Anakeesta

Anakeesta's going through a massive construction phase right now, so here's what you need to know before you go. They temporarily closed in January for a $100 million renovation and just reopened in March with limited access — you can only get up the mountain via their Ridge Rambler transport since they're replacing the old Chondola lift system. The new lift should be ready in May, but honestly, we'd wait until then unless you're dying to see the construction progress.

When it's fully operational again, the Treetop Skywalk is still the main draw — 880 feet of suspended bridges that'll have you questioning your life choices about 50 feet above the forest floor. It's genuinely impressive and way longer than you expect. The AnaVista Tower gives you those Instagram-worthy 360-degree views of Gatlinburg, though it closes when it's windy, which happens more than you'd think in the mountains.

They've got two mountain coasters (Hellbender and Rail Runner) that cost extra, and honestly, they're fun but not worth the upcharge if you're trying to stick to a budget. Oh and the new Firefly Experience is coming this fall — it's supposed to recreate those synchronous fireflies we get here in the Smokies, which sounds cool but we'll see if it lives up to the hype.

One thing though — don't expect to knock this out in a couple hours. Plan for at least half a day, especially with the current construction delays and limited transport options. We usually tell people to check their website right before visiting since things are changing weekly with all the renovation work happening.