A holiday day at Anakeesta is really special

This father and daughter obviously loved the lights and everything else at Anakeesta. (Larry Vaught Photo)

Every visit we have ever made to Anakeesta in Gatlinburg has been terrific, especially with our grandchildren who all love the top of the mountain and all the fun it provides. But even with no grandkids, it is still magical at Anakeesta at the holidays.

Our visit got off to a great start when on the chairlift on the way up we saw a bear slowly climbing down the mountain. The bear was just playing and it was like it almost knew it was entertaining everyone.

At the top of the mountain, there is so much to see and do. Views are spectacular any time of the year and it was fun to wander around in the daylight.

For dinner, we went to Cliff Top restaurant for the first time — but not the last time. The menu was great. We chose some great onion rings for an appetizer and then I went with grilled salmon and asparagus while my wife picked the bison burger and broccoli. Both were great and thank goodness our waitress, Kaitlyn, talked us into trying the tuxedo cake that was delivered personally by the manager, Kristine. Hostess Shaneese greeted us with a smile and the service, food and views were all great.

There are a lot of choices for the more adventurous from a zip line to the rail runner coaster to gem mining (all are additional costs). But I love the Treetop Skywalk on the swinging bridges and climbing to the top of Anavista Tower.

But what makes Anakeesta special to us is easy — the people. You meet people from so many states just walking and talking and the staff is perhaps the friendliest of anywhere we have been.

One staffer, Nicole, was walking around checking lights but also just asking if there was any information you needed or anything she could do to make your visit better. We spent about 10 minutes just chatting with her.

Our server, Kaitlyn, told us she drives 1 1/2 hours to get to work but loves her job so much the 3-hour round trip is no big deal.

Once the sun went down, Anakeesta got even more magical with fire pits, a hot chocolate trail, and a celebration of lights it was impossible not to love. The lights lit up the mountain and the Treetop Skywalk with the lights along the way is spectacular.

My favorite scene was a father putting his young daughter on his shoulders to stand under the lights for a picture of them smiling and laughing. That’s what makes Anakeesta special.

The ride back down the mountain and seeing all the lights of Gatlinburg was a great way to end a perfect five hours at Anakeesta.

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For more information, go to https://anakeesta.com/.