Photographs are the best way to capture the memories you make in Gatlinburg. With the simple flip-through of a photo album, you can relive the hilarious moment at dinner, the serene stillness of the fog on the mountains and the cozy cabin in which you sat fireside every night. Take advantage of these great Gatlinburg photo-opportunities to begin capturing lifelong memories! Since we are currently running our 2012 photo contest, it seems fitting to blog about photo ops in Gatlinburg. Clearly our Facebook fans have already found some of their own, and we welcome you to check them out on our Facebook page. Meanwhile, here are some ideas:
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Of course, the national park offers and abundance of breathtaking scenery for you and your family to capture. Visit Cades Cove for an automobile tour or walking trip and enjoy capturing the areas valleys, mountains and rustic old home sites. You don’t even have to travel into the park to capture a great photo – a simple stop on the side of the road or at the park’s entrance sign provides a wonderful backdrop for your next family portrait.
Gatlinburg Space Needle
You and your family can see Gatlinburg like never before from atop the Space Needle. One of the best viewing points in the area, the needle’s elevators will carry you more than 400 feet in the air for a birds-eye view of downtown Gatlinburg. The panoramic view offers 360 degrees of photo opportunities – position your family near the railing for a view of downtown or the awe-inspiring mountains.
Gatlinburg Sky Lift
The area’s number one scenic overlook offers an exhilarating chair ride to the top of Crockett Mountain – nearly 1,800 feet high! The ride operates during the day for a superb view of the Smokies as well as during the evening for a view of the twinkling lights of downtown. The Sky Lift will take your very own souvenir photo aboard the lift!
Hollywood Star Cars Museum
Where else can you take a picture with Bumblebee, the yellow Camaro from the Transformers trilogy? Nowhere else! The Star Cars Museum offers cars, trucks and motorcycles from several of your favorite films. Snap a picture in front of the storm-chasing truck from Twister, the DeLorean from Back to the Future or General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard. The cars are surrounded by realistic movie props, making your photos seem like you actually visited the film set!
Clingmans Dome
At more than 6,500 feet in elevation, this area is the National Park’s highest point. A popular park destination, the location is accessible from Newfound Gap Road. To reach the viewing platform there is a half mile hike, but we promise that the view it worth it! From this point, you and your family can take a wonderful photo with views of more than 100 miles and into seven states!