I visited the Great Smoky Mountains and the best part of my trip was an unexpected discovery I made while stuck in the rain with no way to get to my Airbnb

During a recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, I had an experience I never expected — taking an aerial tram ride high above them.

Before I arrived at Great Smoky Mountain National Park, I never knew this tramway existed. But it ended up being a major unexpected highlight of my trip.

I only found the tram after spotting it from a restaurant in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a town near the national park. I was trying to figure out how to get to my Airbnb, but with no taxi available, I was facing a three-hour walk in heavy rain.

The tram travels between downtown Gatlinburg, where I was, and Ober Mountain, a tourist attraction with a roller coaster and other rides that happened to be just a 30-minute walk from my Airbnb.

Completed in 1973 to bring skiers safely up to the slopes, the tram ascends 300 feet above the Great Smoky Mountains, and has carried millions of people up to Ober Mountain.

I was relieved to avoid an hours-long rainy walk and went to the tram station, which was across the street from the restaurant.

I bought a ticket for the tram for $30, to take a two-mile ride above the mountains.

At the station, I learned that it's one of the largest aerial tramways in the US.

Each tram car can hold 120 people, according to Ober Mountain. I don't think my tram ride was completely full, and I was impressed by how much room I had to move around and see the park from different angles.

The tram travels at 17 miles per hour, according to Gatlinburg Attractions Association, and the ride was about 10 minutes long. I thought it swayed quite a bit, but not too much for comfort.

I thought the aerial views of the park from the tram were epic and some of the best of my trip, even in the rain. I couldn't help but think if I hadn't struggled to find taxis, I never would have experienced the tram.

When I made it safely to my Airbnb, I was grateful for the unexpected adventure. I can't wait to ride it again on a sunny day.