Taking a virtual tour of the Great Smoky Mountains by Aaron Tanner

For those living in northern Alabama, the Great Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee is a popular vacation destination for those looking to unwind and relax. For those with a disability, the crowds of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg can make visiting these places more complicated than someone who does not have a disability.

Thanks to the internet and Covid-19, some of the popular tourist attractions in this region are now available to be viewed virtually via the internet. For example, the Gatlinburg Skylift has a video of a beautiful sunrise over the town while riding up the mountain and walking on the sky bridge via their Facebook page. For those not familiar with the Gatlinburg Skybridge, it is the longest pedestrian bridge in North America.

Last year, I wrote a post about Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg becoming a Certified Autism Center. If a disability prevents someone from being able to handle this popular tourist attraction, don’t worry. Thanks to Google Street View, one can walk through the aquarium as if one is there.

Up the road in Pigeon Forge, the Titanic Museum has several videos of an exhibit by exhibit walkthrough of actual artifacts from the ship’s voyage and ultimate demise in the north Atlantic. I learned many things about the ship that I never knew. The video is in the format of a child and an employee taking a school field trip through the museum.

Google Street View also offers a walkthrough of parts of the Dollywood theme park. For those on the Autism Spectrum, Dollywood offers a sensory room for those who can physically visit the park but get overwhelmed by the crowds.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States. Although many of their trails offer spectacular views of nature, accessing them is more than likely difficult for those with mobility issues. Google Earth created a tour where one can access 360-degree views of popular park attractions such as Cades Cove, Laurel Falls, and Clingman’s Dome.

Although I want to go back to Gatlinburg and the Smokies one day, I am not sure I can handle the area due to heavy crowds that can lead to sensory overload. I am very thankful for this alternative to see places that have served as popular vacation spots for families for many generations. Families affected by disabilities now can see one of the most popular tourist destinations in the South through the comfort of their own home.

Click here for a link to the different attractions in the Smokies available virtually. Share your thoughts about visiting Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Great Smoky Mountains in the comment section below.