The very popular Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in downtown Gatlinburg TN.

5 Awesome Attractions Within Walking Distance of Our Hotel in Downtown Gatlinburg TN

October 23, 2016

Sidney James Mountain Lodge boasts one of the best locations in Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Our hotel is situated next to a beautiful mountain stream and is within walking distance of The Strip, the stretch of Parkway that features all of the area’s most popular things to see and do. To help you make the most of your vacation, we have put together a guide to five of the best attractions that are minutes away from our hotel in downtown Gatlinburg TN:

1. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is ranked among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. on TripAdvisor, and it’s easy to see why! This awesome aquarium is home to over 10,000 sea creatures of every variety. One of the most popular exhibits is Shark Lagoon, an underwater tunnel with a moving sidewalk that provides visitors with an upclose look at the most fearsome predators in the sea. Another highlight of the aquarium is the Penguin Playhouse, an indoor and outdoor habitat for everyone’s favorite sea birds. Ripley’s Aquarium is a 4 minute drive or an 18 minute walk from Sidney James Mountain Lodge.

2. Gatlinburg Sky Lift
The city of Gatlinburg at night.

For beautiful views of downtown Gatlinburg, you can’t beat the Gatlinburg Sky Lift! Guests on this fun chair lift ride will travel 1,800 feet up in the air to the top of Crockett Mountain. From the mountain’s peak, you can see all of the sights on The Strip with the binoculars on the overlook platform, or just your naked eye. If you’re planning a romantic evening with your sweetheart, ride the Gatlinburg Sky Lift at night for spectacular views of the city’s glittering lights. The Gatlinburg Sky Lift is just a 3 minute drive or an 11 minute walk from Sidney James Mountain Lodge.

(See Also: What to Do on Your Gatlinburg Vacation)

3. Hollywood Star Cars Museum

The Hollywood Star Cars Museum gives guests the chance to see some of the most famous cars from TV and movie history. Some of the iconic vehicles showcased at this museum include two Batmobiles, the Back to the Future DeLorean, and the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard. For an extra fee, you can even take a souvenir photo in one of the museum’s cars! The Hollywood Star Cars Museum is a 3 minute drive or a 10 minute walk from our hotel in downtown Gatlinburg TN.

4. Mysterious Mansion

Anyone looking for some spooky fun in Gatlinburg will love the Mysterious Mansion! This creepy attraction is the oldest and scariest haunted house in the Smokies. Designed to look like a Victorian style mansion, this house features secret passageways, dark corridors, and plenty of surprises around every corner. The Mysterious Mansion is a 4 minute drive or a 13 minute walk from Sidney James Mountain Lodge.

The office for the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway in downtown Gatlinburg TN.5. Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway

Ober Gatlinburg is the only ski resort in the state of Tennessee! While the resort itself is located at the top of Mt. Harrison, you can get to Ober from downtown Gatlinburg by taking the aerial tramway. This wonderful cable car offers tremendous views of the mountains during the 20 minute ride to the resort. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Ober Gatlinburg is also an amusement park with a mountain roller coaster, an alpine slide, a wildlife encounter, an indoor ice skating rink, mini golf, an arcade, and more fun activities. The Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway is a 4 minute drive or a 13 minute walk from our hotel in downtown Gatlinburg TN.

With an unparalleled location, a beautiful indoor pool, a sauna, two seasonal outdoor pools, and an onsite cafe, Sidney James Mountain Lodge has everything you need for an incredible vacation in Gatlinburg. To start planning your getaway, browse our selection of Gatlinburg hotel rooms!

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