b'Gatlinburg has had a facelift over the last couple of years, with familiar attractionssuch as Ripleys Believe It or Not! being completely remodeled with all new galleriesand thousands of exhibits that feature everything from a mummy and Hogwarts Schoolof Magic, to dragons and smoky mountain oddities. The city has also welcomed newadditions,suchasBlakeSheltons newdining/musicvenueOldRed andtheMargaritaville Resort in downtown Gatlinburg. This fall, the new offerings and optionscontinue to make each family vacation to Gatlinburg an absolutely unique adventure. First up is the Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies, which was voted Best Aquariumby theUSA Today Readers Choice 2019 Awards. The staples within the aquariummake it a must-see attraction, but one of the things that sets it apart is their ever-changing exhibits, always offering something new to see and experience. This yearSavage Seas, Tales of Adventure, Myth & Ruin has found its way to the aquarium.Learnaboutthedailylifeofpirates,theirpillagingandplunderingwaysandtheweapons that they used. Discover shipwrecks and ruins, sea monsters and the mightof mother nature on the high seas. This interactive exhibit is open for a limited time, somake sure to visit before it departs with the tide.Also new is the completely reconstructedSkylift, where for years families haveenjoyed a chair lift ride to amazing views and photographs that have been a staple ofa Gatlinburg vacation for generations. Well, now those chair lifts will also take you toanamazingarchitecturalwonderwiththeGatlinburgSkyBridge.Itisthelongestpedestrian suspension bridge in North America. Measuring nearly 700 feet in length,it will span the valley between ridges on Crockett Mountain and thrilling heights of upto 150 feet. Experience spectacular panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountainsand see Gatlinburg for a whole new vantage point in 2019!Sometimes we need a reminder of how blessed we truly are to have world-classattractionsandexperiencesatourfingertips, and such a reminder came in the formofTripAdvisorsTopTenExperiences list.Thisyear, they recognizedwhitewater rafting in thesmokies as one of the top ten experiences in theUnited States. The Smoky Mountains is where life-timememoriesaremade,andmanyofthosememorieshavebeenforgedalongthePigeonRiver, one of the most popular rafting rivers in thecountry.Specifically,SmokyMountainOutdoorsWhitewaterRafting was awarded theirTravelersChoice Award as a leader in their industry.SmokyMountainNavigator.com 109'