Only 1 1/2 hours from our home in Virginia, we also were allowed so much freedom and trusted everyone. buffets, pizza joints and barbecue eateries. The 5.5-mile-long, one-way, loop road is a favorite side trip for many people who frequently visit the Smokies. If you time your visit for April or May, you'll likely catch the explosion of spring wildflowers. 3 years ago. Early spring (March to May) constitutes Gatlinburg's low season. But that doesnt mean something cant happen. 31. In Pigeon Forge, the lure of the roadside attraction has evolved into large-scale museums with Vegas-meets-Myrtle Beach architecture a massive shiplike Titanic Museum keeps company with an equally massive upside-down mansion housing WonderWorks, a pop-science museum for kids. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Summer is hot with temperatures in the 80s, but normally less humid than surrounding areas due to the city's high elevation. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Are masks required in the National Park? This retired the regulation that visitors must wear masks in all public areas. (The restaurants bread is made from the spent grains from the distillery across the road, and everything is served on pottery handmade next door.) Gatlinburg, Despite the figures, most people feel safe in Gatlinburg and visit the town without getting into trouble. I have always felt safe there and never worried about my kids. When youre in town, these tips will help you avoid tourist traps and focus on the best attractions. A scenic road trip through Knoxville and Chattanooga. Gatlinburg is often considered the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains (photo by Hendrickson Photography/shutterstock.com). The only gripe among diners: the eatery only accepts cash. Most incidents are either a burglary, robbery, theft or auto theft. And they are never seen again. The City encourages all of its residents and visitors to follow CDC guidelines to avoid being exposed to the COVID-19 virus. I had a wonderful childhood with a level of freedom that would border on negligence today. Check here for updates and more information. Today we went to the SkyLift Park, and as the email stated, we . Rates are $5 for a dailytag, $15 for a weeklytag, and $40 for an annualtag. 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. Not to mention the shops and such that are not locally ran. (865) 436-4178 Prevention is key. Lodges:LeConte Lodge, the only lodging inside the park, sleeps 60 souls in seven rustic cabins and three multiroom lodges atop the mountain that shares its name. Our cabins, campgrounds, condos, restaurants, attractions, stores and other establishments are working hard to ensure safe and enjoyable experiences for our guests under the Tennessee Pledgeguidelines. All Rights reserved. Not to be outdone, the Pigeon Forge Winterfest features more than 5 million Christmas lights in cheery displays, plus shows, special events and parades. LeConte water is a necessity! Be sure and check out our blog for updated information: Mandatory Mask Order Issued in Sevier County TN. If you do get lost, retrace your steps. For more tips on what to do if you encounter a bear, visit the National Park Service website. Vacations may be costly, particularly for families. Most commonly, folks might get into trouble if they do not properly prepare. By continuing to use our site you agree to our privacy policy. Best Months to Visit. They must of left . Anything they can steal, they will. Hoof it around town Downtown Gatlinburg is eminently walkable, as are the nearby park trails accessible from the city. (865) 436-4178 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. Make Gatlinburg your basecamp for adventure. Check the aurora borealis off your bucket list. Click here for the latest COVID-19 data for Sevier County. See below for information and press releases from the City of Gatlinburg as it relates to the pandemic.Visiting Gatlinburg soon? No fussing, no fighting and minimal flirting would be my marching orders for Pigeon Forge. Millions of people visit Gatlinburg every year and have a wonderful experience, but that doesnt mean the town is completely safe. TN We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. 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. While this wold make a great expansion I do not know if it has been implemented yet. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. With only the crime rate considered, Gatlinburg is statistically as safe as the Tennessee state average while being less safe than the national average. The world has changed. Are masks required on the Trolleys? Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. This small mountain town is a destination in its own right, and one that's particularly popular with families thanks to kid-friendly diversions like Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and the Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre. 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. Many visitors come to the Gatlinburg area to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. AtDollywood, of course, where you can pay homage to an American treasure and her vision for family-style entertainment. You can even walk inside a snow globe, stroll under a 1,000-foot canopy of twinkling lights, and enjoy live trees with decorations. Both towns have doubled down on their attractions since those early days. Wash your hands frequently. Guests get a Family Fun Pass thats good for one free ticket daily to a variety of attractions in both towns, from museums to zip lines and alpine mountain coasters. The rates drop a little as you venture into more rural areas. Ive never seen so many stolen cars I my life. Even in the age of cell phones, they do not wander outside the range of my voice. But again, as long your kids know how to separate from unwanted notice, they should be fine. They make a great way to getc around both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg with a multitude of stops and routes for each of these cities. Wanna know where the locals eat in Pigeon Forge? There are significantly more in some of the surrounding counties. For travel this summer, it seems, all eyes are on Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. By continuing to use our site you agree to our privacy policy. related to AARP volunteering. As a result, it's super budget-friendly to hop aboard to travel from one Gatlinburg attraction to the next. With only the crime rate considered, Gatlinburg is statistically as safe as the Tennessee state average while being less safe than the national average. I could be out of the range of my parents voices for hours and no one ever raised an alarm. Rates from about $150. It did not come open. Here are just a few of the Spring in The Smokies is natures best invitation to strike out and explore the mountains. Stay home when sick, except to get medical care, and avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Make Gatlinburg your basecamp for adventure. It offers rushing mountain streams, glimpses of old-growth forest, and a number of well-preserved . Our first night at 4 am Someone kick our door very hard. Fall (particularly October) is a popular time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Be smart, be firm and you should be fine. Practice social distancing and wear a face mask in public spaces. Also? Take your time (you can easily do this all day), shopping for everything from pottery and woodworks to fine leatherwork and specialty foods. Gatlinburg was more smaller, friendlier, southern, and you always felt safe here. The cost of the flex pass ranges from $90 to $150. Off the beaten path, in Gatlinburgs marvelous Arts and Crafts Community, the Austrian teahouse-inspired Wild Plum Tea Room is set in a rustic cabin and offers family and seasonal favorites such as lobster pie, not to mention its renowned hot pimento cheese dip. As winter approaches, Anakeesta gets decked out in Christmas cheer with the rest of Gatlinburg, draping the fairytale-esque Firefly Village in lights with visits from Santa and his elves! Crime Grades map shows that the most dangerous areas of Gatlinburg are the neighborhoods in the towns south. Cookies are used for measurement, ads and optimization. Fish and Wildlife Service who leads birding hikes throughout the area and performs traditional Appalachian music with his wife, Ruth Barber. As of July 1, 2020: Businesses in the Great Smoky Mountains are open. I feel at home there. 2023 Visit My Smokies, The ONLY site you need to plan your Smoky Mountain vacation, is a website owned and operated by Sevier County, Tennessee. For some Pigeon Forge-esque fun, check outRipleys Aquarium of the Smokiesand theHollywood Star Cars Museum, where you can ogle rides from hit movies and TV shows including Batman and Ghostbusters, see the Beach Boys 1955 Thunderbird, and lots more. 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. For example, tattoo shops will charge you $10 to apply a temporary tattoo you could buy and apply yourself for less than a dollar. Hike with a group, or at the very least, tell others where you plan to be. Notably, Gatlinburg is safer than Pigeon Forge. All is well. Wireless Emergency Alerts; . That level of freedom from an early age acted like a booster rocket to my natural streak of independence. Check out the following resources from theGatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.Healthy and Responsible Travel InformationAlso, you may view our social media platforms for more information on the pandemic, as well as other City-based communications. Rates from $109. Always have. When in public, wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth. MANY sites to explore along the way (scenic overlooks, The Chimneys Picnic Area, Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome and the Spruce Fir Nature Trail on Clingmans Dome Road, Luftee Baptist Church at Smokemont, Mingus Mill, the Mountain Farm Museum, etc.). Note that on the discharge chart, the average streamflow is represented by an orange triangle, so that you can compare today's flow to the historic average. Avoid the park crowds You can avoid large crowds during the peak summer months by visiting early in the morning (most travelers tour the park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or by sticking to off-the-beaten path trails and attractions, such as Greenbrier Cove and Abrams Creek. Expect the best but prepare for the worst. Re: Going to Gatlingburg and Pigeon Forge- Coronavirus Scare. Breakfast:The Pancake Pantry in downtown Gatlinburg has been flipping flapjacks for avid diners since 1960 (go early to avoid the long lines it opens at 7 a.m. every day). Everything along the strip is well lit, and I would be shocked if most of the area isnt covered by the stores security cameras. City of Gatlinburg FacebookCity of Gatlinburg Police Department FacebookCity of Gatlinburg Twitter. In Pigeon Forge drivers are not looking for pedestrians crossing the main drag. While planning our honeymoon, we purchased tickets on July 4, 2022 for the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. The Ober Gatlinburg is the only ski resort in the state of Tennessee. However, millions of people pass through the park each year and are perfectly fine. We didnt bother it and it didnt bother us , Just dont drive your car there. Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Both hamlets are an easy days drive for two-thirds of the population east of the Mississippi River, which means many visitors arrive by car. It was the only time we had any issues the entire week. Absolutely safe! Cover coughs or sneezes with tissues and throw them in the trash and wash your hands.
