Gatlinburg Ranked Among Top 10 Small Cities in the U.S.

We are thrilled to report that Gatlinburg, Tennessee was recently named one of the best places to take a vacation in the United States! The popular lifestyle and entertainment website Bustle.com included our Smoky Mountain hometown in its list of 10 Small Cities to Visit in 2015 That Should Absolutely Be on Your Travel Bucket List. Although Gatlinburg is home to only 4,000 permanent residents, we receive over 9 million visitors each year. Let’s take a look at why so many people love taking their vacation in Gatlinburg.

Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Gatlinburg boasts an incredible location at the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With over 800 miles of trails, incredible wildlife viewing, and free admission, it is no wonder that the Smokies are the most visited national park in the United States! The nature lovers in your family will love the spectacular hiking, fishing, and horseback riding available in the park. If you are not much of an outdoor adventurer, you can still take in the breathtaking sights with an auto-tour of Cades Cove or a scenic picnic by a river.

Amazing Family Attractions

In addition to its stunning natural beauty, Gatlinburg has become a vacation hub because of its wonderful collection of family friendly attractions. The Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort is the premiere destination for skiing in the Southeast, and it also doubles as an amusement park in the off season. Visitors to Ober can park downtown and take a breathtaking aerial tramway ride up to the top of the mountain.

Gatlinburg is home to a host of Ripley’s attractions, including Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Ranked one of the best aquariums in the nation by the users of TripAdvisor, this awesome place to visit is renowned for its Shark Lagoon, Penguin Playhouse, and Stingray Bay.

Just a short drive from the Pigeon River, Gatlinburg is also a popular spot for whitewater rafting. With everything from class 1 to class 4 rapids, the Pigeon River is perfect for novice and seasoned rafters alike.

Excellent Lodging Options

Stony Brook Cabins offers an expansive selection of comfortable and conveniently located cabins in Gatlinburg. With everything from one bedroom cabin rentals for a romantic retreat, to six bedroom cabins for a group getaway with the whole family, we are guaranteed to have the perfect place to stay for your next trip to the Smokies. Our cabins come with a variety of incredible amenities, such as fully equipped kitchens, toasty fireplaces, bubbly hot tubs, high speed wireless internet, awesome game rooms, and so much more. We even offer pet friendly options, so guests can bring their dog on vacation!

When you stay with Stony Brook, you will also receive free admission to some of the best things to do in Gatlinburg. Our Free Family Fun Pass provides one complimentary ticket for each night of your stay to your choice of the following attractions: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini Golf, Big Creek Expeditions Whitewater Rafting, Adventure Park Ziplines, Legacy Mountain Ziplines, Country Tonite Music Show, and the Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show.

Give us a call to start planning your vacation in Gatlinburg today!