Anakeesta — Gatlinburg Mountaintop Adventure Park

Anakeesta is a family-friendly mountaintop adventure park perched above downtown Gatlinburg, about an hour-and-a-half drive from Maryville. The trip starts with a scenic Crystal Express gondola ride (or the Ridge Rambler truck) up Anakeesta Mountain, where kids can explore the Treetop Skywalk — a network of hanging bridges suspended more than 50 feet above the forest floor — plus botanical gardens, a treehouse village, and plenty of wide-open space to run.

Older kids and thrill-seekers will want the Dueling Zipline tour and the park’s two mountain coasters, the Hellbender and the Rail Runner. After dark, the Astra Lumina experience turns the forest into a light-and-sound trail inspired by the cosmos. Kephart Café and the Clifftop Restaurant are on-site for meals, and the Firefly Village shops make a good stop before heading back down.

Admission includes all-day park access and unlimited scenic gondola rides. Because this is a popular Smokies spot, tickets are time-stamped and sell out on weekends/holidays, so book ahead on the official website and check the calendar for seasonal events like the holiday lights. Note that it is a mountain park with hills and some stairways, so plan footwear accordingly for little legs.

Practical details: - Address: 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 - Phone: (865) 325-2400 - Website: https://anakeesta.com - Best for: Kids 4+, families who like active outdoor adventure - Plan for: At least 3–4 hours; a full half-day is easy to do