Gatlinburg, TN vs. Asheville, NC (places, people, downtown, size)

[ClemVegas]

Gatlinburg is more fun and unique in my view

it isn't tacky like Myrtle Beach. That may be true of Pigeon Forge.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Shakeesha

I have fond memories of both, but this is an unfair comparison. Asheville is an actual city with universities and industries other than tourism. Asheville and North Carolina know how to do small thriving towns void of pawn shops and tobacco and beer stores in the cbd. Tennessee, not so much lol. Asheville contains interstate highways and is also close to Greenville, Charlotte, etc. which gives it the clear advantage for economic growth. Now if you had compared Chattanooga, then it would be a more fair comparison.

Yeah, for sure! I still go to Gatlinburg a couple times a year. Asheville too.

Both are incredible destinations, but completely different categories of cities with respect to city size.

Asheville and Chattanooga--yes, a bit more fair. Although Chattanooga larger, but also more rough around the edges than Asheville.

[creeksitter]

Asheville and North Carolina know how to do small thriving towns void of pawn shops and tobacco and beer stores in the cbd. Tennessee, not so much lol.

??? Gatlinburg has no pawn shops Asheville has 7. Cherokee is a better analogy to Gatlinburg and it has 3 pawn shops. They both have 3 tobacco stores. Asheville appears to have 14.

Such a lopsided comparison. It's kinda like comparing Atlanta to Chattanooga.

I think it's more like comparing Charleston to Myrtle Beach.

[BrianGC]

Gatlinburg has better scenery in the immediate area, but Asheville is just an overall superior and more well-rounded experience. Better food, better entertainment, interesting quirkiness, plus a great craft beer scene. Gatlinburg is cute, and I like it better than its neighbor Pigeon Forge, but it's still a copy-paste tourist town.

EDIT: I will admit that while Asheville is better for adults, Gatlinburg is more fun for kids.

[JohnnyGentle]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Asheville is a true mountain city with 90,000 people + approximately, and a metro area of 300k and growing.

Gatlinburg is a mountain resort town with millions of tourists, and has about 3,500 people.

Such a lopsided comparison. It's kinda like comparing Atlanta to Chattanooga.

yes, this is like comparing Boulder to Estes Park in Colorado.

[ClemVegas]

What cities are similar to Gatlinburg

I can't think of any

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by ClemVegas

What cities are similar to Gatlinburg

I can't think of any

I would say, Vail or Aspen, Colorado--although both are a bit more upscale than Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg acts like a ski resort town with many millions more tourists than most ski resort towns--and a little touch of a bit of tacky here and there.

Myrtle Beach is similar, but a lot bigger than Gatlinburg, so it also gets more crime, and things that go along with more population.

Also, Ocean City, MD or Branson, MO to a lesser extent, are similar to Gatlinburg.

[ClemVegas]

I don't see how a beach town can be similar to Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg's identity is being located next to mountains, and it is next to the most visited national park in the country.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by ClemVegas

I don't see how a beach town can be similar to Gatlinburg.

In terms of tourist attractions, hotels, resorts, etc., very similar.

[creeksitter]

Pigeon Forge is similar to Myrtle Beach - despite the different settings.

Gatlinburg's counterpart is Estes Park, CO.