For my family's annual summer vacation this year, we decided to try a new place that we had never been to before. We had heard many people talk about how beautiful Tennessee is and what a great destination it is for families - especially the area of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge - so we decided to give it a try. Being it was our first time, we wanted to take advantage of the very best the city had to offer. In doing my research in preparation for our trip, one spot kept coming up - Anakeesta. It looked pretty amazing, so we put it at the top of our to-do list, and boy am I glad that we did!
Anakeesta is Tennessee’s award-winning outdoor family theme park which is known for amazing mountain views, treetop adventures - including zipline tours and a mountain coaster - dining and shopping. It is located 600 feet above the heart of Gatlinburg and getting there is half the fun! Included in your ticket admission is unlimited scenic rides on an open-air chair with a safety bar (perfect for our family of 4!) or a chondola (an enclosed gondola cabin that fits larger groups - up to 6 people - / it's also an easier option if you have strollers or smaller children). The ride is about 5 minutes to the top and it’s a lot of fun to look down at the natural habitat - you may even see some wildlife if you are quiet enough! There is also the option of the Ridge Rambler Adventure Vehicle that drives up and down the mountain for anyone who doesn't like heights.
Once you reach the summit, you are in for a day of adventure with so many family fun options for all ages!
Activities include:
- Chondola Ride (Included with Admission)
- Anakeesta Observation Tower (Included with Admission) - Climb 86 steps to AnaVista Tower, downtown Gatlinburg’s highest point with 360-degree views to as far as Kentucky! If you are feeling brave you can stand on the glass panel floors and look 60 feet down into the gardens below!
- Vista Gardens Immersive Sensory Botanical Garden (Included with Admission)
- Treeventure Challenge Course (Included with Admission) - Offers three stories of interactive treehouses that kids will love to climb, crawl and slide through.
- TreeTop SkyWalk (Included with Admission) - North America's longest treetop skywalk, this was definitely one of my favorite spots. Beautiful views are an understatement as you stroll through 880 feet of hanging bridges suspended up to 60 feet in the air.
- Bearventure Challenge Course (Included with Admission) - A black bear-themed challenge course that is perfect for younger children.
- Children’s Treehouse Village Playground (Included with Admission)
- Splash Pad (Included with Admission) - Bring your swimsuits for the kids! It's hot during the summer and this is the perfect place to cool down amongst the bears and other wildlife.
- Dueling Zipline (Additional Charge) - Get a one-of-a-kind view of the beautiful tree canopy right next to your friends and family at 2,600 feet up via the dueling ziplines. Tip: Make sure to make your reservation early as they do sell out quickly.
- Rail Runner Mountain Coaster (Additional Charge) - Zip through the mountains on a single rail coaster. Experience 1,600 feet of twists and turns and a 400-foot elevation change. You can ride tandem or single, and you can control how fast you want to go, with speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Tip: Another place you will want to reserve your spot early! Unfortunately, when we went, we were delayed with rain and a few bear sightings, so we were not able to experience this ride.
- Gem Mining (Additional Charge) - Find treasure! Sift through dirt with the help of an interactive waterfall and sluice to find the perfect gemstones. Tickets start at just $8.
Anakeesta also offers great dining options, from sit-down dining to just grabbing a quick snack. They all have one thing in common though - fantastic views of the mountains! I had a delicious salad at the Cliff Top Restaurant, toasted our vacation at The Bar at the Top of the World and enjoyed a sweet treat at Pearl's Pie in the Sky while sitting on one of the many rocking chairs overlooking the mountains. There are also a few firepits at Firefly Village which are the perfect spot when the sun goes down to enjoy a hot cocoa or cold craft beer. Pick up a souvenir to remember your visit to Anakeesta from one of the many stores. Be sure to bring your camera - the views are spectacular and there are a lot of great picture-taking opportunities.
If you are planning a vacation to Gatlinburg, you will definitely want to include Anakeesta as part of your vacation! It was undoubtedly one of my family's favorite attractions during our stay.
General admission ticket prices are as follows and can be purchased HERE.
Adults: 12-59 $34.99
Children: 4-11 $22.99
Seniors: 60+ $27.99
3 and under FREE
Admission tickets are valid for all day access! Tip: Visit early to beat the heat and then return in the evening - I bet the views at sunset are amazing!!!
Rail Runner Mountain Coaster ticket prices are as follows and can be purchase on-site:
Single Rider: $14.99
Tandem Rider: $18.99 (Child must be 7 or under and a maximum of 48’ tall)
Dueling Zipline ticket prices are as follows and can be purchased HERE.
$59.99 all ages (minimum age of 7)
Get more information on Anakeesta HERE.
* I was provided complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review. All opinions stated are my own.
