When I think of outdoor adventures, I tend to think about the warmer months. Who doesn’t love a sunny hike in the woods with a dip in a swimming hole or floating down a scenic river on a tube? Those are perfect summertime activities, but I personally don’t like to wait until June to explore the great outdoors. My family loves a good road trip, and one of our favorite places to explore that’s within driving distance from our Northern Kentucky home is the mountains of Tennessee. We’ve spent a lot of time in the Knoxville and Gatlinburg areas, and with two children, we are always looking for family-friendly adventures. This Thanksgiving, we decided to stay in this area of Tennessee, and we knew one of those adventures had to be a trip up to the popular Anakeesta in Gatlinburg.
Gatlinburg is situated on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is a popular tourist destination. It’s easy to see why.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State We love this area for the natural beauty, cozy cabins, and fun, family-friendly activities we can enjoy with our eight and ten-year-olds. When we told them we would be spending Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg, their number one request was a trip up the mountain to Anakeesta.
There are multiple ways to get to the top and all of the fun activities and beautiful views. We love taking the ski lift, but if you are afraid of heights or have very little children, you may want to consider the enclosed gondola or truck ride up the hill. TIP: These lines can be very long, so plan ahead and get there early if you can.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State
One of my favorite things about Anakeesta is that it is a one-stop-shop for views and exciting activities.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State If you really want to experience the views and have some heart-stopping fun, check out the mountain coaster. It is an extra cost, but this was a favorite of my kids. And you could argue that the views are even better in the winter!
You won’t go hungry while up in Anakeesta and for our two visits now, we’ve done the same thing when it comes to a meal.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State This will vary with the crowds, but since we visited right before Thanksgiving, the crowds were out in full force. So when we got off of the lift, we went straight to Cliff Top Restaurant and put our name in since it was a two-hour wait. They’ll text you when your table is ready, so we were free to explore until it was time to sit down and eat.
When you purchase tickets for Anakeesta, you get unlimited access for that day, so you may even want to go up more than once!
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State I highly recommend being up on the mountain while the sun is still out, during sunset, and then at night. Anakeesta is beautiful at all times and this way you can experience all of it.
So, you buy the tickets, ride up the mountain, and then what is there to do? We love to do a little bit of everything.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State
Kids of all ages (adults can go in, too) will love the treehouses, bridges, slides, and other unique play features.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State You can walk and play amongst the trees and continue to enjoy the views. For an extra fee, you can also zipline, and while we haven’t done this, it looks so fun!
As the sun goes down, the lights begin to sparkle, especially during the holidays.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State Even if you visit after the holiday season, Anakeesta is illuminated at night all year long.
We were lucky enough to visit Anakeesta while it is hosting Astra Lumina. This event is an enchanted night walk experience and it’s the first time it has been in the U.S.!
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State This is a separate add-on to your Anakeesta ticket, and it’s the perfect evening accompaniment. You enter this illuminated path at a specified time and experience what it feels like in an enchanted forest.
The path takes you down into the forest, through multiple light installations and experiences.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State
The question asked in this photo is the theme of the experience. We really did feel as if we had wandered onto a different planet or into a magical, sci-fi movie.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State
You can take your time walking through, taking pictures, and experiencing all Astra Lumina has to offer. It took us about 45 minutes to walk down along the path and then back up.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State
Our children loved Astra Lumina!
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State We all agreed it felt like a natural extension to the rest of Anakeesta and its magic. Astra Lumina runs for a limited time (at least through February 2023), so be sure to check the website for date and ticket info.
After several hours on the mountain, it was time to ride back down.
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State It was dark, cold, and absolutely mesmerizing. Gatlinburg was lit up in Christmas lights and we felt like we were floating down the mountain. You can choose another way to get down, but the view won’t be quite the same.
Winter really is a great time to visit Anakeesta and Gatlinburg. We may have been at a busy time this year with Thanksgiving, but our last visit was in February, and we enjoyed lighter crowds and decent, 40-degree temperatures (no guarantee on that, of course!).
Andrea Limke/Only In Your State
We love this area for the natural beauty, cozy cabins, and fun, family-friendly activities we can enjoy with our eight and ten-year-olds. When we told them we would be spending Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg, their number one request was a trip up the mountain to Anakeesta.
If you really want to experience the views and have some heart-stopping fun, check out the mountain coaster. It is an extra cost, but this was a favorite of my kids. And you could argue that the views are even better in the winter!
This will vary with the crowds, but since we visited right before Thanksgiving, the crowds were out in full force. So when we got off of the lift, we went straight to Cliff Top Restaurant and put our name in since it was a two-hour wait. They’ll text you when your table is ready, so we were free to explore until it was time to sit down and eat.
I highly recommend being up on the mountain while the sun is still out, during sunset, and then at night. Anakeesta is beautiful at all times and this way you can experience all of it.
You can walk and play amongst the trees and continue to enjoy the views. For an extra fee, you can also zipline, and while we haven’t done this, it looks so fun!
Even if you visit after the holiday season, Anakeesta is illuminated at night all year long.
This is a separate add-on to your Anakeesta ticket, and it’s the perfect evening accompaniment. You enter this illuminated path at a specified time and experience what it feels like in an enchanted forest.
We all agreed it felt like a natural extension to the rest of Anakeesta and its magic. Astra Lumina runs for a limited time (at least through February 2023), so be sure to check the website for date and ticket info.
It was dark, cold, and absolutely mesmerizing. Gatlinburg was lit up in Christmas lights and we felt like we were floating down the mountain. You can choose another way to get down, but the view won’t be quite the same.
Don’t save all of your outdoor adventures for the summer months! Winter is a great time to explore, especially places that have lighter crowds in the cooler months. If you live within driving distance of Gatlinburg, keep this mountain town and Anakeesta on your bucket list. And if you plan a visit for winter 2023, don’t forget to include tickets to Astra Lumina!
We’d love to hear about your favorite road trip destinations. Feel free to comment or send us a recommendation!
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Address: Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
