A rainy vacation day is nothing to fear when you’re visiting Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Our Smoky Mountain city offers a number of wonderful indoor attractions that are perfect for a day with less than ideal weather. To help you make the most of your getaway, Black Bear Inn & Suites has put together a guide to the top five indoor activities in Gatlinburg TN.
1. Hollywood Star Cars Museum
The Hollywood Star Cars Museum is home to some of the most iconic cars from the big and small screens. Visitors will have the chance to see two Batmobiles (Adam West’s and Michael Keaton’s), the Jalopy from the Beverly Hillbillies, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, and several cars from The Fast and the Furious franchise. The museum’s collection is constantly growing, so you never know which legendary cars will make an appearance. For an extra fee, you can even take an in-car souvenir photo with some of the famous vehicles on display.
2. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Spending an afternoon at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is another one of the best indoor activities in Gatlinburg TN. This hugely popular aquarium is home to over 10,000 sea creatures! A highlight of Ripley’s is visiting Shark Lagoon, where guests stand on a moving sidewalk that glides through an underwater tunnel that is swimming with sharks, eels, and other undersea predators. Ripley’s also recently added a Glass Bottom Boat Adventure so you can see the aquarium’s residents from a whole new perspective!
3. Mysterious Mansion
A rainy day is the perfect time to enjoy some thrills and chills at the Mysterious Mansion. Designed to look like a creepy mansion from the turn of the last century, this haunted house is filled with dark passageways, secret corridors, and plenty of unusual residents who can’t wait to “welcome” you to their home. The Mysterious Mansion has been terrifying visitors since 1980, making it the oldest haunted attraction in Gatlinburg.
4. Sugarlands Visitor Center
While rain might prevent you from exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a trip to Sugarlands Visitor Center is the next best thing. Located inside the park, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg, Sugarlands Visitor Center features a small nature museum with displays of the area’s most famous animals and plants. Visitors can also watch a free video about the park, talk to a park ranger, and purchase some fantastic Smoky Mountain souvenirs.
5. Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum might just be Gatlinburg’s most unique attraction. Guests at this museum will see over 20,000 pairs of salt and pepper shakers from around the world and across the decades. The shakers at this museum feature a seemingly endless array of fun designs, with aliens, castles, lobsters, cowboys, and U.S. Presidents all in the mix. Admission only costs $3.00, and that money counts toward the purchase of any set of salt and pepper shakers in the gift shop.
When you stay at Black Bear Inn & Suites, you will be near all of these excellent indoor activities in Gatlinburg TN. Our hotel is located right on the Parkway, just steps away from the area’s best attractions, restaurants, and shops. With an enclosed heated pool, complimentary breakfast bar, high-speed wireless internet access, and balconies overlooking the city, Black Bear Inn has everything you need for a spectacular escape. To start planning your vacation, browse our selection of Gatlinburg hotel rooms.