What for PreTeens to do in Gatlinburg

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

What is there to do in Gatlinburg for a 12 and 10 year old in Middle March? Looking to take two of our Grandchildren there on their 2007 Spring Break.

[EAM Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EAM]

There's lots to do

I would suggest Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and Dollywood, but there's a lot more to do in the area. A trip to Cade's Cove in GSMNP can give them an idea of what life in the mountains was like back in the old days.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

You can hike to some water falls , drive Roaring River Fork Dr , got Dixie Stampede, see a show, and of course Dollywood is a must. Shaggy

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

Drive some interesting loops in the Park close to Gatlinburg - the park itself would be good for more than one day depending on how much the kids like 'nature'. Mine got excited by the bear they saw on the side of the road, but so much by the hikes and waterfalls that they adults liked. There are some neat caves in the area, i think the one we went to is in Townsend. Definitely take the road out of town through the park towards Cherokee NC, about midway take the spur to the top of "Old Smoky" and a lovely observation point (we saw Old Smoky all covered with snow). Walk through the town of Gatlinburg looking at all the tourist stuff (if they are 'shoppers'). You may be too early in the season for Dollywood, depends on Easter/Breaks, but they would definitely love that too. We were lucky with our timing (end of April 2005) and caught a festival of many nations and saw some great shows from around the world.

[ebroady Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ebroady]

I have been going with teens and preteens for 5 spring breaks now. We go again in 11 days. My boys love to hike, go to the arcades downtown, go to pigeon forge to the Speedway (go cart tracks), some shopping, Obergatlinburg and go on the few rides they have and up the chair lift to go on the Alpine Slide (concrete looking luge ride). Last year Obergatlinburg ride tickets was $20. Also they like to swim and work out in the gyms at the resort. We will be in Gatlinburg Town Square and I expect them on the basketball court every day.