Nikola420

Lots of walking and very expensive food but the animals are great.

Beautiful area, sad story. What these people have been reduced to is painful to watch, but I suppose there is an upside. Their casino has become a HUGE attraction and has expanded enormously, meaning everyone registered as a member of the tribe gets a check every couple of months. This means more native owned businesses are starting to pop up, and the quality of living has improved. But still, it’s so sad that there are teepees set up where a native will dance for you for cash. Avoid the hokey downtown tricket strip and enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway and picnic areas. Go see the “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama…a must see if in the area.

The walking trail is the highlight of this beautiful place. Everyday my sister and I walk it twice, about 5 miles altogether. Some is gravel, some sidewalk; the entire trail around the lake is amazing. There are ducks everywhere that the whole county comes to feed (even in the winter they are here), there are paddleboats, shuffleboard, a playground, a seasonal pool, tennis, two bridges…it’s a great place to spend some time. But…be aware this is a Methodist Retreat and the people can get snippy at any given time. I have been stopped and told me pants were too short and that it was an abomination. Trust me, they weren’t. Also be sure not to swear, as this can get you kicked off the lake grounds, and fishing is all but forbidden except for two small spots. Also there is NO SWIMMING allowed ever. Bummer but from the looks of the water…may be a good idea. Expect big crowds in the summer espeacially JUNE. Just stay away from the place the first 2 weeks of June, it’s a nightmare when all the delegates come to elect new members.

This is not your run of the mill heart pumping, chest clutching sort of experience. The park’s focus is mostly on crafts, shows and entertainment. The food is mainly country-cooking and deep fried but a few places have healthy meals that are of course overpriced. Still, it’s in a beautiful setting and there is enough to do to where you won’t feel bad for buying the tickets.

So much to do, so little time! This is the best place for shopping, attractions, miniature golf, game rooms, rides…you name it. Don’t miss all the Riply’s stuff: The Haunted Mansion, Believe it or Not and the Aquarium for sure! Great Ice Skating at Ober Gatlinburg, great food everywhere and a ton of shops. Yes, there is alot of toursit junk, but some unique stuff as well. I got every couple weeks…beware of traffic and bike rallys, also the car shows make it really hard to get around. Call ahead and make sure there are NO special events going on.

I have been to several aquariums and I really do love this one. They claim it is the biggest in the world, however I can’t see how that is. The Riply’s in Gatlinburg TN seemed alot bigger and featured an amazing tunnel that you could go through where all the creatures were right over your head. The Atlanta aquarium did not feature this and the tanks seemed too small for some of the creatures as well. Lunch is good, wish there were a few more vegetarian choices but if you decide to eat there, try to avoid the cafateria style cafe. The food was a little bit stale despite the huge crowd. Still a great place to take the kids!

Loved it! We got to see a live broadcast and see behind the scenes which I thought was very cool. Be ready for extensive security screenings and turn off your cell phone and hide all cameras. Photo taking is strictly prohibited. It’s about $12 to go and I thought it was well worth it. Also a great place to go have lunch, there are about 10 places to eat in the courtyard area inside the center.

Dangrous! Was followed around by people begging for money; they demanded to know WHY I wasn’t giving them any. They followed us to the bathroom and waited for us to come out! Would never go again and I mean it!

Yes, Ghost Town was a dump when it closed in 2002. People flying off the mountain on a rail car, falling out of chairlifts and the rollercoaster…well let’s just say it was unsafe. But in August 2006 it was announced that new owners had taken over and planned on pouring huge amounts of money back into the place after 4 years of closure. It is currently being renovated for a May 25th, 2007 opening. So as someone who has been there before and plans to go again…give it a chance. It’s literally on top of a mountain and is definatly worth a shot.