Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA19

ProMotional Content

ripley's aquarium of the smokies dominates the gatlinburg skyline.

dangle your feet and enjoy the ride on
the gatlinburg sky lift.

at ripley's, you can get up close with the penquins.

artists eager to explain unique techniques.
With unforgettable fire and dance,
"Unto These Hills" theatrically tells
the tragic and triumphant story of the
tribe. This riveting drama reaches back
to the years prior to the Trail of Tears
then continues to unfold its story on
stage with the ever-evolving and inspiring lives of the resilient Cherokee
people. Enjoyed by millions, "Unto
These Hills" runs Monday to Saturday, June to August.
From Cherokee, continue the
Southern Highlands tour to Tennessee. Follow U.S. 441 across the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park to
reach the bustling streets of Gatlinburg, home to acclaimed restaurants
like Davy Crockett's Breakfast Camp
plus a new Courtyard on Historic

Nature Trail, where artsy rooms offer
invigorating views of the Gatlinburg
Sky Lift (865-436-4307/gatlinburgskylift.com).
Come at mid-day - or just a few
hours before midnight - to take your
turn on "The Best Seat in Gatlinburg."
The Gatlinburg Sky Lift provides an
exhilarating ride to the top of Crockett Mountain, where you can savor
the spectacular sights of the Smokies
through viewfinders.
Kids take this ride, all smiles, next
to their parents. Lovers arrive, all
giddy-eyed, saying, "Yes!" or even "I
do." Under the sunshine, you'll enjoy
breathtaking views of lush forests and
majestic mountains. Then, by moonlight, you can casually study the dazzling lights of the city - with its legendary potpourri of museums, eateries

and unique curiosities.
Curiously, it appears, the Smokies
are shouldered with what you might
expect to find along a shore: seafood;
a lighthouse at Sevierville; and waves
you can ride in the pools of Wilderness at the Smokies or Dolly's Splash
Country. Basically, though, all this
kind of fits the mystery of how the
Great Smoky Mountains were once
covered by an ancient sea.
Such a seaside story is what you'll
hear at Ripley's Aquarium of the
Smokies (888-240-1358/ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com). This sprawling
structure stands within easy walking
distance of the Gatlinburg Sky Lift
near the center of the city. The complex
contains thousands of exotic sea creatures - from a giant turtle and spider
crabs to sea monkeys and jellyfish.
Come pet horseshoe crabs. Stand
face-to-fin with the sharks of the underwater tunnels. Touch a stingray. Or
enjoy playfully getting nose-to-beak
in the Penguin Playhouse. Also, be
sure to swim here again and again:
Shows and exhibits change, and, naturally, so do the fishy faces at Ripley's
Aquarium of the Smokies.
southernhighlands.org 19

http://www.gatlinburgskylift.com http://www.gatlinburgskylift.com http://www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com http://www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com http://www.southernhighlands.org

Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016