With the beautiful mountains, fresh streams, and mild Gatlinburg weather, why not try your swing at a Gatlinburg golf course? There aren’t any Gatlinburg golf courses in Gatlinburg proper, but there are two golf courses located a short drive from Gatlinburg. So, the next time you’re in Gatlinburg, make the short drive to one of these Gatlinburg golf courses and enjoy the greens…Smoky Mountains style.

Gatlinburg Golf Courses

Bent Creek Golf Course

Designed by Gary Player, three-time Masters and British Open winner, Bent Creek Golf course is a Smoky Mountains golfing paradise. Located 11 miles from downtown Gatlinburg on Highway 321, this par 72 course’s front 9 holes are situated against the valley floor, while the back 9 provides challenging holes along the mountains. The Smoky Mountains serve as the backdrop for this picturesque Gatlinburg golf course, and a beautiful mountain stream accompanies golfers throughout the course. If you’re looking for 18 holes of a Smoky Mountains wonderland, this is the Gatlinburg golf course to play.

Gatlinburg Golf Course

Situated adjacent to Dollywood, 5 miles from Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg Golf Course was designed by the renowned William Langford and underwent a $500,000 dollar renovation in 2007 under the direction of Bob Cupp and Associates. Gatlinburg Golf Course doesn’t offer the scenery that Bent Creek provides, but it is, nonetheless, a spectacularly scenic course that provides challenges to golfers of all skillsets.

Which one of these two Gatlinburg golf hotspots is your favorite to play?

Image Courtesy of www.gatlinburg.com

Gatlinburg ziplines and canopy tours are the newest craze to hit Gatlinburg. It almost made our Top 5 Things to Do in Gatlinburg list, and it would have if it were suited for a more general audience. But, considering the Gatlinburg ziplines are a heart-pounding experience, it just isn’t for everyone. That being said, if you’re in good health and enjoy a little thrill-seeking, you will have a blast.

Gatlinburg Ziplines Info

What are Ziplines?

Ziplines are cables mounted on pulleys that, in Gatlinburg, are suspended from tree to tree. The zipliner slides down these cables via a safety harness which is attached to the cables. With most ziplines each “zip” brings you to a platform in a tree where you will then attach to the next zipline and repeat the process. Gatlinburg zipline tours, also known as canopy tours, have guides who go along to ensure the safety of the zipliners. Gatlinburg ziplines offer some incredible views of the Smokies and are an excellent means of exploring nature with a bird’s eye view.

Gatlinburg Ziplines Typical Requirements

• At least 8 years old
• Weigh between 70 and 300 lbs
• Be in good physical and mental health
• A signed waiver

Gatlinburg Ziplines Tour Providers

CLIMB Works Canopy Tours

Ziplines Family Adventures

Finding things to do in Gatlinburg certainly isn’t difficult. But, if you’re like most Gatlinburg visitors, you aren’t staying very long (the average tourist only spends 2-3 days in Gatlinburg). So, you obviously want to get the most out of your visit and not spend it walking aimlessly up and down the Parkway eating funnel cakes and visiting souvenir shops, especially when you could have been doing one of these things:

Top 5 Things to Do in Gatlinburg

1. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The number of people who visit Gatlinburg and never set foot in the park baffles me. There are so many things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that you could easily, very easily, spend your entire vacation roaming the park and having a ball. And, the best part about the park is, besides the gas it takes to get there, everything is FREE. I will eventually do another post about things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but for now, here are a few ideas:

Have a Picnic in the Smokies

Something about a picnic in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park makes the food taste better. Multiple picnic areas are located throughout the park. The closest one to Gatlinburg is located on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (Turn at traffic light #8).

20 minutes out of Gatlinburg, you can go to the Chimney Tops Picnic Area, which is located on 441 toward Cherokee (also known as Newfound Gap Road).

Of course, there are countless other picnic areas in the park, but these two are the closest in proximity to Gatlinburg.

Drive through the Mountains

Personally, I don’t think a trip to Gatlinburg is complete without driving around in the mountains. Three of my favorite drives in the Smokies:

Newfound Gap Road—do this one for the mountain views. Round trip, if you continue all the way to Cherokee, NC, is about 2-3 hours, provided you don’t stop. But, you will…as you should.

Cades Cove—do this one for wildlife and historical structure viewing. This could, and likely will, take an entire day. It could also be done in 5-6 hours. But, why rush?

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail—do this one if you’re pressed for time, as it can easily be done in an hour. Just because it’s quick and short doesn’t discount it. Make no mistake, this is a beautiful drive that runs through the middle of the forest.

Take a Hike in the Smoky Mountains

A book could be written, and they have, on all the trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but I’ll just list a couple of my favorites.

Laurel Falls—as the name implies, this is a hike to a waterfall. It is a relatively quick, easy hike along a paved trail. This is a perfect hike if you’re taking children or someone who requires a wheelchair.

Chimney Tops—this trail provides some of the most amazing views you will see anywhere in the U.S. With that being said, the hike is a fairly strenuous one. Anyone in decent shape could do it, though.

If you want a guided hike which comes with an experienced hiker to give you a lesson in Great Smoky Mountains 101, I recommend A Walk in the Woods.

2. Ripley’s Aquarium

I don’t normally recommend the more popular, commercial things, but when it comes to the Aquarium, I can’t help it. I have probably made over 50 visits to Ripley’s Aquarium, and I am entertained every single time. Most importantly, my kids, who have been with me on pretty much every trip there, LOVE it. The Aquarium is fun, educational, and suitable for all ages.

3. Take a Walk on the Gatlinburg Parkway

I know, I know. I poked fun at this in the beginning of my article. But, truth is, a visit to Gatlinburg isn’t the same without it. And yes, eat funnel cakes until your eyes pop out. Also, check out the really cool shops on the Parkway (they aren’t all souvenir shops). On the Parkway you will find candy stores, gift stores, restaurants, and quilt stores, among many others. Don’t do it for the stores, though. Do it for the experience; there is just something special about strolling down the Gatlinburg Parkway, seeing all the sights, and hearing all the sounds.

4. Visit Gatlinburg’s Arts and Crafts Community

This is the quieter side of Gatlinburg. Here you will find an ample amount of shops and stores ran by independent craftsmen and artisans. Among the things you will find here are: paintings, candles, brooms, stained glass, silversmiths, and pottery…all handmade. This, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. Visit this quaint area, and you will not be sorry you did.

5. Bill Gladwell’s Gatlinburg Shows

Once again, this is a surprising recommendation coming from me, since I am not usually crazy about the “shows,” but these aren’t your typical shows. They are  unique, hilarious, and extremely well done. It also doesn’t hurt that Bill is a super-nice guy who engages his guests and makes them a part of his show. Really, he hypnotizes volunteers from his audience and has them doing wildly funny things, such as clucking like chickens and disco dancing on stage. But, in my opinion, his mentalist show takes the cake. You’ll think he’s psychic.

This is just one man’s humble opinion; obviously, there are many things to do in Gatlinburg. I would love to hear your favorite things to do in Gatlinburg. Post your own list in the comments below.