gatlinburg economy for generations. I struggled to believe someone could break into the saturated candy market. But then we took the kids. The shop is small, not a lot of options but the Design Your Own feature was a major hit.

There are two kiosks where you pick you various ingredients, then you go watch a candy maker turn your sugary dreams into a chocolate reality. They are not cheap, but the kids really enjoyed the whole process and their enjoyment was catching. They left with their own large Goo Goo Cluster triumphantly, like future Willy Wonkas and speaking honestly, they made really good candy bars. 

5. Try something new

This one will be relatively easy if this is your first trip but for many Gatlinburg is a location we return to time and again. And even through Gatlinburg and the strip is growing and changing all the time, it can be hard to break away from the routine. Afterall, you want to revisit your favorites dine at the Pancake Pantry or Best Italian or the Cherokee Grill. Shop in the Village or at the Mountain Mall. Play the arcade at Frannie Farkle. It’s human nature to want to replay the hits. But make it a point to find something new, like the Goo Good Cluster shop, which surprised me. Find something different that has the potential to be a favorite for you next trip and years to come. 

6. Fun for the adults

So, I left this kid friendly for a reason. But there is a lot of adult fun to be had on the strip as well. A distillery crawl where you sample the various offerings at Gatlinburg’s many distilleries can be a fun night out with a couple of caveats.

First, choose your friends carefully. You want to crawl with people who handle the experience. Next, get a hotel room or two, especially if you aren’t familiar with the crawl life. It can be easy, once you start the crawl, to misjudge just how much you’ve been served. Just take driving after out of the equation. Lastly, get your room at the bottom of the strip and start the distillery crawl at the top. Gravity will be your friend as the night goes on and you won’t have to hike back up the hill when the evening is over. 

Also, be sure to check out the live music scene. Blake Shelton’s Ole Red may be the premier spot for this. However, I’m not fond of the type of country music that typically plays there. I like mine a little more mountain and bluegrass themed. There are several places on the strip where you can hear music. 

7. Good eats and dining fun

I didn’t put any restaurants on the list because while I’m old enough to think of a meal and a drink as fun, I’m not sure the act of eating a meal would meet the library definition of “fun.”  Some fun options include The Melting Pot which puts the fun in fondue but you might prefer the Locco Burro, a Mexican place on the strip with a Rooftop bar and a lot of live music. Jason Aldean’s also has a fun rooftop bar. Rooftop drinking – it’s fun? 

Do you have something to add to the list? Let us know in the comments and on the socials!