An incredible natural wonder. From the moment you enter the park it is idyllic scenery that…read morecaptures your attention. I found myself stopping many times along the path to stare at the magnificence of the stream and listen to the rushing water. The falls were breath taking. All I could think while I stared at the glorious world around me was that "God is good" It is a fairly steep climb but there are plenty of benches for those that need a break in their journey up the mountain.

Be prepared for a 0.4-0.5 mile hike up to the falls. It was an amazing hike but this Florida girl…read moreis definitely not used to climbing hills. There was one point where it was steep but the view at the top made it all worth while.

While the offices and displays weren't open on Sunday morning, it was awesome to find a clean…read morepublic restroom that was available. Two cups of coffee and it was needed! The facility is located on the Dahlonega public square and if it's not super busy, you should have no problem finding parking. [Review 20359 overall - 692 in Georgia - 1337 of 2023.]

THE VISITOR'S CENTER IN DAHLONEGA…read more When in town for the Gold Rush Festival or just to check out the local area, you must stop in at the Visitor's Center. It is located at the heart of the square and this is where all the magic happens. During the festival, this is a great place to grab a seat and take a break because they have benches along the front windows and a little covered seating area off to the side. The center is always staffed with friendly people who are eager to assist you with whatever you need, (recommendations, directions, a good clean joke). We stopped in to get additional information about things to see and do in the area and were surprised to find information on the Atlanta area. We collected this information as well because some of it was simply new to us. A small gift shop can also be found inside of the center. The visitor's center is my preferred pitstop when I need to go to the ladies room because the bathrooms are spacious and always clean. If nothing else, stop in to say "Hey!

Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a must-stop during your roadtrip through the beautiful Great Smoky…read moreMountains. There's plenty of parking, clean restrooms, an indoor museum with a gift shop, the Mountain Farm Museum, hiking trails, and a large pasture where you might have the opportunity to see elk. We had a quick stop over so we didn't get to explore too much of the area, especially because we had our dog with us and it was quite a hot day. The indoor museum was curated well and was informative on the life in the Appalachians. The gift shop was nice, well stocked, and had plenty of options. I always buy something from National Park centers as a donation. I bought a sticker, a patch, and a magnet. They also have stamps for your National Park Passports, too!

We were travelling through North Carolina on our way out to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and decided…read moreto stop at the visitor center for this area as there seems to be a lot of things going on. Having already passed through the fields where elk were grazing and causing all kinds of traffic hazards from people stopping on the side of the road to look. The visitor center is solid, and introduces travelers to all of the things available to do in the area. High focus on hiking, obviously, as the area is an outdoors wonderland. We were just there for a short time, but we got the idea and it seemed like they were doing a good job. Be aware that if you are going to park there for an extended period of time they do require you to pay for parking... if you are just there for fifteen minutes or so like we were, there is no charge.

We stopped at the Spur Welcome Center during our Smoky Mountain vacation and were impressed by how…read moremodern and updated the facility feels. The staff were friendly and helpful, and there were plenty of maps, brochures, coupons for local attractions, and souvenirs to browse while we planned our adventures. The location is one of its biggest advantages. Compared to the smaller downtown visitor center, I much prefer this one because it's easier to get in and out of, has ample parking, and feels less hectic than navigating the busy Parkway area. It's a convenient stop whether you're heading into Gatlinburg or the national park. One thing to note is the new park parking policy: if you park for more than 15 minutes inside the Smokies, you'll need to purchase a parking tag. I was initially a little frustrated by that, but I understand the need to help support park operations and visitor services. Later, I learned the parking tag revenue goes to the federal government (currently being used on DC projects) rather than staying at this specific visitor center or within the local community, which was disappointing to me personally. Overall, this is a clean, welcoming, and well-organized visitor center that makes a great first stop before exploring the Smokies.

The Gatlinburg Welcome Center is a good stop for local information and Great Smoky Mountains…read moreNational Park updates. We made several visits to the center to pick up maps, parking passes, shirts, post cards and gifts. The staff is super friendly, helpful and will answer questions. Prices are reasonable. They carry hiking and Park guides. I highly recommend picking up maps because internet connectivity is rarely available in the Park. Free maps are available and specialty guides are only $1. Restrooms are available at the Center. There is limited parking and a larger lot up the hill. We always found parking no matter what time of day that we visited. The Center is also a stop and provides parking to ride the free trolly that goes to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg.

This is our first stop on the way home from Gatlinburg. Restrooms are clean, with paper towels, as…read morewell as a blow dryer. There are benches to sit on when you exit, and a lovely gift store next-door. There are still recycling receptacles in the parking lot, and complimentary poop bags for cleaning up after your dog. Past the parking area are places to eat under shaded alcoves.

This Visitor's Center is beautiful and clean, and is in a great location…read more The lady at the counter was helpful, and offered a map and brochure to assist us in finding our chosen activities. There is a room full of informative They have coffee and bottled water available at a charge.

Friendly and helpful staff that gave us a few nearby hiking options. We hiked the loop trail that…read morestarted from the parking lot. Not sure if we were not paying attention while chatting but we ended up in a neighborhood and had to backtrack ha! Helpful to have the bathrooms in the visitor center to pop into before or after a hike!

Nice visitors center but the park ranger that was working last Sunday was not particularly friendly…read moreor particularly willing to provide much advice on where to go or what to see. She said go South because you cant go North. I said what is there to see to the South and she said well ii. 3 hours you cant get to the Smoky Mountains. I gave up at that point and asked for a map.

Sugarland Visitor Center on the Tennessee side on Great Smoky Mountain National Park was crowded…read morewith visitors during my visit. The parking lot was full at 9:30 in the morning! The Center offers a nice exhibit of animals and plants that can be seen in the park. Rangers are available to help answer questions and help design Park itineraries for visitors. The Center is a perfect place to pick up maps and other Park info. We bought parking passes and I picked up several cool walking sticks in the gift shop to give as gifts. Prices on some items were reasonable. The staff were super friendly despite the crowds. There are rest rooms available...the last real restrooms before entering the Park. Outside, are little "gardens" featuring native Park vegetation. Addition parking is being added. Every visitor to the Park should plan a stop at the Center. Plan 30 minutes to an hour.

A nice stop along the way into the National Park. Parking is a bit tough because it seems to…read morealways be busy. The museum inside is worth a look. The gift shop is really nice and has a large variety of things for purchase.

Really nice and well maintained stop along our route.. clean bathrooms and staff on site to give…read moreyou any help with info or routes or things to do.

Very clean and organized welcome center with a store that has specific hours operation. There's an…read moreATM machine available as well as vending machines. Very clean facilities.