Explore the Smoky Mountains: Bear Camp's Top 8 Attractions Await
It’s officially the season of hot apple cider, warm blankets, and pumpkin patches. It’s also the season for fall festivals, and the Smoky Mountain area is full of them!
Here are three festivals you can enjoy while on your Smoky Mountain vacation.
1. Dollywood Harvest Festival
If you love Dollywood and the fall season then you won’t want to miss this event! From early September to late October this annual celebration marks the best weather and some beautiful fall foliage in the Smokies. Stay late into the evening to see beautifully carved pumpkins, lit up and on display. During the day you’ll enjoy fall themed food, and colorful leaves all throughout the park.
2. Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair
In early to mid October the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair heads into full swing. Artisans from across the country gather to peddle their wares while musicians serenade the crowds. You’ll see everything from woodworking and pottery to handcrafted jewelry and leatherworkings. If you have an appreciation for handmade goods then this event is for you.
3. Wears Valley Fall Festival
The Wears Valley Fall Festival takes place in mid October and is a favorite event for locals. Come experience the hundreds of vendors, melodic live music, and incredible Southern cuisine. If you’re interested in a true rustic, Appalachian festival with plenty to do and see for the whole family, then this one is for you.
No matter the festival you choose you’ll need a place to stay. Choose from one of our many options at Bear Camp Cabin Rentals today!
Nestled in the lush green valleys and rolling peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains lies an adventure wonderland waiting to be explored.
From thrilling amusement parks to charming mountain towns brimming with culture, Bear Camp is your gateway to experiencing the best the Smokies have to offer.
Staying at Bear Camp Cabins gives you exclusive access to discounts and freebies at some of the most popular Smoky Mountains attractions. From world-famous dinner shows to exciting family fun centers, Bear Camp guests can save big on admission to these eight must-see stops:
1. Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Investigate notorious crimes, see authentic artifacts, and learn about law enforcement at the fascinating Alcatraz East Crime Museum located right off the Parkway in Pigeon Forge.
This family-friendly museum displays Ted Bundy’s VW Beetle, John Dillinger’s death mask, Al Capone’s fedora and more behind-the-scenes relics that bring America’s most infamous crimes to life. With special rates for Bear Camp guests, become crime detectives for a day at one of the top things to do in Pigeon Forge.
2. The Comedy Barn
This attraction was voted the most award-winning family comedy variety show in the Smokies. As one of the best Smoky Mountain attractions, The Comedy Barn welcomes audiences into
their hilarious barnyard world filled with side-splitting jokes, hilarious antics, outstanding magic, and vocal impressions of famous singers.
Experience two hours of music, magic, and mountain hijinx that’ll leave your cheeks hurting from laughing but wanting more. Bear Camp guests receive exclusive discounts on this beloved Pigeon Forge comedy hotspot.
3. The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
For staggering elevated views of downtown Sevierville, hop aboard The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel towering 200 feet over Forks of the River Parkway.
Each climate-controlled gondola offers 360° vistas of the surrounding Smoky Mountains as you make a full revolution high above the valley below during this charming 15-minute experience. Bear Camp visitors receive money off tickets to take in the sweeping scenery aboard this iconic Sevierville attraction.
4. Dollywood Theme Park
As one of the most popular Smoky Mountain attractions for families, Dolly Parton’s 150-acre Dollywood theme park provides endless entertainment. It has exciting rides and rollercoasters, live music shows, talented craftsmen demonstrations, Southern-inspired dining, and more fun the whole family enjoys.
From the daredevil thrills of Lightning Rod and Wild Eagle to charming shows like Dreamland Drive-In, Dollywood captures mountain magic at its best. With discounted admission tickets, Bear Camp guests can experience it all!
5. The Grand Majestic Theater: The Magic of Terry Underwood
At one of the best Great Smoky Mountains attractions, Magician Terry Evanswood amazes Pigeon Forge audiences with spellbinding illusions, hilarious comedy routines, musical ventriloquism, and interactive magic at his popular Grand Majestic Theater.
This family-friendly show infuses drama, intrigue, mystery, and magic into 75 minutes of pure entertainment. See it for yourself using special reduced ticket pricing extended to Bear Camp guests.
6. Titanic Museum Attraction
Pay touching tribute to Titanic’s unfortunate passengers and crew on an insightful self-guided journey inside this half-scale replica ship docked along the Little Pigeon River.
Guests receive boarding passes detailing an actual passenger or crew member’s fate that night to personalize exhibits while walking through painstakingly recreated rooms, touching a floating iceberg, and more across intricate galleries and interactive displays.
With new artifacts continually being added, Bear Camp guests can experience this Smoky Mountain tourist attraction repeatedly. Each time you can discover something fresh with every visit using discounted admission tickets.
7. Mad Dog’s Creamery
Located right next to Three Arts Theater in Sevierville, this incredibly popular sweet stop whips up homemade, hand-crafted ice cream using local dairy and fresh ingredients onsite daily.
With unique flavors like Salted Caramel Moonshine and Smoky Mountain Mudslide, they have a heavenly option for everyone’s taste buds.
Enjoy your decadent treats on their outdoor patio with the whole family, or grab pints and quarts custom-packed to take back to your Bear Camp cabin worry-free with their exclusive freezer totes. As a favorite for both locals and tourists alike, Bear Camp guests receive discounted prices at Mad Dog’s to satisfy those creamy cravings.
8. TopJump Trampoline and Extreme Arena
For high-flying family fun, TopJump Trampoline Park gets your crew airborne with wall-to-wall interconnected trampolines perfect for free jump, dodgeball, volleyball, ninja courses, and more adrenaline-pumping action.
If one level of trampolines isn’t enough, challenge yourself on the heights of their Extreme Arena climbing walls. With special pricing for Bear Camp visitors, kids and adults alike can bounce, climb, and play for hours at TopJump!
The Great Smoky Mountains: FAQs
What is the difference between the Smoky Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains?
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most visited national park, spanning over half a million protected acres of land with incredible biodiversity across North Carolina and Tennessee.
The Smoky Mountains refers more broadly to the greater region surrounding the national park encompassing towns with more development like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
Where are the Great Smoky Mountains?
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park has land in both eastern Tennessee (Blount, Sevier, and Cocke Counties) and western North Carolina (Haywood, Swain, and Graham Counties). The park is about a 45-minute drive from Knoxville, TN, and a 2-hour drive from Charlotte or Asheville, NC.
How long does it take to go through the Great Smoky Mountains?
With over 800 miles of hiking trails stretching across the vast park, it could take many months to fully explore every corner by foot!
Scenic drives like the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop or the 10-mile Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail allow you to take in those beautiful mountain vistas more easily accessible by car — each showcase highlights in just a few hours.
Of course, we recommend budgeting as much time as you can to immerse yourself in everything the Smokies have to offer!
Final Thoughts
Staying at Bear Camp Cabins in the Great Smoky Mountains provides easy access to the lively entertainment and mountain adventures that call visitors to keep coming back to the spectacular Smoky Mountains year after year.
With quaint cabins tucked in the tranquil woods, you have a serene home to explore the region’s vibrant culture, rich history, and abundant natural beauty at your own pace. We can't wait to host your Smoky Mountain getaway soon!
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