7 Things Not to Do While Visiting Gatlinburg, From a Local

An insider’s guide on what not to do when visiting Gatlinburg, the surrounding area

As someone who lives near the Smokies and frequents the main strip every chance I get, I can tell you from first-hand experience that there are several ways to approach a visit to Gatlinburg.

Or really any vacation for that matter. But no matter how you approach it, a vacation is an endeavor of diminishing commodities. So here I humbly offer some of my greatest Gatlinburg misses so you can learn from my mistakes.

1. Don’t fall for a tourist trap

Nearly everything under the sun is reviewed online – restaurants, attractions, you name it. And there are a lot of temptations to spend your hard-earned vacation dollars along the Gatlinburg strip. And sadly, tourist traps are a dime a dozen, as are less-than-great eateries.

Reviews can take some of the adventure out of a vacation, but as someone who once got food poisoning from a back-alley Thai place on the way to the Six Flags Over Georgia theme park, sometimes adventure ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

2. Don’t skip the local gems

I am often perplexed by people who travel long distances and wind up doing the same stuff they can do at home. For instance, we have Pizza Hut at home. Places like Shoney’s, Pizza Hut, or McDonald’s are fine. But I always say, live a little and try something you can’t get back home. Jimmy’s Smokehouse and Pizza Joint, and Crockett’s Breakfast Camp are among my favorite spots.

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Adventures in the Smokies

Drive the Tail of the Dragon in an open-air Slingshot

Want to turn an already legendary drive into an unforgettable adventure? This Slingshot ride through the Tail of the Dragon lets you experience one of America’s most famous mountain roads in an open-air three-wheeled machine with 318 curves in just 11 miles. It’s one of the most thrilling ways to explore the Smokies.

If you’ve never tried one of these Slingshots, they are so much fun. This is an amazing way to experience the Smoky Mountains.

SEE DETAILS AND BOOK YOUR SLINGSHOT ADVENTURE →

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3. Don’t stop at every gift shop in Gatlinburg

Some folks love vacation knick-knacks – at the mountains, the beach, or even France. You see shop after shop after shop selling the same things in basically the same price range. If they do good business, it’s good for them. But I’d pick one or two curio shops and then move on.

4. Don’t pass on the specialty

Don’t go to a restaurant with a particular food in its name without at least trying the specialty. For instance, don’t go to Smoky Mountain Trout House and order the barbecue, at least not on the first visit. Certainly, if you’ve been a couple of times, you have my permission to experiment. But if you’re walking out of the restaurant and someone says, “How’s the trout?” You darn well better be able to answer.

5. Don’t fall for freebies

Look, I understand the allure. A free room. Maybe a free meal. Or perhaps some other awesome thing. All in exchange for giving up two hours of your time to hear a timeshare pitch. However, know what you’re signing up for. They don’t want to give you more time.

They want you to share your time with them. Sometimes these aren’t time-sharers; they’re time thieves. Remember, the clock starts ticking on your vacation when you leave the driveway. You only have so many hours left.

Therefore, try not to waste any of them being bombarded by carefully vetted buzzwords that are designed to break down your better judgment unless you just enjoy that sort of thing.

6. Don’t leave your cars and trash bins unlocked

Never forget, this is bear country, and unfortunately, black bears in the area have learned to associate cars with food, and they absolutely know how to open doors. The same goes for garbage cans.

This, of course, is dangerous for both people and bears, so be sure to lock up whenever you visit the area, and never purposefully offer food to a black bear.

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Adventures in the Smokies

Ride the Rapids on the Nantahala River

Looking for a fun outdoor adventure during your Smoky Mountains trip? This fully guided whitewater rafting trip on the Nantahala River is perfect for beginners and families, with exciting rapids, beautiful mountain scenery, and experienced guides leading the way.

SEE DETAILS AND BOOK YOUR RAFTING ADVENTURE →

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7. Don’t forget to pack your patience

Keep in mind that Gatlinburg is a tourist town. It will likely be crowded, especially on weekends or during the holiday season. Streets may be crowded, and restaurants may be short-staffed. Your trip will be what you make of it, so be patient and expect delays here and there.

Still, I’m sure you’ll enjoy a great Smokies vacation as long as you plan ahead and set your expectations accordingly.

Make reservations where you can, buy tickets in advance, and avoid peak times for the best results.

Bonus: Don’t touch the wildlife

There are certainly times the bears are more frequently seen in town, but they’re almost always just out of sight. Recently, bears were spotted walking through the center of town before the Christmas parade and on the Roof of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

There were even recent videos circulating of people approaching the bears and petting them. Luckily, no one was hurt, but that’s a quick way to get yourself severely maimed or even killed.

The TWRA recently reminded people to “First things first, do not approach bears and do not touch bears. If you are not a trained wildlife professional and in a working capacity, you should not be trying to move bears, escort bears, or do anything like that”.

Seems like a no-brainer!