Gatlinburg is one of the top travel destinations for families. This is due largely to the fact that there are loads of great family activities in the area that you can enjoy together with your children. When you spend some time in the Gatlinburg area, you will quickly realize that there are lots of fun attractions that are perfect for kids. Here is a look at the 7 best things to do in Gatlinburg for kids:
1. Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner & Show
If you want to make your kids happy in a hurry, take them to watch a show at the Dolly Parton’s Stampede. This is one of the most unique dinner shows you will ever see. Kids who love horses will be in awe of this stupendous show. The performers exhibit unbelievable displays of horse riding. The show is very funny and features great music as well. The home cooking is delicious, and even the most ravenous kids will walk away stuffed.
2. Dollywood
3. Dollywood’s Splash Country
For those visiting Gatlinburg when the summer sun is fiercest, it is always a smart plan to spend a day with the kids at Dollywood’s Splash Country. Thrill lovers will enjoy the RiverRush, which combines the thrills of a roller coaster with the joys of a water slide. There are huge pools, fast rides, and lazy rivers that offer something for people of all ages.
4. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
5. Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo
For families with animal lovers, this is another activity that is perfect to save for a rainy day. The indoor enclosures contain 130 animal species that hail from rainforests all over the world. There is a 25-foot waterfall and loads of exotic plants that will transport you away into the world of the rainforest. There are scorpions and venomous snakes to get little boys excited as well as tons of cute and cuddly creatures to delight little girls. Make sure to give yourself at least half a day to explore all the amazing animals at the Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo.
6. Head Downtown
Families that love to shop will also love visiting downtown Gatlinburg. There is shopping galore. Even for kids who don’t like to shop, a shopping excursion is fun when you get to watch the taffy makers pulling the taffy in their storefront windows in downtown Gatlinburg. Other attractions in downtown Gatlinburg include Iris Theatre and Guinness World Records Museum.
7. WonderWorks Interactive Experience
WonderWorks is full of fun experiences. You can experience what a 5.3-magnitude earthquake feels like when you eat at Quake Café. Feel the rush of hurricane-force winds at Hurricane Hole. There is a space shuttle simulator to pilot and a bed of nails to lie on. This is the place for when your kids are ready for someplace where they can run around screaming at all the fun to be had.
More Things to Do in Gatlinburg With Kids
As you can see, there is no shortage of fun to be had by kids in Gatlinburg. These attractions are all perfect for children of all ages. With such a wide range of activities to choose from, you can be sure that you will have no trouble keeping your kids entertained during a vacation in Gatlinburg. Remember this list of the best things to do in Gatlinburg for kids on your next visit. Be sure to check out some of the other Smoky Mountain attractions to explore during your stay with us!