Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
5 Things To Do In The Smokies Before School Starts
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on July 30, 2019
Don't let the warm, sunny days fool you. Kids (and their teachers) are getting geared up for another school year. That means it's time to put away all the swimming trunks and golf clubs and hiking gear and prepare to buckle down for a semester of homework and exams.
Or does it? Summer doesn't officially end until September, and we're going to have season-appropriate weather until then too, so school or no school, it's just too early to give up on a lot of people's favorite time of year. That's why, this week, we're going to offer some suggestions for things you can still do to celebrate summer in the Smokies before school starts. Whether you have time to pack in an entire family vacation or maybe just plan on a last-hurrah weekend, these ideas will steer you toward plenty of warm-weather fun.
Dollywood/Dollywood's Splash Country
Dollywood is open through December. Splash Country is open through Labor Day weekend. The water park alone still has more than a month of splashy fun to offer, and at the original theme park, you'll be able to enjoy rides, attractions, restaurants, shops and shows all the way through summer and well into fall and winter. But if you're interested in squeezing in a true summer outing before the kids start hitting the books, just head to Splash Country this weekend, where you can keep your cool with acres of water slides, splashy attractions, a lazy river, wave pool, kids' play areas and much more.
Outlet malls
You don't need a tax-free weekend or a special holiday sale to save money at the outlet stores in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. They offer great savings year 'round, so why not take advantage of their pricing in the middle of summer? You'll find great deals on clothing, footwear, housewares, electronics, music, tools and much more. And if you're really industrious, you could even start checking some folks off your Christmas shopping list. Yes, it's hard to think about Christmas shopping in July, but think how great you'll feel when December rolls around, and you've already removed a lot of stress from your holiday experience.
Ziplining!
We're right in the thick of the season here at Smoky Mountain Ziplines. Seven awesome ziplines, hours of fun, outdoor excitement, jaw-dropping views of the Great Smoky Mountains. We've got it all, seven days a week. Never ziplined before? No problem. Our guides will provide you with all the gear and instruction you'll need to get your treetop adventure started. We're also very conveniently located just two miles off the Parkway, so even after you've spent the morning or afternoon on our zip lines, Gatlinburg, TN as well as Pigeon Forge and Sevierville have even more fun in store for your back-to-school getaway.
National park
Summer is the time when you can experience the widest variety of outdoor fun in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can hike to a cool waterfall or to the summit of Mt. LeConte, or you could stay in the valley and enjoy a picnic lunch against a picturesque backdrop. There's also cycling, horseback riding, fishing, camping and tours of historic sites. And GSMNP is one of the few national parks in the country that doesn't charge an entrance fee, so all that beauty and recreation will help you save a lot of money on your next trip.
Music theaters
It's hard to get away with calling them “music theaters” these days, because the variety of entertainment available on the stages of the Smoky Mountains is incredible. There are music shows of all types – country, bluegrass, gospel, rock, etc. – but also look for theaters showcasing magic, swashbuckling pirates, hatchet-wielding lumberjacks, trick horseback riders, comedy, Biblical history, murder mysteries and more. Many theaters also serve dinner as part of the package, so you can kill two birds with one stone and have a lot of fun in the process.
