An Award-Winning Adventure Park In The Heart Of The Smoky Mountains Offers Rides And Views

Have you experienced the Great Smoky Mountains for yourself yet? Drawing more than 13 million recreational visitors in 2023, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is renowned to be the most visited national park in the country (per USA Today), and its popularity comes with little surprise as to why. A dreamy landscape awash with mysterious mountains that like to hide in "smoke," visitors can explore countless cascading waterfalls, mystical valleys, and extraordinary panoramic vistas that are difficult to un-glue your eyes from while driving the winding highways. From famous landmarks like Clingman's Dome (recently renamed Kuwohi, the original Cherokee name for the mountain) to year-round wildflower fields and lush forests, the Great Smoky Mountains are hard not to love. Hiking, camping, ziplining, river rafting, wildlife spotting, leaf-peeping in the fall, and stargazing are just some of the many adventures you could partake in!

Encompassing more than 500,000 acres over both Tennessee and North Carolina, the national park is known to be extremely accessible and driveable, with many friendly gateway towns. One of the most popular of these is Gatlinburg, a charming destination rife with restaurants, lodging, and entertainment. Gatlinburg is a superb base for anyone looking to experience the very best of the Smoky Mountains. And what better place to start than an award-winning adventure park, deep in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, offering you rides, relaxation, and world-class views, all at once? That park is called Anakeesta.

Perched magically above Gatlinburg is the award-winning mountaintop adventure park Anakeesta. Whether it's day or night, whether you're old or young, whether you seek relaxation or thrills, Anakeesta has something for everyone! The park's reputation precedes itself: For the last few years, it has ranked in the top three (often first or second) in annual Tennessee awards for "Best Zipline," "Best Mountain Coaster," and "Best Boutique," to name a few. For a world-class experience in the Smokies with your family and friends, head to this adventure park floating among the clouds to play, shop, relax, and dine.

Once you're at Anakeesta, take a stroll through the quaint Firefly Village for shopping and dining, brave the longest tree-based skybridge on the continent (Treetop Skywalk), and grab ice cream to cool off. If you're hungry for thrills, check out the two mountain coasters, climb to the highest point in downtown Gatlinburg at AnaVista Tower, or race your friends on the Dueling Zipline Adventure. And meanwhile, you can enjoy the surrounding views of the Smokies from all vantage points. You couldn't not see them if you tried! In the evening, wind down with a delicious meal, watch the sunset at the Bar at the Top of the World, and walk under the luminous stars at the enchanted nightwalk, Astra Lumina. And honestly, the best part? How you enter the park. Hitch a ride on the scenic Chondola chairlift from Gatlinburg to the very peak of Anakeesta Mountain!

As mentioned earlier, Anakeesta happens to be located in one of the most quintessential Appalachian destinations, Gatlinburg. This charming mountain town has everything you need for a comfortable adventure and vacation in the Smokies. Head to Anakeesta for a full day's worth of fun and then travel safely back down the Chondola to Gatlinburg to rest your head at night. You'll still have the rest of Gatlinburg to explore the following day, including Ripley's Aquarium and the Hollywood Star Cars Museum.  

Of course, you can just head straight to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and immerse yourself in nature! Gatlinburg is quite close by the national park's Sugarlands Visitors Center. It is also a short drive — about an hour — to Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome), the highest point in the park.