Activities for me and my Gimpy Friend

Since it seems that a jump from a rock at Rainbow Falls and my lack of attention to Ashley's sprain, the two of us will be embarking on some adventures that we originally thought best to be saved for later. Our intent has been from the beginning to write not only about the 800 miles of trails we plan to hike, but also some of the points of interest surrounding the park; restaurants, attractions, and other activities that those visiting the Great Smoky Mountains might be interested in seeing, or in some cases avoiding.

Gatlinburg has never been one of my favorite places. Bill Bryson, in his book A Walk In The Woods, describes it this way:

Gatlinburg is a shock to the system from whichever angle you survey it, but never more so than when you descend upon it from a spell of moist, grubby isolation in the woods. It sits just outside the main entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and specializes in providing all those things the park does not--principally, slurpy food, motels, gift shops, and sidewalks on which to waddle and dawdle--nearly all of it is strewn along a single, astonishingly ugly main street.

This may be exactly where we are heading this week, unless of course you can help us.

Ashley is not going to be up for hiking for another few weeks, so we have decided to check out some the the extracurricular activities surrounding the park while her leg is on the mend. We already have a few ideas. There is Ripley's Aquarium which would feed Ashley's interest in sharks. There are the Forbidden Caverns, which I have seen signs for many times, but sadly have never visited since they are forbidden. There are several places that specialize in horseback tours of the Smokies. The question is, for those of you familiar with the surrounding areas of the park, where should we go? We look forward to your suggestions.