Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains are a family destination for a reason! The sheer abundance of nature and wildlife are juxtaposed with the fast and brightly lit attractions that kids gobble up, and for a weekend retreat to the mountains, there will be plenty of activities to consider for kids of all ages.
For our recommendation of Kid Friendly Things To Do in Gatlinburg, attractions, we present to you the following attractions, a description from Gatlinburg.com, their location, phone number and contact info, and some of our own personal notes to go with them. We skew this list for some of the younger kids (like just on the outside of toddlerhood up to just before 4th grade or so), but the bigger brothers or cousins will be able to have some fun with some of these as well.
Let’s take a look:
Ober Gatlinburg
1310 Ski Mountain Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5423
Description:“Ski Mountain Coaster, Snow tubing park & year-round fun for everyone! Ski and snowboard rental equipment and lessons available, year round ice skating, shopping, full service restaurant & lounge and much more!
Amenities:
- * Fun for Everyone
- * Group Rates available
- * Indoors
- * Fun For Little Ones
- * Handicap Accessibility
- * Military Discount
- * Gift Shop
- * Height and/or Weight Restrictions
- * Outdoors.” – Gatlinburg.com
Notes: Attractions drastically change between the Winter and warmer seasons. During Winter, it’s pretty much the only place in town to go skiing, snowboarding, and do winter sports like it. You could expect to be here at least a couple hours or all day.
Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze and Candy Factory
623 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 430-1834
Description: “Being Lost has Never Been So Fun! Find your way out through surprising corners, dead ends, continuous circles & rotating mirrors in every direction in the Infinity Room! Strike your pose and See infinite reflections of yourself in every direction in the Infinity Room! Never the same experience twice!” – Gatlinburg.com
Notes: A fun and colorful attraction for kids, but won’t last very long. Recommended as an item for an itinerary in between larger attractions as it’s not a large attraction itself. Not recommended for family members with light sensitivities.
Ripley’s Aquarium
88 River Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(888) 240-1358
Description: “Voted Best U.S. Aquarium! Marvel at 12-foot sharks, a giant sea turtle, thousands of exotic sea creatures and playful penguins in State-of-the-Art Underwater Tunnels! Touch Horseshoe Crabs, Jellyfish & Stingrays! Hourly Dive/Feeding Shows and more!
Experience Sleeping With the Sharks, Behind the Scenes Tours, Educational Programs, Splashing With the Stingrays, Penguin Encounter and Painting programs! Marvel at 12-foot sharks, a giant sea turtle, thousands of exotic sea creatures and playful penguins as you enjoy the Most Spectacular, State-of-the-Art Underwater Tunnels! Touch Horseshoe Crabs, Jellyfish & Stingrays! Play in the New 3-Story Discovery Treehouse & Play Center! Experience a ride over Shark Lagoon in the New Glass Bottom Boat! See Mermaids swimming June & July! Family Fun, Interactive, Hourly Dive/Feeding Shows and much, much more! Open 365 days a year.” – Gatlinburg.com
Notes: Definitely worth all the hype, though be considerate that there are indeed huge sharks and other scary fish that might frighten the youngest of children. Has an onsite cafe, penguins and also serves as the central trolley hub of Gatlinburg.
Hollywood Star Cars Museum
914 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 430-2200
Description: “See over 40 real Hollywood movie & TV cars. Featuring the best of Hollywood movie, TV, and real life music superstar cars displayed in recreated sets with sound, lights, and action. Hollywood Star Cars Museum is home to 40 authentic vehicles featuring the best of Hollywood movie, TV and real life music superstars’ cars showcasing some of the most famous movies and TV shows of the last 50 years. Our exhibits range from such blockbuster hit movies as The Avengers, Batman Returns, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Fast and the Furious movie series to some of TV’s most memorable shows: NCIS, The Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith, The Munsters and the world’s most famous car, George Barris’ 1966 TV Show Batmobile.” – Gatlinburg.com
Notes: One of the more unique and niche-oriented attractions, the Hollywood Star Cars probably wouldn’t be a great fit for everyone, but definitely the youngsters will enjoy seeing the Batman and Flintstone cars while the grandparents may get a kick out of the cars featured from the older shows they grew up on.
Fun fact: At one point a long time ago, the Hollywood Star Cars Museum also offered mini-golf around, in-between and in addition to the car exhibits displayed.
Ripley’s Super Funzone
800 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5096
Description: “Play the best state-of-the-art video games! Try your luck at one of the many fun redemption games! Win the coolest prizes. Go Green! New swipe cards!
Amenities:
- * Fun For Little Ones
- * Located Downtown
- * Height and/or Weight Restrictions
- * Open year-round
- * Fun for Everyone
- * Indoors” – Gatlinburg.com
Notes: The Super Zone is connected to Ripley’s Odditorium museum and is where you exit out of once you finish that attraction, but you do not need to go through the museum to go to the Super Funzone. The Super Funzone is both a redemption arcade and a candy store similar to Ripley’s Marvelous Maze and Candy Factory.
Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster
306 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 430-5577
Description: “A unique, family-friendly thrill ride. It curves and winds through the woods and down the mountain. Control your own speed in single or double rider carts. Fun for all ages! Open year-round.
You’re in for a fun time when you go for a ride on the Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster. It’s easy to let the worries and stress fade away as you’re zipping through the Great Smoky Mountains. Bring your family and friends along! We guarantee everyone will be laughing and smiling the whole time. A ride on the coaster is the perfect excuse to escape from all worries. Come ride the Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster, where you are in control of the speed. We are open seven days a week; rain or shine.
Amenities:
- * Fun For Little Ones
- * Height and/or Weight Restrictions
- * Open year-round
- * Free Parking
- * Group Rates available
- * Located Downtown
- * Outdoors
- * Fun for Everyone
- * Handicap Accessibility
- * Military Discount
- * Senior Discount” – Gatlinburg.com
Notes: This would be recommended for older kids between 8 and 13 years of age. Any younger than that might not be recommended. It’s a reasonably fast ride, so don’t expect this to fill up an afternoon. It is best suited as one of many items to do with the kids that day.
Hillbilly Golf
340 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-7470
Description: “Located on Parkway, Gatlinburg. Ride the incline 300 feet above the city. Play the world’s most unusual miniature golf. Two 18 hole courses with challenging mountaineer hazards. Fun for everyone.
Gatlinburg’s wide variety of attractions have visitors coming back, year after year. No matter your age or what you like to do, there’s something for every member of your family in Gatlinburg. Whether you want to hike through the mountains, pitch a tent in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, ride the Aerial Tramway or hang out downtown, Gatlinburg is your perfect travel destination.” – Gatlinburg.com
Note: If you only played one minigolf place in Gatlinburg, this is our recommendation. This is the only minigolf in the region, maybe beyond, where you have to take a particular tram to get up the mountain for it. One of Gatlinburg’s earliest and most legendary attractions.