
Things to Do in Gatlinburg With Toddlers: Hike Laurel Falls Trail
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Gatlinburg with toddlers, getting out in nature is a great choice. And, the best way to do this, to keep everyone happy, is by going on a hike.
Laurel Falls Trail is 2.6-miles in length, paved and stroller-friendly, winding its way to an 80-foot waterfall. While the path is paved the occasional root or natural obstacle will make an appearance, but a stroller with quality wheels will navigate the trail just fine. We used the Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller without any issues at all.
On our first trip to Laurel Falls, we, unfortunately, had to turn around as we neared the falls because a mama bear and her cub were nearby. It’s imperative that visitors keep a safe distance from black bears, typically at least 50 yards. While we personally didn’t see the bears, we opted to take other hikers’ word for it and turn around as the trail was crowded. We didn’t want to risk someone doing something not-so-smart, and putting the rest of us at risk.
But, that said, I highly recommend taking a trip out if you’re looking for hikes and other fun things to do in Gatlinburg with toddlers.
Getting there:
If you’re in Gatlinburg at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, getting to the Laurel Falls Trail is easy. Drive 3.5 miles toward Cades Cove from Little River Road to reach the Laurel Falls trailhead. Parking is located on either side of the road.
Ober Gatlinburg: One of the Best Things to do in Gatlinburg with Toddlers
While most people know Ober Gatlinburg for its skiing and snow tubing, I highly recommend visiting during the warmer months. This amusement park is probably some of the most fun you’ll have in the smokies.
Getting there can be done one of two ways; you can drive the curvy road up to Ober Gatlinburg (which we did, GASP!!) or take the Aerial Tramway. If you’re visiting with family and want fun things to do in Gatlinburg with toddlers and the rest of the crew, Ober Gatlinburg is the place to be! Adventurous family members can take the skylift, ride the alpine slides, go ice skating indoors, and do some shopping.
If you’ve got animal lovers in your family, a visit to the Wildlife Encounter will put you face to face (from a safe distance) with bears and other animals like river otters, a variety of nocturnal animals, bobcats, birds of prey, and countless others!
There are rides and attractions to experience, as well as mini-golf, an arcade, and a restaurant on site. Visitors can bet a Basic Wristband which includes summer tubing, the alpine slide, the chairlift, Wildlife Encounter, rock climbing, Blue Cyclone Rapids, AmazeNMaze, chair swings, mini-golf, kiddie rides, and the carousel.
The Premium Wristband includes all of the above-mentioned attractions as well as one session each of ice skating, ice bumper cars, and one ride on the Ski Mountain Coaster.
For a full list of all activities and their respective, individual prices, check out the Ober Gatlinburg activities rates.
Fun in the Smokies Along the Roaring Fork Motorway
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 6-mile loop that winds through the Great Smoky Mountains and features stop-offs dispersed throughout where you can get out, explore cabins, waterfalls, and creeks and stretch your legs as much or as little as you’d like; definitely, a plus when deciding what things to do in Gatlinburg with toddlers since you know….they’re toddlers. Sometimes you just never know what kind of day it’s going to be until you’re in the thick of it.
What’s ideal about this nature trail is that it allows you to explore the Great Smoky Mountains from the comfort of your own vehicle and provides a variety of stop-off points along the trail. You’ll encounter waterfalls, historic cabins, ice-cold creeks – fun for toddlers to dip their toes in – and stunning, majestic views of the Smokies.
Getting there:
Our go-to area accommodations, Gatlinburg Town Square Resort is right down the road, so it’s a quick drive, but if you’re staying anywhere close to Traffic Light #8 on The Parkway, you’ll have no trouble getting there.
Simply head in the direction of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and Smith and Son Corner Kitchen, turn toward the mountains, and drive until you reach the entrance to The Great Smoky Mountains.
Fun in the Smokies at Ripley’s Aquarium
We try to do a few educational things on vacation so that we can incorporate homeschool field trip days into our school year and since we homeschool year-round, incorporating field trips into our vacation makes the most sense.
The best thing about traveling and visiting museums and aquariums is that often our homeschool association membership cards get us discounted admission. Ripley’s Aquarium of The Smokies is one such location; their homeschool discount is perfect for homeschooling or roadschooling families with children of varying ages.
Homeschoolers Discount at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Had we paid the regular admission, we would have spent over $100 to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. With our homeschoolers discount, we were able to get in for $7 for adults and students and $4.99 for preschool-aged children, making the centrally-located aquarium, one of the best-valued things to do in Gatlinburg with toddlers. Our total admission was just 45.90 for six people.
The best part of the deal is that once we checked in we received guidebooks, activity booklets, and pencils for free; normally guidebooks cost $2/each. If you’re looking for something fun to do in the Smokies, especially on a rainy day, Ripley’s Aquarium is a great choice.
The aquarium has an extensive shark exhibit and an adorable penguin area. Additionally, many of the fish featured in the Finding Nemo movie are grouped together near an interactive play area to hold your toddler’s interest, and occasionally the aquarium will host a meet and greet with characters like Disney’s Ariel and Spongebob Squarepants.
The Gatlinburg Space Needle
Right down the road from Gatlinburg Town Square Resort, is the Gatlinburg Space Needle; a 400-foot observation tower with sweeping views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Visitors can take an elevator to the top of the tower for a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of Gatlinburg
At the time, my youngest was in a stroller and really young, but he did like the ride up the elevator and the view from the top of the Space Needle! The entrance to the Space Needle in Gatlinburg is located inside a building with tons of fun for tweens and teens in the smokies as well as periodic magic shows and presentations.
Gatlinburg Fourth of July Midnight Parade
Planning on being in town during the 4th of July? Consider attending the first Independence Day parade in the nation, no…not literally the first, but the actual first in terms of “time” since it’s held at midnight on July 4th. The Gatlinburg Fourth of July Midnight Parade is your typical July 4th event, but it’s held in the wee hours and includes a cameo from the man himself, Santa! Definitely, one of those not to be missed, fun things to do in Gatlinburg with toddlers, for sure!
If you’re visiting with young kids, plan your day leading up to the parade accordingly, especially if they still nap. We were able to tire my son out during the early morning and afternoon hours to set him up for a good nap at around 6 p.m. It worked perfectly. He napped for about an hour then ate dinner. At around 11:30 we headed to the Parkway to find a parade viewing spot. We stopped for a snack and enjoyed the parade then headed back to the condo for bed.
Things to do in Gatlinburg with Toddlers
There’s so much to do in Gatlinburg, as mentioned above, but if you want to stay close to the downtown area, here are some options that could work out well on parade day. (Just be mindful of holiday crowds!)
- Wild Bear Falls Waterpark at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park
The Great Smoky Mountains are a great place to visit for anyone, but especially for homeschooling families. Whether you choose to stay close to your resort or rent a cabin, there’s plenty to see and do. Another great option that is guaranteed fun in the Smokies is the National Park Service Junior Ranger program. Kids between the ages of 4 and 12 will enjoy learning about the area and work toward earning their Smoky Mountains Junior Ranger Badge.
Kid-Friendly Dining in Gatlinburg
Now that you know what types of things to do in Gatlinburg with toddlers and the rest of the family, there are a few must-visit restaurants in the area that are family-friendly and well worth a trip.
Best Italian Gatlinburg
Driving on the parkway, I was intrigued by a sign at an Italian restaurant that was boasting the best Bloody Marys and the best food so, of course, I had to check it out! We stopped in at Best Italian and ordered a few pizzas; the big kids had the calzones. Let’s talk for a minute about the calzones; these are not your average stuffed dough treat! These are larger than your head, monster of a calzone, and absolutely delicious!
The Donut Friar
One of my favorite things to do when traveling with the whole family is to get up early and do a bit of exploring on my own. Once my youngest was born he started to join me on these adventures. On one such adventure, we found ourselves at The Donut Friar. We grabbed some treats to eat on a park bench nearby and took a dozen back to the condo for the rest of the family, definitely a must-stop when you’re in Gatlinburg!
Blaine’s Grill and Bar / Smith and Son Corner Kitchen
2020 Update: This post was originally written in 2016. We have visited Blaine’s twice between 2016 and 2019 and weren’t impressed with the food or the service. In the Spring of 2020, Blaine’s became Smith and Son Corner Kitchen which we’ve yet to visit, but once we do, I’ll be sure to update.
One of our favorite experiences (in 2016) was at Blaine’s Grill and Bar. Our server Zach was attentive and courteous and the food was so good that we actually ate there twice; once at the restaurant and the other time we brought it back to the condo with us.
Note: Our 2016 visit included trips to a few other restaurants like Five Guys Burgers and Fries, We also visited Crawdaddy’s Restaurant but that experience was our worst during the visit. The service was sub-par and I’m not at all picky when it comes to waitstaff.
Vacation Grocery Shopping in Gatlinburg
Of course, dining out on vacation can get expensive when you have a larger family, and because of this, we often buy groceries and cook some of our meals in the vacation condo. The local grocery chain, Food City is located on Highway 321 right across from the post office in Gatlinburg.
On our first visit, prior to our trip, and since we knew we were going to make Gatlinburg a regular family vacation destination, I signed up for the Food City rewards card in order to take advantage of weekly specials and load up on groceries before heading to the condo.
This is a great way to stock up on foods for your toddler, as well as lunch items and snacks for the whole family. I like to bring a crockpot and make meals in the condo on our family vacations using prepped freezer meals I’ve prepared before the trip.
Sometimes I’ll even make quick road-trip meals like a muffuletta or homemade crunch wraps in insulated totes to either eat on the way at a rest stop or once we arrive at our destination.
While some may think traveling with kids is challenging, I’ve always rather enjoyed spending time with my family in new places, at all their ages and stages.
Whether it was exploring Walt Disney World with tweens while 6-months pregnant or finding new and fun things to do in Gatlinburg with toddlers and angsty teens, every new year of family travel is even better than the last and I live for exploring the world while making memories with my people.
[…] a recent trip to Pigeon Forge, we had planned to spend most of our time outdoors hiking and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The zoo is about a 20-minute ride from Gatlinburg to Sevierville. We were lucky that the weather […]