We recently added a new baby to our family, and life has been hectic as we have adjusted to becoming a family of 6. Fall break for our elementary school children was coming, and I wanted to pick a low-effort road trip from Atlanta to be able to leisurely explore and make memories with our 6-year-old, 4-year-old, 2-year-old, and newborn.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a city near the Great Smoky Mountains, was a perfect getaway for families (or anyone!) looking to mix nature, relaxing activities, and good food. Here’s how to make the most of 48 hours in this scenic mountain town with littles.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Gatlinburg Resort — one of the newer and more comfortable stays in Gatlinburg. The hotel is central to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg. When searching for hotels on Booking.com, I searched for space for a family of 6. This spaced worked for us, as the rooms are spacious and conveniently located for us to take breaks throughout the day.
The hotel has a family friendly layout, clean rooms, and amenities such as a lazy river, pool, fitness center, and complimentary breakfast. The breakfast was mediocre, but it got the job done to get our kids fed conveniently before we began our days. All in all, I would stay here again.
Note that there are bears around town! My husband and kids saw one in the Embassy Suites Parking lot, so make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and proceed with caution.
What to Do
Walk Around Downtown Gatlinburg
We leisurely walked from our hotel along Downtown Parkway, which is a a lively street in Gatlinburg lined with shops, arcades, candy stores, and restaurants. My favorite was the cobblestoned Village Shops, which offer a European-style setting with boutique stores or grabbing a cup of coffee.
Adventure at Anakeesta
I wanted a day of easy mountain activities with the kids. We had to check for a place where they had chondola options, as I felt anxiety about taking the little kids up the chairlift (and we had a stroller). The kids were so excited for the chondola. This particular spot is close to downtown Gatlinburg, has a mountaintop adventure park with sweeping views of the Smokies, and lots of child friendly activities. There are treetop bridges, a playground, gem finding activity, and beautiful views all around. We opted to take the bus down the mountain to avoid a long wait time. When going with kids, factor in that there are significantly more chairlifts than chondala’s so waiting for those takes some time. Buy tickets in advance online!
Playtime: Aquarium, Arcades and Mini Golf
Sometimes for the kids, the most low key activities are the best. A few times, I would take the younger two kids back home while my husband took our older two kids out around downtown. The highlights were visiting the aquarium, which has several interactive areas, as well as playing mini golf and arcades. For older kids, there are also several laser tag and escape room options.
Photoshoot by the Mountains
I LOVE family photos, but scheduling professional photoshoots gets us the best options. It genearlly feels stressful as we’re trying to get our crew over there in time and in coordinated outfits, and it might require bribery for our children (lots of lolipops), but I’m usually very happy to have done it afterwards. I found our photographer, Dasa, on Thumbtack and was so pleased with her photos at the Gatlinburg Scenic Overview.
For more on scheduling photoshoots while traveling, visit my post here.
Where to Eat
Coffee & Donuts to Start the Day
We tried coffee at one of the most popular coffee spots in town, Coffee & Company, which is located in The Village Shops. They have standard drinks, as well as more unique flavors based on the season.
We also went to The Donut Friar, a infamous Gatlinburg spot in The Village, which launched in 1969. The donuts are delicious. I especially loved the chocolate frosted donut. Keep in mind, it is cash only but they have an ATM.
Lunch and Dinner Options
For our lunches and dinners, we stuck with our tried and true staples like Mellow Mushroom, Five Guys, and Tropical Cafe. Sometimes it’s just easier to stick to the places where you know your kids will eat the food. The restaurants are all scattered around the main road. There are also spots up on Anakeesta that can give you views while you eat.
Final Thoughts
Just a couple of days in Gatlinburg is just enough time to get a taste of everything — walkable charm, mountaintop adventure, family-friendly fun, and tasty eats. Our kids area already asking to go back.
For other Tennessee spots to check out, visit my post on Nashville here.
