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Posted by Jon Hoffman in Things To Do
What can you do for thrills in the Great Smoky Mountains? The sky's the limit. Literally. Check out these cool opportunities for high-altitude family fun.
Right in the heart of Gatlinburg, at 115 Historic Nature Trail, you'll find the famous Gatlinburg Space Needle.
Open daily year 'round, it gives you an eye-popping glimpse of the majesty and grandeur of the mountains.
You'll take one of two glass-walled elevators to climb more than 400 feet to the wraparound observation deck. There you'll enjoy a stunning 360-degree panorama of Gatlinburg Parkway and the surrounding Smokies. You can even use the deck's free viewfinders to see farther – in sharper detail – for the ultimate viewing experience.
What's it like to soar 1,500 feet in the air – high above towering trees and picturesque mountains?
Find out when you climb aboard the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway (1001 Parkway, Gatlinburg).
You'll ride in one of two large, enclosed cable cars, each of which safely holds up to 120 passengers. Starting at the Tramway Station, you'll make a steady ascent up to Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort – over 2.1 miles in all.
Along the way, you'll thrill to spectacular views of the Great Smoky Mountains. And, once you arrive, you'll get to experience a wide range of fun-filled activities, from warm-weather rafting and tubing to wintertime skiing and snowboarding.
Can't get enough of those breathtaking views? Check out the Gatlinburg SkyLift chairlift at 765 Parkway.
Once you're securely seated in your bright yellow 3-person chair, you'll be carried up 500 feet to the top of Crockett Mountain. There you'll get to explore the spacious new SkyDeck, which offers magnificent views of some of the tallest peaks in the Smokies.
Up for even more adventure? Take a stroll across SkyBridge. Reportedly the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in America, it stretches 680 feet long and up to 150 feet high above a deep mountain valley.
Right at the midpoint, you'll come to 30 linear feet of see-through glass-floor panels, sure to make your heart skip a beat or two as you cross!
How would you like to see the scenic Smokies from two miles high in the sky?
Drive about an hour north of Gatlinburg to Skydive East Tennessee (1640 Dumplin Valley Road, Dandridge, TN) or just a few miles farther on to Skydive Smoky Mountains (5240 Fish Hatchery Road, Mohawk, TN)... and get set for the thrill of a lifetime.
Both centers specialize in tandem skydiving, which means you're strapped in the harness with an expert professional for additional safety.
You'll be transported by plane high above the beautiful mountains. At around 11,000 feet, you'll jump, enjoy 60 seconds of heart-pounding freefall, then drop gently beneath your parachute for about five or six minutes. All with a birds-eye view of magnificent mountain scenery.
Not quite ready for all that excitement? Check out Flyaway Indoor Skydiving, located at stoplight #5 on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge. Here you can literally fly – without fear of falling – in America's first indoor vertical wind tunnel.
Contact Volunteer Cabin Rentals right now to book your comfortable family cabin, just minutes from all the high-flying fun at Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
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