Category: Things to Do

Reviews, tips, discounts and more of the best things to do in Gatlinburg, TN

Brook Trout Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains

Find out the new rules and laws for fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains around Gatlinburg, TN.

Brook trout have been off-limits to people fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains for over 30 years. The species is native to the Great Smoky Mountains’ streams and are known as a beautiful fish with speckles of gold and orange that change colors with the seasons as well as their life-cycle. As loggers populated Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains, the fish began to thin out, which prompted a ban by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park forbidding anyone of catching and keeping brook trout. On June 27, 2007 the National Park announced that they had conducted a yearlong study, which gave them the confidence in deciding to lift the ban and allow anglers to catch and keep brook trout along most of the 2,115 miles of streams that lace the Smokies.

There are three streams where the ban remains in place, though. Those streams are:

  • Bear Creek at its junction with Forney Creek (North Carolina)
  • Sams Creek at the confluence with Thunderhead Prong (Tennessee)
  • Indian Flats Prong at the Middle Prong Trial crossing (Tennessee)

That’s about 3 out of 2,115 miles of streams in the park where brook trout is off-limits. Some anglers may find it difficult to take one of these native and beautiful fish from the streams…so catch and release may be a great choice now rather than a law. Catching a brook trout in Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains is a wonderful feeling that any angler of any age should experience.

fishing in Gatlinburg TN

The same rules for rainbow and brown trout apply. A limit of 5 per day and you must fish with artificial lures to keep from disrupting the natural food supply in the waters. Also, you can only use a lure with a single hook…no double, treble, or gang hooks are allowed.

For complete info on fishing in Gatlinburg, TN and the Great Smoky Mountains, visit: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fishing.htm.

Music of the Mountains

Music is the glue that holds a community together. On March 28th, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park presents its fifth annual Music of the Mountains celebration.

Music is the glue that holds a community together. On March 28th, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park presents its fifth annual Music of the Mountains celebration and it promises to be quite an event. Live music all day at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, culminating in the “Jimbo Whaley and Friends Reunion Show” at the W.L. Mills Conference Center. This celebration focuses on and is a celebration of the music traditions of the southern Appalachian Mountains. This is one of several special events that the Park has developed to tell the story of the hearty people that called these mountains home.

Music of the Mountains kicks off Saturday, March 28th at 10 am and runs until 5pm at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. The performances will be held in the Sugarlands Visitor Center Theater which seats 160 people. Seating is on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. Here is the list of the amazing acts that you will see at Sugarlands this year:

10-11 a.m. – Lost Mill String Band (perennial mountain favorites)
11 a.m.-noon – Tony Thomas (Old time fiddle and banjo tunes)
12-1 p.m. – Dr. Ted Olson (presentation on the origins of Appalachian mountain music)
1-2 p.m. – Boogertown Gap (perennial mountain favorites)
2-4 p.m. – Matt Morelock and Brian Volmer (claw hammer banjo and old-time fiddle)
4-5 p.m. – Roger Howell and Friends (string ensemble from Mars Hill, NC)

Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson had this to say about the event: “We’re pleased to again partner with the City of Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains Association to offer the public a variety of musical styles for this year’s ‘Music of the Mountains’ festival. Our staff has lined up a wide spectrum of old-time, traditional, and bluegrass music performers. With the change to an all day festival we hope to allow more of our visitors to experience the rich traditions of mountain music.”

At 7pm, in the W.L. Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg, the Jimbo Whaley and Friends Reunion Show keeps Music of the Mountains rolling. Whaley is a popular bluegrass and gospel musician from Sevier County. He traces his roots back to the residents of what became the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and has played events around the nation and with groups such as Greenbrier. The concert will feature founding members of bluegrass sensation, Pine Mountain Railroad (Jimbo Whaley, Kipper Stitt and Mike Gwinn) plus other current and previous PMR members. Tickets for for Jimbo Whaley and Friends Reunion Show can be purchased online.(http://www.jimbowhaley.com/products.htm)

So come out, listen to and learn about the music of the mountains. You are sure to go away with a song in your heart, whistling a tune.

Gatlinburg Golf Courses

Discover the best places to play golf in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN. The Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg golf courses will give you an experience like no other course in the nation. Surround yourself with the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and the game you love!

When you think of visiting Gatlinburg, golfing might not immediately come to mind as an activity. But, there are some of the most picturesque golf courses in the entire world right in the heart of Gatlinburg! There can’t be anything more relaxing or refreshing than a few holes of golf nestled in the breathtaking blues and gorgeous greens of the Great Smoky Mountains!

Take a day and experience one of the championship golf courses that were designed especially for the mountain terrain of Gatlinburg! The manicured greens fit right into the verdant forest landscapes, framed perfectly by the mountains. And the price is always right, with many courses offering discounted games, along with vacation packages!

Perfect your swing along tranquil mountain streams at Bent Creek in Gatlinburg, TN designed by three time Masters and British Open Winner Gary Player. Bent Creek is a par 72 course that teases you with a fairly open front 9 and then puts you to the challenge on an exciting back 9 that features doglegs, uphill shots, enormous downhill shots onto greens, and opportunities for some extremely long drives. While you could easily walk the front 9, don’t even think about walking the back 9. Even the local high school players don’t attempt it! It’s as much fun to drive the golf cart from holes 13-15 as it is to play them! While they do not post their rates online, they do offer a $5 off coupon which you can print off at http://www.bentcreekgolfcourse.com/coupon.html . For rates & tee times, you can call them at (800) 251-9336 .

Bent Creek Golf Village

3919 East Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Challenge yourself at one of the most unique courses in the country at the Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course, which is oddly located in Pigeon Forge. Originally Designed by golf course architect William Langford, it was renovated in 1993 by Bob Cupp & Associates of Atlanta. The famous hole #12 nicknamed “Sky Hi” features a dramatic 200 foot drop from tee to green, making for a distinctive and unforgettable golfing experience! Here are the rates for Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course. These may have changed since this post, so be sure to contact the course at (800) 231-4128 or (865) 453-3912 for the latest rates and information.

(price includes 18 holes with cart):

June through October & Holidays
Before 12 Noon: $60
12 Noon to 4 p.m.: $50
After 4 p.m.: $40
9-Hole Fee: $30

April, May & November
Before 12 Noon: $55
After 12 Noon: $45
9-Hole Fee: $30

December through March
18 Holes: $45
9 Holes: $30

Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course

520 Dollywood Ln
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863-4105

For more information or tee times at the Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course, call the pro shop at (800) 231-4128 or (865) 453-3912. During prime season (June through October) tee times are available and may be reserved up to 14 days in advance. Discounts are available for seniors, juniors and active military.

Didn’t pack your clubs and gear? Don’t worry! There are excellent pro shops at each of the courses, fully stocked with everything you need for a perfect game of golf!

Golf isn’t just a pastime; it is a way of life! And when you schedule a game or two at one of Gatlinburg’s remarkable golf courses, you will be in for the golf game of your life! From stunning mountain views surrounding you to holes that challenge you beyond compare, it will be an experience that you will never forget!

Gatlinburg Attractions

Discover all of the attractions in Gatlinburg, TN and the perfect things to do for a family vacation, honeymoon, church retreat, conference etc on your trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

Gatlinburg is a city filled with family-friendly attractions that will entertain the kids as well as bring out the kid in you! Nearly all of the fun is within walking distance of the beautiful center of Gatlinburg, TN and a short drive from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee making it convenient and easy to experience a day of unique fun during your visit!

No matter what your type of fun is, there is something for you in Gatlinburg! Aside from the amazing hiking, whitewater rafting, golfing, and other outdoor adventures amid the Great Smoky Mountains, you can enjoy museums, amusement parks, and other fun centers that will be perfect for everyone in your family! And not only are the attractions of Gatlinburg convenient and fun, they are very affordable!

If you like to explore museums, Gatlinburg is home to some of the most interesting and unique anywhere! Visit the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, home to more than 20,000 salt and pepper shakers that are true little works of art! Explore the Hollywood Wax Museum for a fun look of legendary Hollywood stars depicted in lifelike wax. The World of Illusions is a fascinating collection of interactive illusions and magic. The Guinness World of Records Museum is a fascinating exploration of the extensive and sometimes bizarre records from the Guinness Book of World Records. And for a real trip into the bizarre, visit the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum!

If rides and thrills are more your speed, you can find those to in Gatlinburg! There are amusement parks, arcades, and theaters that will satisfy your need for speed and offer a safe and fun environment for the entire family! Try the Motion Ride Movie Theater, where the seats move with the action on the screen – it’s a unique experience! Camp Thunder Fun Center features go karts, mini golfing, and more, perfect for the kids! The Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park offers more active thrills, with Indoor Ice Skating and an Alpine Slide.

When you visit Gatlinburg, you likely come for the scenery, the outdoor adventures, and for the Southern hospitality! When you leave Gatlinburg, you will likely remember the scenery, the outdoor adventures, the Southern hospitality, and the unexpected variety of family fun at every turn!