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What it's like to visit Gatlinburg, a Tennessee town known as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains

What it's like to visit Gatlinburg, a Tennessee town known as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is known for its access to the Great Smoky Mountains, but Insider's reporter found that it has even more to offer.Joey Hadden/Insider
  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a town known as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.
  • I found peaceful mountain cabins and thrilling rides during my first visit in April.

Living in a big city, I often crave natural getaways. That's why I visited Gatlinburg, Tennessee's gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Staying in woodsy cabins with stunning natural views gave me the peaceful, slow-paced break I expected, but the town also has an active downtown area with shopping strips and thrilling rides that gave me some exciting memories I didn't anticipate.

Here's what it was like to visit Gatlinburg for the first time, from the mountains above to the streets below.

When I left my home in NYC for a nature getaway, I went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, dubbed the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains by the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.

When I left my home in NYC for a nature getaway, I went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, dubbed the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains by the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The author spent five days in the Great Smoky Mountains.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Looking at a map, it's easy to see why. Gatlinburg borders the famed national park.

Looking at a map, it
Gatlinburg borders a portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.      Google Maps

My trip was four nights. I spent three of them in Gatlinburg cabins in the woods outside of the downtown area.

My trip was four nights. I spent three of them in Gatlinburg cabins in the woods outside of the downtown area.
The exterior (L) and interior (R) of an A-frame cabin in Gatlinburg.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Both of my cabins felt remote enough to relax and enjoy mountainous views to the calming soundtrack of chirping birds and wind blowing through the trees.

Both of my cabins felt remote enough to relax and enjoy mountainous views to the calming soundtrack of chirping birds and wind blowing through the trees.
A view of the back porch from inside the author's first stay in Gatlinburg.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Cabins lined these hilly streets and backed up into the woods. They all appeared to have stunning views.

Cabins lined these hilly streets and backed up into the woods. They all appeared to have stunning views.
A neighboring cabin at one of the author's accommodations in Gatlinburg.      Joey Hadden/Insider

From the cabin neighborhoods, it was hard to believe that a thriving downtown area full of restaurants, shops, and rides was just a few miles down the mountain.

From the cabin neighborhoods, it was hard to believe that a thriving downtown area full of restaurants, shops, and rides was just a few miles down the mountain.
A strip in downtown Gatlinburg.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Although I spent most of my trip immersed in nature, I took a few hours on my last day to see what this downtown area was like.

Although I spent most of my trip immersed in nature, I took a few hours on my last day to see what this downtown area was like.
A street in Gatlinburg's downtown area.      Joey Hadden/Insider

On my way down, I noticed an entry point to the national park, making it easily accessible for Gatlinburg residents and visitors.

On my way down, I noticed an entry point to the national park, making it easily accessible for Gatlinburg residents and visitors.
A parking lot at the Gatlinburg entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Once downtown, I spotted a trolley. According to the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, this public service is free to ride with stops around the city.

Once downtown, I spotted a trolley. According to the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, this public service is free to ride with stops around the city.
A trolley drives by downtown Gatlinburg.      Joey Hadden/Insider

I thought the streets were lined with varying architectural styles, from modern boxy buildings ...

I thought the streets were lined with varying architectural styles, from modern boxy buildings ...
A plaza full of shops in the downtown area.      Joey Hadden/Insider

... to triangular rooftops that reminded me of rowhouses.

... to triangular rooftops that reminded me of rowhouses.
Leather and jewelry stores in Gatlinburg.      Joey Hadden/Insider

The most colorful building I saw was the entrance to the Arcadia Space Needle that rises 400 feet above Gatlinburg.

The most colorful building I saw was the entrance to the Arcadia Space Needle that rises 400 feet above Gatlinburg.
The entrance to the Arcadia Space Needle (L) and the top of the needle itself (R).      Joey Hadden/Insider

Along with shops and restaurants, I noticed family-friendly activities like aquariums, museums, and vintage photo studios.

Along with shops and restaurants, I noticed family-friendly activities like aquariums, museums, and vintage photo studios.
Old Time Portraits, a photo studio in Gatlinburg.      Joey Hadden/Insider

The most thrilling and unexpected treasure I found in Gatlinburg was an aerial tram ride above the mountains.

The most thrilling and unexpected treasure I found in Gatlinburg was an aerial tram ride above the mountains.
An obstructed view of the mountains from the tram.      Joey Hadden/Insider

I spotted the tram in Gatlinburg while trying to figure out how to get to my Airbnb. Since no taxis were available, I was facing a three-hour walk in heavy rain.

I spotted the tram in Gatlinburg while trying to figure out how to get to my Airbnb. Since no taxis were available, I was facing a three-hour walk in heavy rain.
A road runs through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.      Joey Hadden/Insider

The tram travels between downtown Gatlinburg, where I was, and Ober Mountain, a tourist attraction with a roller coaster and other rides that happened to be just a 30-minute walk from my Airbnb.

The tram travels between downtown Gatlinburg, where I was, and Ober Mountain, a tourist attraction with a roller coaster and other rides that happened to be just a 30-minute walk from my Airbnb.
The entrance to the tramway.      Joey Hadden/Insider

I paid $30 for a two-mile ride up the mountain. At the station, I learned that it's one of the largest aerial tramways in the US.

I paid $30 for a two-mile ride up the mountain. At the station, I learned that it
A tram arrives at Ober Mountain.      Joey Hadden/Insider

The views up here were phenomenal to me, even in the rain.

The views up here were phenomenal to me, even in the rain.
People take photos from the tram.      Joey Hadden/Insider

As I looked down at the smoky haze and the mountains beneath them, I couldn't help but think if I hadn't struggled to find taxis, I never would have experienced the tram — my favorite memory of Gatlinburg.

As I looked down at the smoky haze and the mountains beneath them, I couldn
A view of the mountains from the tram ride.      Joey Hadden/Insider

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