Springtime is here in the Great Smoky Mountains! The sky is staying light longer in the day, the flowers are blooming, and the trees are beginning to bud. If you’re counting down the days until your next visit to the Gatlinburg area, we’ve got ways you can bring the mountains to you. Why not have a Gatlinburg weekend at home? Check out our favorite ways to feel like you’re in the mountains.
A Big Pancake Breakfast
Gatlinburg is the unofficial pancake capital of the south. If you love visiting Gatlinburg as much as we love living here, you’ll know that pancakes are a staple of the strip. Whether you’re a fan of Pancake Pantry, Flapjacks, or Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, these sweet treats always make breakfast special.
A way to bring Gatlinburg to you is to shop small and buy some local products to help you recreate your breakfast favorites. Crockett’s Breakfast Camp sells their pancake mix for their famous Aretha Frankenstein’s on their website.
Another Smoky Mountain Favorite, The Old Mill, sells their buttermilk pancake mix as well.
Here’s one blogger’s review and attempt at recreating a the Crockett’s Breakfast Camp famous breakfast treat:
Support Local Business from Afar
Planning to get a unique gift for a loved one? You can still peruse the unique goods of Gatlinburg online without leaving the comfort of your own home! Many of Gatlinburg’s specialty stores have shop online options all year round. Some of our favorites include local artists in the Glades Arts & Crafts Communities.
From paintings to pottery to outdoor gear, your favorite Gatlinburg stores are represented online and ready for you to shop 24/7/365.
One of our favorite gifts to send to friends and family is a sweet treat from Aunt Mahalia’s Candies. They don’t just sell high-quality chocolates and candies. They also sell jams, syrups, and local honey as well. Got a sugar-free loved one? They’ve got you covered there too with sugar-free brittles, chocolates, and even hard candies. One taste of any of their products will transport you back to your last trip to the Parkway in Gatlinburg.
Check out the list of Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Retailers and look for the “shop online” button on the page.
Watching Live Webcams of Gatlinburg
Do you find yourself wondering what the weather looks like in Gatlinburg right now? With so many amazing local businesses with incredible mountain or downtown views, you can see the town from just about any angle from wherever you are in the world.
Check out Gatlinburg’s Skylift Park webcam and Youtube channel. The Skylift park camera shows not only the top of Crockett Mountain, it also takes in a stunning view of Mt. LeConte and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Gatlinburg Space Needle, a strip staple since 1969, stands at an impressive 407 feet over the parkway. Boasting 360-degree views for it’s visitors, their webcam is unique as well. They offer a chance for viewers to control which way the camera points next. Look at the mountains, the downtown strip, and zoom in for a better look.
Rather see some Smoky Mountain views instead? We have two perfect webcams for you located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! The Newfound Gap webcam offers stunning views into the Oconaluftee Valley and looks over into the North Carolina side of the park. Click through the archives of the day and catch some glimpses of purple sunrises in the morning.
Missing Cades Cove right now? Don’t worry! The Look Rock Webcam offers some gorgeous views into Happy Valley and the mountains around Cades Cove in the Townsend area of the Smoky Mountains. This webcam also gives you the option to see what landmarks look like so you can spot the mountains on the live feed. Information about visibility and ozone quality are also on the screen for you.
Patriot Getaways Webcams
We have webcams in a few locations as well! Check out the vistas you can see from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge! You can even book a stay at these cabins, too!
Test Your Knowledge
Think you’re a Smoky Mountain Superfan? Check out this incredible Smoky Mountain Trivia put together by our friends over at the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce. Challenge your friends and family to a trivia contest and share your results on Facebook to see how you fare against others!
Of course, our most famous resident isn’t immune to having super fans either. Check out the How Well do you Know Dolly quiz as well!
Share the Love via video conferencing
The City of Pigeon Forge has created some fun Zoom backgrounds for your next video chat with friends and family. Share your love of Pigeon Forge by downloading one of their four fun settings. Find them on their website: https://www.mypigeonforge.com/zoom-backgrounds
Live Events
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
If indoors is more your style, check out the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies live events. Listed on their website in the eastern time zone, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies goes live a few times a day with story time, biologist Q&As, penguin feedings, and more. Be sure to check it out!
Ober Mountain
Choosing a theme each day of the week, every day at noon #obercast begins. There will be featured attractions, wildlife, and fun facts all about Ober Mountain’s history. Tune in to their Facebook page every day at noon!
Want to see what’s happening right this minute? Check out these Ober Mountain Webcams.
Sugarland’s Distilling Company
For the grownups at home, every day at 4 p.m. you can tune in to Instagram or Facebook Live with Sugarlands Distilling for a Sippin Session. Here, see live music, do a Q&A session, and even learn to make a cocktail or two.
Gatlinburg’s SkyBridge
The longest pedestrian bridge in North America understands you’ll be missing the views. That’s why quite often you’ll get a chance to virtually experience a few different events you won’t ever see in person! From midnight SkyBridge walks to see the city lights, to epic sunrises and even more stunning sunsets, SkyLift Park in Gatlinburg has you covered. Check out their Facebook page to check out all their amazing offerings while the attraction is closed.
Keep your Finger on the Pulse
Of course, for all the happenings in town, you’ll want to check out the Visit Gatlinburg Facebook page. The official Chamber of Commerce site has plenty of offerings to keep you connected to your favorite place in the mountains.
This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Gatlinburg’s incorporation. You’ll see pictures of the town from years past in comparison to how it looks in recent years. They’re also helping broadcast plenty of live videos to help you feel like you’re right in town at the attractions you love.
Our favorite feature is the weekly nature videos. While the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed right now, bring the sights and sounds of nature to you with their features.
Booking a Stay for this Summer
If all of these options have you missing the Smoky Mountains and dreaming about warm sunny days here, we can help! American Patriot Getaways offers more than 400 cabins, from studio size up to 13 bedroom palatial estates. From large to small, we have your family covered! Check out our cabins close to the Parkway so you don’t miss a minute of the action once you’re back in the Smokies. Booking a cabin with an incredible mountain view will let you not only visit the town and see the attractions you love, but will also allow you to retire to the comfort of your home away from home and enjoy the mountains privately too! Give our Reservations team a call at 800-204-5169 to get started planning a summer vacation to the mountains you’ll never forget!
We look forward to you and your family booking a secluded mountain vacation with us in the Smokies again soon! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest area news and happenings.
Check out our Smoky Mountain Travel Guide for more adventures. Be sure to check out all of our vacation guides for planning your Smoky Mountain getaway.
