If you’re planning on doing some hiking and other outdoor activities during your vacation in the Smokies, you’ll want to make the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Gatlinburg your first stop! As NOC’s flagship store, this massive retail complex features 18,000 square feet of outdoor gear from brands like The North Face and Patagonia, as well as local goods, gifts, and more! You can even book a white water rafting trip right inside the store with an NOC Guide! Here are the top 3 reasons to visit the NOC Gatlinburg during your Smoky Mountain vacation:
1. Tons of Gear for Outdoor Activities
NOC Gatlinburg offers tons of high-quality gear for outdoor activities, ranging from hiking boots to backpacks! The best part is that the store is located right at the Gatlinburg entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making it easy to pick up any last-minute items you might need for the trails! The team at NOC Gatlinburg is highly trained in helping you find the right hiking gear, so don’t hesitate to ask if you are looking for something special! The store is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM for your convenience!
2. Fun Activities for the Kids
You’ll want to bring the kids along to your stop at the NOC Gatlinburg because there are lots of fun activities in the store for kids of all ages! You’ll quickly discover that the NOC Gatlinburg is not simply a retail store but an experience! While shopping, you can walk across the second-floor rope bridge, crawl through the kid-friendly “bear cave”, relax beside a giant fireplace, and even ascend a 25-foot-tall climbing wall! You definitely won’t have to worry about the kids being bored here; in fact, you might have a tough time getting them out of the store!
3. Plan Outdoor Adventure Activities
Another one of the top reasons to visit the NOC Gatlinburg during your Smoky Mountain vacation is to plan your outdoor adventures with a NOC Guide! These friendly guides can provide detailed information on local and guided hikes, as well as some of the best lookout spots in the Smokies! They can even book your Pigeon River white water rafting trip right in the store, complete with a discounted price! The NOC has taken more families whitewater rafting than any other adventure company in the Southeast and has pioneered the industry for over 50 years!
Where to Stay
If you love the magic of the Smoky Mountains, there is nothing like a vacation at our affordable cabin rentals throughout Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge! Our cabins are tucked into the mountains so that you can enjoy the beauty of the Smokies while still being close to everything that the region has to offer! We offer a wide variety of cabins to meet your needs, ranging from one-bedroom cabins for a romantic getaway to multi-bedroom cabins for large families and groups of friends!
Check out all of our cabins in the Smokies today to stay close to the NOC Gatlinburg and dozens of other attractions, restaurants, and shops throughout the Smoky Mountains! We look forward to seeing you soon!
