Arts & Crafts Itinerary (Perfect for Senior Citizen Travel)

Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts and Senior Citizen Travel Options

Day One

Today is a day of discovery! Start your morning off with a breakfast at any of the wonderful restaurants that line the Gatlinburg Parkway, Gatlinburg's main thoroughfare. Many are within walking distance of almost every hotel in the city. Let the friendly atmosphere and morning sustenance set your mind upon the task of today - surrounding yourself with the beauty of Gatlinburg's arts and crafts community.

Located on the Gatlinburg Parkway in the middle of downtown is Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts. At Arrowmont, here you will find a delightful shop featuring a wide variety of arts and crafts to match every individual taste and style. Arrowmont is famous for hosting excellent artists in residence and offering real, hands-on classes for all ages. Each year, more than 2,000 students from the around the world come to the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts to study.

Across the street is a gallery of a different kind of art - the art of the undersea world! No visit to Gatlinburg would be complete without a visit to the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies! Plan to spend a couple of hours marveling at the creatures of the deep - you can even ask an educator all the questions that come to mind. This aquarium features a grand underwater tunnel that lets you feel like you are in the tank with the animals!

Wander down the Gatlinburg Parkway and select one of the many restaurants for lunch before you begin the afternoon. Gatlinburg offers dining in all price ranges with all kinds of menu options from seafood to barbeque.

After lunch is the perfect time to see the city from above. Make your way down the Parkway towards the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway. While you are walking, stop and visit the many shops and galleries along the way. There are clocks and crafts, museums and music all along the Parkway for you to enjoy, so please take your time and savor it all.

As the sun sets, watch the colors of the night paint the evening sky during your two-mile trip to the top of Mt. Harrison for breathtaking views of the City and the Smokies. You can get dinner here, or take the Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway down to the Gatlinburg Parkway to find the perfect evening setting for you.

Day Two

Begin with a hearty breakfast and plan to be amazed! Gatlinburg is home to the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, the largest group of independent artisans in all of North America! Established in 1937, this is a historic eight-mile loop dotted with shops and is home to nearly 100 artists that has been designated as the Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. Here you can see artists at work or purchase the perfect gift for someone you care about, or maybe yourself.

These eight miles are like no others in the United States and deserve your whole attention and most, if not all, of the day! There are delightful restaurants in the Arts and Crafts Community where you can stop and refuel for lunch.

As the sun sets, why not freshen up at the hotel and plan to dine in comfort and elegance tonight. Gatlinburg's many higher-end restaurants are the perfect way to end the day and discuss the beautiful things you saw (and bought!).

Day Three

No senior citizen travel trip or school fieldtrip to Gatlinburg would be complete without spending at least half a day visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. One of the largest protected land areas east of the Rockies, the Smokies are like a world unto itself. With over 500,000 forested acres, 800 miles of trails and 700 miles of streams, the promise of outdoor recreation and adventure - whether camping, hiking and whitewater rafting - lures millions of visitors, many for the first time, to enjoy the majestic natural beauty of the Smokies. When you leave, enjoy a light lunch and head back to the Parkway for your final afternoon of fun.

Shops of all varieties line Gatlinburg's Parkway. Clock shops, candy shops, galleries and gifts are all waiting for you. Stop along the way to try your hand at miniature golf, or visit a museum or mirror maze while you stroll the street. As the evening draws to close, try that last intriguing restaurant that caught your attention and sit back and savor the sights and sounds around you.