Explore Gatlinburg, TN | Things to Do & The Great Smoky Mountains Plan Your Smoky Mountain Getaway We have miles of hiking trails in the mountains and tons of dining, attractions, shopping, and arts and crafts in town. As theft is one of the biggest risks, be mindful of your belongings at all times. For something a little slower-paced, get in some Putt-Putt time at Professor Hackers Lost Treasure Golf. 8. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. Absolutely safe! However, its important to keep in mind that Gatlinburg receives significant levels of tourists throughout the year, and these numbers arent reflected in its population count. Know your limitations. True to its reputation as a family destination, Gatlinburg offers a bevy of buffets, pizza joints and barbecue eateries to satisfy even the pickiest of diners. Everything along the strip is well lit, and I would be shocked if most of the area isnt covered by the stores security cameras. Click Here. However, that doesnt mean you should avoid this unique destinationjust be aware of the potential dangers and take steps to protect yourself. For travel this summer, it seems, all eyes are on Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Summer is hot with temperatures in the 80s, but normally less humid than surrounding areas due to the city's high elevation. The price of gas seems to always get in the way of vacation fun. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Roaring Fork Motor Trail. All the more reason to take the Gatlinburg Trolley. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In general, if you choose a trail not leading to a waterfall or an iconic peak, as soon as you walk a mile into the backcountry, the sights and sounds you experienced along the roadway disappear, Soehn says. Ultimately, you know yourself and your family better than anyone. 4th of July week, 3 years in a row.. Maybe someone little intoxicated, thats the worst Ive seen. It was truly a different world back then, one much simpler and better than today! The greatest danger in Gatlinburg, as with anywhere else you travel, is other people. Prevention is key. Area Attraction Coupons & Discounts The worst Ive seen is a womans purse got grabbed and guy ran in a black dark alley, which is now lit. The health and safety of our visitors and employees remains a top priority when welcoming guests back to our area. Expect the best but prepare for the worst. The research weve curated consistently shows that several forms of crime are an issue in Gatlinburg. Its not all amusements in Pigeon Forge. It's free for AARP members. July is the busiest month of the summer season, while weekends in October draw the largest crowds in the fall. There are also many budget chain hotels. 31. Take the first step in addressing hearing loss concerns by taking the National Hearing Test. Or maybe its Pigeon Forges long-ago ranks of go-cart tracks and other amusements that drew road-tripping families in station wagons. You can head into Great Smoky Mountains National Park to explore the wide natural world on offer (for our full park guide, go here), or play in either town with a whole lot to do in both. The rates drop a little as you venture into more rural areas. The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community will host over 25 select classes, offering you a chance to create your own pottery, jewelry, homemade soaps Gatlinburgs award-winning Fourth of July Midnight Parade will step off at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4. Follow US-441S for approximately 15 miles. I have been going to both for 30 plus years. Just be mindful of the potential dangers, particularly theft, and take precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. Am I Required to Wear a Mask? Cover coughs or sneezes with tissues and throw them in the trash and wash your hands. Prior to the pandemic there was talk about a route that would even go out to the Bass Pro Shop and Stadium just north of I-40, along with stops out at the KnifeWorks. The surrounding towns and cities tend to have a similar safety rating to Gatlinburg. I feel very safe in both locations. Pigeon Forge has carnival rides that arent very scary and shows like Comedy Barn and the Black Bear Jamboree. City of Gatlinburg FacebookCity of Gatlinburg Police Department FacebookCity of Gatlinburg Twitter. Drop in at the Smoky Mountain Brewery (two locations, in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge) or the Gatlinburg Brewing Company. I did have it deadbolted. Share this page on your favorite Social network, Sevier County Health Department expands vaccine eligibility and offers extended hours to increase access to COVID-19 vaccination. A scenic road trip through Knoxville and Chattanooga. With three entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park located in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, it's no surprise that visiting the park is the most popular attraction in this eastern Tennessee town. Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care. (The restaurants bread is made from the spent grains from the distillery across the road, and everything is served on pottery handmade next door.) During a standard year, the overall crime rate in Gatlinburg is 44.96 in 1,000. Youll also want to do this to keep the bears out of your car. Id been walking several blocks by myself as a kindergartner. Quiz: Can you navigate Americas highways and byways? I have always felt safe there and never worried about my kids. Nearby Pigeon Force and Sevierville are also have many tourist traps. Both towns have doubled down on their attractions since those early days. The D grade means the rate of crime is higher than the average US city. Vacations may be costly, particularly for families. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities. Rates from $150. Visitors can get so caught up in the rides, games, and shops that they miss enjoying the mountains. Gatlinburg is very quiet in January. Save. Also? Be careful of tourists traps downtown, which has a numbers of expensive things to do. Individuals are encouraged to check vaccines.gov to find a location that is offering their preferred COVID-19 vaccine. This means that the rate of crime in Gatlinburg is higher than it is in the average city in the U.S. percentile for safety. While there are many alternative ways to save on admission costs to Gatlinburg's top attractions, but one of the best last-minute saves is purchasing tickets online. There are lots of t-shirt and candy shops, carnival games, and "gem mines" of questionable quality. There are currently no travel restrictions in Tennessee; however, we encourage everyone to follow health and safety practices. Great Smoky Mountains National Park:Remember to check out our guide to Americas most popular national park, but heres a little advice from Great Smoky Mountains spokesperson Dana Soehn on how not to end up in the parks biggest tourist lures of Alum Cave Trail, Cades Cove and Clingman Dome. Spring:An abundance of blooms in the Smokies, where there are more than 1,500 varieties of flowering plants, makes the national park a colorful marvel (check out Gatlinburgs Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in April for proof). Enjoy the variety of relaxed and fun spots to eat, drink and be merry. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Then walk it off on a hiking trail, shopping the main streets or racing around Dollywood. Always be sure to stick to the speed limit and ensure you know all the road rules when driving through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The likelihood of being a victim of crime jumps up to 1 in 14, while its around 1 in 40 in other parts of the town. Breweries:Craft breweries, which have popped up in the Smokies like wildflowers in April, make for great places to relax after an active day or as lunch and dinner destinations. While based near Old Mill in Pigeon Forge and Ripleys Aquarium in Gatlinburg, they traverse as far as Severville. Check the aurora borealis off your bucket list. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue then throw the tissue in the trash. Booster vaccines are also widely available from pharmacies, medical clinics, and other sites. As always in unfamiliar place use the Buddy System. Are you safe in Rome? The 5.5-mile-long, one-way, loop road is a favorite side trip for many people who frequently visit the Smokies. Cades Cove and Smokemont campgrounds remain open year-round. However, you'll need a car to take advantage of the scenic driving loops or to access areas of the national park that aren't within walking distance. A note on navigation: In the national park and the surrounding areas outside of the two towns, cell service all but disappears, and navigation (and changes of plans) can be tricky! 3) Take the Trolley for Cheap Travel. Be sure and check out our blog for updated information: Mandatory Mask Order Issued in Sevier County TN. Bring a map. The freedoms of which I once gulped so mightily are but fables to my kids. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. It has 3 chair lifts, 8 ski trails and a wildlife area. We didnt bother it and it didnt bother us , Just dont drive your car there. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the third-most dangerous national park in the country. When analyzing violent crime, property crime, and other crime in Gatlinburg, Crime Grade, categorized Gatlinburg as having an overall level D crime grade. This means that the rate of crime in Gatlinburg is higher than it is in the average city in the U.S. During a standard year, the overall crime rate in Gatlinburg is 44.96 in 1,000. Primary roads such as US-441 (Newfound Gap Road), Little River Road, and the Cades Cove Loop Road are open year round, weather permitting. The speed limit is manageable. to search for ways to make a difference in your community at For fun tastings and shopping, try the Ole Smoky Tennessee Distillery (three locations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge) or the Old Forge Distillery and the more upscale Junction 35 Spirits, both in Pigeon Forge. In Pigeon Forge, fortify yourself at the Old Mill Pottery House and Cafe with soups, salads, sandwiches and old-school mains like pecan fried chicken, then browse through the charming nearby shops. There are significantly more in some of the surrounding counties. I dont know if there have been 10 minutes of their lives excluding time with friends or family that I didnt have a full grasp of where they were. I have spent most of my life in East Tennessee and feel pretty safe visiting the Smokies. We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Summer:Now comes the hot and humid weather (expect highs in the mid-80s and above in July and August), making swimming holes, rivers and creeks ideal places to spend outdoor time. Planning ahead, in this case, can dramatically reduce your chance of getting lost or going missing. The biggest danger in Gatlinburg and life really is the other people. You can step back in time in these mountains and glimpse what life might have been like in simpler times.. The First Independence Day Parade in the Join the celebration in downtown Gatlinburg to mark our nations Independence Day with a spectacular 20-minute firework show starting at 11:00 p.m. BeginningMarch 1, 2023,valid parking tags will be required on any vehicles parking longer than 15 minutes. (865) 436-4178 We just went there I love it but my child is special needs so he doesnt live like we did an most likely wouldnt even if he wasnt people are sick an steal kids for trafficking all over. 9. Car crashes are the most common cause of death in the park, which is in contrast to many other parks where the most common cause of death is falling. When youre in town, these tips will help you avoid tourist traps and focus on the best attractions. The cost of the flex pass ranges from $90 to $150. You're On Vacation, So Treat Yourself | Dining in Gatlinburg, TN. Not to be outdone, the Pigeon Forge Winterfest features more than 5 million Christmas lights in cheery displays, plus shows, special events and parades. Smarter Travel also recommends being mindful of what you leave in your hotel room. As an infant, I survived a car crash when my mom slipped me onto the floorboard and held on for dear life as a driver ran a stoplight and blasted our car. Yes, masks are still required when riding the public trolley transportation system in Gatlinburg. For updated road information please call (865) 436-1200. Now grab your car and explore Gatlinburgs true treasure: the Arts and Crafts Community Loop an 8-mile country road linking more than 100 shops featuring local arts and crafts. Drawing on my own experiences in a lifetime of cruising around Sevier County, running the roads in Pigeon Forge, walking around Gatlinburg, I can think of no reason why residents or visitors of the Smokies should be fearful of doing the same. Nine guest rooms, seven private cottages and three guesthouses make it an ideal choice for singles, couples or families. Never had a problem after that. They have far more potentials for those encounters than not to be honest. Re: Going to Gatlingburg and Pigeon Forge- Coronavirus Scare. But I have seen enough signs in reststop restrooms on our way there about human trafficking that I am always on alert. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains water gages that measure flow, river height, and temperature at Little River near Townsend, TN and in Cataloochee Creek in North Carolina. In Gatlinburg, dig into hickory-smoked beef brisket, chicken, pork ribs and pulled pork at Bennetts Pit Bar-B-Que, or try the rainbow trout at Smoky Mountain Trout House, where the kitchen prepares this tasty catch 10 different ways. Lunch and dinner:The blue Tennessee skies are the limit here. Even when I know I shouldnt, I bristle at being told what to do. Most of the shopping and activities downtown are overpriced. It's accessible from the roads and from a gondola on the strip in the center of the city. Rates from $104, Right on the Parkway, the Appy Lodge (named for the Appalachian Trail, which crosses the park) is an affordable alternative with rustic style and a senior discount. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. What is the Greatest Danger in Gatlinburg? Be warned: It books up far in advance, so reserve early. Let a trained driver worry about the traffic while you enjoy the Big Apple's best sights. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly See over 1,000 amazing places to stay in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and the Smoky Mountain area of East Tennessee. In Pigeon Forge drivers are not looking for pedestrians crossing the main drag. Did anyone consider escorting me to school? Take a rollicking ride through Sedona's natural beauty in a rugged SUV. Here are some good choices. . However, local John Gullion believes that Pigeon Forge is actually the least safe of the two destinations. Explore the history, culture and cuisine of the U.S. while cruising along the Mighty Mississippi. Its a magical place but be aware. Dont miss the cutting boards and Tennessee Mountain bow knives at Foxcreek Woodworking or the richly glazed rustic pottery at Fowlers Clay Works.
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