Gatlinburg Cheap Thrills

Moore Folksy Fun Things to Do on the Cheap Around Gatlinburg

Looking for ways to delight the kids without deflating your wallet on your next Smoky Mountains road trip? Here are some Trav Tips on what not to miss.

Cheap Thrills in the Hills

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Shake up the crew, do something new. Take the kids to the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen. Row after row of eye-popping shakers—some kitschy, some cool, some quaint, some quirky, some new, some very old—more than 20,000 total and counting. The collection isn’t just fun to look at—it’s a great history lesson in changing tastes with a touch of whimsy peppered in. Admission is free for kids under 12.

Get your little ones to spread their wings. Head down the road to Sevierville and have the kids snag an Instagram snap in front of local artist Pinkie Mistry’s “Wings of Wander” Mural. The 16-foot-tall and 20-foot-wide butterfly wings—a nod to the monarchs that migrate through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park—are perfectly posed so fans can step up and take flight. And if the mural doesn’t make your heart flutter, this will—it’s free.

Time to spill the beans on another freebie. One of the best places for family fun is the Bush’s^® Visitor Center, General Store and Museum in Dandridge. This one-stop destination for all things related to beans offers 100 years of history and a lot of information about that can of beans in your cupboard. You can check out a model of the factory, view personal artifacts from the Bush family, see commercial props from their famous TV ads, walk inside a can of beans, take a snap with their iconic dog Duke, and find out just how much you weigh in beans. If you haven't bean, plan on it. There’s no charge. BTW, you might want to sample the pinto bean pie across the street.

While you’re in historic Dandridge, slurp up some fun at the 113-year-old Tinsley Bible Drugstore and Soda Shoppe. This old-school pharmacy and nostalgic ice cream parlor is almost a museum in its own right. Shelves displaying drugs, salves, and ointments from the 1900s will keep you entertained while you wait for your order of malts, milkshakes, and frosty Peppers.

Glow for Low Dough

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Looking to give the fam an experience they’ll never forget? Take them to nature’s most extraordinary light show, The Great Smoky Firefly Event. A regular summer happening for two short weeks just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, it draws thousands of nature lovers and tens of thousands of lightning bugs who swarm and flash in harmony. Although Mother Nature doesn’t charge for this breathtaking show, the Park Service does require parking passes that can only be secured through a lottery. Check with the Park Service in early spring to apply.

At the Peak of Cheap

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Tee-hee, here’s some fun that’s anything but par for the course. Swing by Hillbilly Golf and take a tram to the top for a Smoky Mountain-style putt-putt game the kids will never forget. Not only do you play down a shady hillside, but the holes (all 18 of them) are dotted with countrified obstacles that run the gamut from stills and shacks to a hillbilly version of pick-up sticks. Kids 12 and under play for just $9.50.

Rock their world by taking them to Sevierville’s Little River Gem Mine. This old-school roadside attraction is real hands-on fun. You and the kids can spend hours sifting and panning for gems just like prospectors did back in the day. Best of all, when you’re done, the treasured finds are thoughtfully identified by experienced staff and bagged for your kids to take home. It's all dirt cheap, too.

This may be the coolest idea yet. Grab the kids and head to Pigeon Forge Snow, a 35,000-square-foot winter wonderland of REAL snow that has 12 runs for tubing and a play area where you and the kids can build snowmen, make snow angels, and get into other snowy mischief. There’s no need to bundle up, either. The temps stay around 60-70°F year-round. Sound pretty fun? It’s pretty inexpensive, too—less than $10 for 30 minutes.

And don’t forget Splash Hollow at our own Smoky Mountain Resort. It’s got all the things kids love: winding waterslides, an interactive splash pad, and sprayers galore. There you have it. Proof big fun doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. But make no mistake—this is only a start. There are plenty more ways to make priceLESS vacation memories in Gatlinburg.

^{Any information provided is solely as a courtesy and is not due to compensation or business partnerships with Holiday Inn Club Vacations. Prices subject to change.}