The glittering city of Gatlinburg at night

Gatlinburg Named One of the Top 10 Small Cities to Visit in 2015

February 27, 2015

Gatlinburg was recently named one of the top ten small cities to visit in 2015 by Bustle.com! According to the popular website, our beloved Smoky Mountain destination should absolutely be on your travel bucket list. The ten cities were selected based on their charm and unique things to do, and Gatlinburg certainly has plenty of both! Rocky Top Sports World has put together a few of the great reasons why Gatlinburg is worth visiting.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 800 square miles of beautiful mountain terrain, with a plethora of hiking trails for all skill levels. The park is home to more than 100 native species of trees, an incredible variety of plants, and an abundance of wildflowers in the spring. Although most of the park is covered by dense forest, lucky visitors may spot wildlife such as elk, white-tailed deer, and black bears. In addition to the spectacular natural scenery, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has preserved the barns, churches, cabins, and farmhouses that belonged to the mountain people who first settled in the region during the late 1700s. One of the park’s three main entrances is conveniently located in Gatlinburg.

Incredible Attractions

Gatlinburg is home to a number of amazing family friendly attractions. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is a fantastic aquarium that showcases 10,000 exotic sea creatures. Visitors to the aquarium love exploring all of the unique exhibits such as the Tropical Rainforest, Shark Lagoon, Gallery of the Seas, Penguin Playhouse, Coral Reef, and Stingray Bay. Ripley’s also operates several other attractions throughout Gatlinburg, including Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, Ripley’s Moving Theatre, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Mirror Maze, and Ripley’s Mini Golf.

For a true adrenaline rush, guests can experience a thrilling canopy tour at CLIMB Works, featuring nine world class ziplines, three sky bridges, and a surprise ending. Once you begin your adventure at CLIMB Works, your feet won’t touch the ground again for 2.5 hours!

Variety of Places to Stay

Due to Gatlinburg’s popularity as a family vacation destination, the town is full of great lodging options, including campgrounds, cabins, chalets, hotels, condos, and bed & breakfasts. Rocky Top Sports World partners with many Gatlinburg companies to provide discounted rates during sports tournaments. To find the best places to stay close to our Gatlinburg sports campus, visit the Rocky Top Sports World Lodging page. After obtaining a lodging code for any applicable discounts, guests can visit the company’s website for reservation information.

Rocky Top Sports World

Rocky Top Sports World is an 80 acre state of the art Gatlinburg sports complex that is quickly becoming the most popular tournament destination in the Southeast! Our campus is located less than ten minutes from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and downtown Gatlinburg. Rocky Top Sports World’s impressive facilities include six synthetic turf fields, one natural surface field, six fully lit fields, and a championship stadium field. In addition, the 86,000 square foot indoor complex contains six basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, team rooms, and a referee room. Check out our Facilities page to learn about everything Rocky Top Sports World has to offer!