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A visit to Gatlinburg fosters a love for the great outdoors for a whole new generation. The adventures become even more extreme this spring with the grand opening of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) Great Outpost, which showcases all the gear, services and expertise needed to truly discover Mother Nature’s treasures. Tackle the 25-foot tall climbing wall, a swinging rope bridge and a kid-friendly “bear den” at the new NOC, which also features gear from renowned brands including The North Face, Columbia Sportswear and Mountain Hardwear. Bike rentals also are available. The NOC’s clinics, classes and outdoor adventures are available through Basecamp, an outdoor concierge and advice center in the heart of NOC’s Great Outpost, designed to educate guests on all their outdoor options in Gatlinburg.

Say hello to Gatlinburg’s newest flock of feathered friends. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies opened its new $5 million “Penguin Playhouse” in March. The indoor/outdoor habitat allows visitors an up-close-and-personal, nose-to-beak view of these amazing birds. Since 1930, the African penguin population has dropped from an estimated one million birds down to 150,000 today, putting them on the list of “vulnerable” animals facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The new exhibit is the largest and costliest expansion ever at the Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg.

This March, stroll back in time to the early days of Gatlinburg and explore a beautiful garden setting at Carousel Gardens, Gatlinburg’s newest mix of retail, dining and cultural shops. Located on Gatlinburg’s downtown Parkway at the former site of the Jim Gray Gallery, Carousel Gardens will feature Sweetpea’s Café & Antique Lounge, Lulu’s Cookie Gallery, Smoky Mountain Babies and Tots, Sounds of the Smokies and the Gatlinburg Heritage Museum, along with 76 boutique style shops with home décor, gifts, souvenirs, music, art and trendy fashions, many offered by the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community.  After you shop, rest your feet as you relax in one of the courtyard eateries surrounded by art and beautiful furnishings.

Explore more than 500,000 acres of forests in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the largest protected land areas east of the Rocky Mountains. Bike along the Cades Cove loop, or discover the secrets found in the park during one of the educational programs offered by park rangers. Observe over 240 species of birds, search for salamanders, or learn more about the 77 historic structures, preserved scenes and landscapes the National Park maintains, and when you’re in town, check out the the historic Ogle Cabin, which was the home of Gatlinburg’s first settlers. This collection, representing more than a century of human history in the Appalachia region, helps to tell the story of the people who lived and worked in the Park prior to its creation. Pitch a tent and pack a picnic lunch while staying at one of the two local campgrounds in Gatlinburg. Make sure to cast a line in a quest to catch Gatlinburg’s famous mountain rainbow trout in one of several miles of streams which flow through downtown and are stocked weekly.

Throughout the spring months, from March 11 – June 7, Smoky Mountain SpringFest transforms Gatlinburg’s streets into a bustling showplace celebrating the season with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants. During Celebrate Santa, hundreds of jolly old St. Nicks gather March 13 - 16 at the Convention Center for their 2010 convention, trade show and gala, with the Holly & Shamrock Parade signaling the birth of springtime on March 13. During the 60^th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage and Greener Living Expo from April 21 – 25, everyone from the serious botanist to the weekend gardener can learn from the nation’s leading botanical experts as well as Appalachian wildlife authorities. The 5^th Annual Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival from May 15 – 16 features over 50 professional artists and juried craftsmen from around the country, as well as delicious cuisine and live entertainment. . That same weekend, celebrate your heritage in the 29^th annual Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games at Mills Park. For a complete list of spring events in Gatlinburg, visit www.eventsgatlinburg.com.

Back by popular demand, Gatlinburg’s fifth annual presentation of Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™ begins in downtown Gatlinburg on June 11, 2010 and will run through August 7. Tunes & Tales is a summer-long street performance event featuring costumed musical performers, storytellers and artisans portraying time periods as far back as 1800.

This popular eight-week event truly highlights one of Gatlinburg’s greatest assets - the walkability of the community - and provides guests with an interactive, educational and entertaining experience the whole family can enjoy.

Be among the first to celebrate our nation’s birthday during one of the most unique Independence Day celebrations in the country. Gatlinburg kicks off America’s Independence Day celebration with the nation’s first parade, which leads off in the opening moment of the holiday at 12 a.m. on Sunday, July 4, to the cheers of close to 100,000 spectators and features a special tribute to our military personnel among the many highlights of this one-of-a-kind patriotic event.

Stretching more than a mile in length, over 100 units will make their way through Gatlinburg, showcasing many elaborately decorated floats, helium balloons, marching bands, equestrian entries and a large contingent of our armed services men & women.