Grandparents have a special place in our hearts. They’re always going out of their way to treat us right—to buy us special gifts and take us on special trips. Well, this year, why can’t we return the favor? Our grandparents deserve a big “thank you” from the grandkids they’ve loved and spoiled for all those years!
What better way to say thank you than by planning a trip with them to Gatlinburg in 2016? Even a weekend away will mean the world to them because, as we get older and get busy with families and careers, it’s easy to lose track of spending time with the ones we love. So make time for your grandparents by planning a Gatlinburg getaway this year! You can even book at stay for Grandparents’ Day this fall (Sunday, September 11) for an extra-special treat!
You can book a multiple-bedroom cabin in the Smokies and invite your grandparents to stay with your family. Or book a 2-bedroom cabin and spend a grandfather-grandson weekend or a grandmother-granddaughter weekend, just the two of you. There are plenty of ways to make this work and plenty of ways to have fun in Gatlinburg once you arrive. For ideas on how to entertain your grandparents in Gatlinburg, check out our list below:
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Treat them to a gift basket. If you want to start the trip off right, purchase a gift basket for your grandparents that will be waiting in the cabin for them as soon as you arrive. The Spirit of the Smokies basket—which features Smoky Mountain taffy, 2 Gatlinburg history campfire mugs, a Smoky Mountain cookbook, and more—is a great choice for this occasion. It will introduce your grandparents to the culture of the Smokies and let them know just how thankful you are they could join you on the trip! (For more information about gift baskets and other gift ideas, call 1-800-684-7865.)
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Visit Cooter’s Place in the Smokies. Even if you never watched it yourself, your grandparents are sure to remember Dukes of Hazzard, the popular TV show that aired in the 70s and 80s. Reminisce with them at Cooter’s Place in Gatlinburg. The General Store offers all things Dukes of Hazzard, and this attraction offers FREE admission to its museum 7 days a week!
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Take them to the arcade. If your getaway to Gatlinburg is going to be a family event, taking everyone to a downtown arcade is a great way to entertain your children and your grandparents during your stay. Try a visit to Gatlinburg’s largest arcade, Arcadia. Your kids will love the chance to play, and you might be surprised at how much fun your grandparents have with the opportunity to be a kid again!
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Try an Ogle Dog at Fannie Farkle’s. If your grandparents are frequent Gatlinburg visitors, they’ll probably appreciate at least one stop at Fannie Farkle’s—home of the famous Ogle Dogs! Even if they’ve never had one before, an Ogle Dog (a homemade footlong corn dog) is a delicious treat that will make your grandparents feel young during your Gatlinburg getaway.
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Ride on the Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway. Some grandparents may have a hard time seeing the sights of the Smokies on a hike or on the back of a horse. But there are plenty of ways to enjoy the Smokies that don’t involve strenuous exercise. Try a ride on the Aerial Tramway at Ober Gatlinburg instead. You’ll ride in a large cable car with glass windows that provide views of the Smokies all the way around.
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Go fishing or birdwatching in the Smokies. Other ways to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains and especially the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during your stay include fishing and birdwatching with your grandparents. You can also take a scenic drive, plan a picnic by the water, or try a game of golf at the Gatlinburg Golf Course. These are all great ways to get outside during your stay that your grandparents will love!
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Catch a show at Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre. Gatlinburg’s only musical comedy entertainment attraction—the Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre—is sure to be a big hit with your grandparents during your trip to Gatlinburg! This venue has music halls designed like those of the 1890s and original productions that will entertain and delight guests of all ages.
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Visit the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. This might sound like a trip for grandmothers and granddaughters only, but the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community has a wide variety of handcrafted goods from baskets to candles to pottery to scrimshaw to leather to fine photography. Bring your grandparents for a full day of exploring this 8-mile loop with art shops, restaurants, cafés, soda shops, and more.
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Sample some Ole Smoky Moonshine. If your grandparents are from the South, they’ll probably remember the days of bootleggers and moonshine. Well now they can purchase moonshine without worrying about breaking any laws, so bring them to the Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler in Gatlinburg, where you can sample a variety of flavors and choose your favorite to take back to the cabin for a relaxing night in.
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Take time to relax in the cabin. At the end of the day, the most important thing to your grandparents—and the best part of their Gatlinburg getaway with you—will be spending time together. So take time to relax in the cabin on a rainy afternoon or on a quiet evening. Listen to their stories, play games in the living room, or rock on the porch—there are endless ways to have fun with your grandparents in Gatlinburg!