4 Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains for Animal Lovers

If you love animals, then you will love visiting the Smoky Mountains. You will have plenty of opportunities to see live animals during your vacation, and even interact with some! When you stay in one of our Gatlinburg cabins, you will be just a short drive away from fun activities that involve your favorite animals! To help you plan your vacation, we’ve come up with 4 things to do in the Smoky Mountains for animal lovers.

1. Cades Cove

Cades Cove is one of the best spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to see wildlife. One of the best parts is that you can observe them from the comfort of your car! The Cades Cove Loop Road is an 11-mile one-way loop road that circles the cove. Along your scenic drive, you will have the chance to see black bears, white-tailed deer, turkey and more! In addition to wildlife, you can see historic sites and gorgeous scenery as you travel at a leisurely pace.

2. Wildlife Encounter at Ober Gatlinburg

One of the best ways to guarantee you see all your favorite wildlife when in the Smoky Mountains is by paying a visit to Ober Gatlinburg! Ober Gatlinburg’s Wildlife Encounter is the perfect place to spot a variety of animals, from bobcats, to birds, to river otters! There is even a Nocturnal House that features native Smoky Mountain wildlife like raccoons, turtles and snakes. And we can’t forget the bears! You will have the chance to see a black bear family, including Minnie and BJ and their grown children, Holly and Chief.

3. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

For an aquatic animal experience you will never forget, visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. This top aquarium has thousands of exotic sea creatures, as well as playful penguins! There is even a variety of unique experiences that allow you to interact with your favorite aquatic animals. You can feed Sally the green sea turtle, splash with stingrays, or venture out into Shark Lagoon with just 3 inches of glass separating you and 12-foot sharks! This aquarium is an animal lover’s dream.

4. Parrot Mountain & Gardens

If you’ve never been to Parrot Mountain & Gardens in Pigeon Forge, you should definitely plan a visit. This is by far one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains for animal lovers. The attraction is nestled on 4 acres of landscaped gardens and is home to hundreds of beautiful tropical birds and thousands of flowers, plants and trees. It will be like nothing you’ve ever seen before. You can enter the “secret garden” where a variety of birds will be flying freely, or exit the bird garden and get to feed birds from the palm of your hand! There is even a baby bird nursery where you can pet the babies and watch as they are hand fed. Before you leave, stop by the gift shop and get a bird souvenir to take back home!

Where to Stay

If you love animals, you will love enjoying your Smoky Mountain vacation with yours by your side! We have a variety of pet-friendly cabins so you can bring your furry friend along with you. Our pet-friendly cabins come with all the comforts of home and are offered at an affordable price. To save even more on your stay, check out our Gatlinburg cabin specials before you book! You will love everything our pet friendly cabins have to offer, and you will be just a short drive away from all the best things to do!

Browse our Gatlinburg cabins and book your stay today to visit all of these exciting things to do in the Smoky Mountains for animal lovers.