Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
The Case For A January Trip To The Smokies
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on January 12, 2021
Here in the Smokies, it's officially the off season. No more fall colors, no more major holidays. We're in the heart of winter, and the kids are back in school, so there really aren't many good reasons for heading to the mountains right now.
At least that was the conventional wisdom for a number of years. These days, however, there are plenty of good reasons to hit the road and spend a day, a weekend or even a week in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. It's true that we're enjoying a short hiatus here at Smoky Mountain Ziplines, but this is still a good time to share with you several reasons why this could be a great time to come to the Smokies. Read on for the details.
Winterfest
The Smokies' annual celebration of the season is still going strong! In fact, you'll still find millions of Winterfest lights on display throughout Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. From street pole decorations to elaborate animated displays, the light, color and magic of the season can be found in each community. Pick up or download a map of the displays in the city you want to visit and create your own tour of lights. Also keep your eyes on each city's special events calendar. There are still cool happenings scheduled through the end of February.
Winter Fun
Not only is winter NOT the off season for tourism, it's PEAK season for the folks at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort. It's been nice and cold up on Mt. Harrison lately, so the conditions have been ripe for lots of natural and manufactured snow. Head up there by car or Aerial Tramway and enjoy a day of snow skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and ice skating as well as other fun attractions, shopping, dining and more. You'll need some kind of outdoor activity to hold you over until you can zipline Pigeon Forge with us again in the spring.
Cheaper Lodging
Whether you're staying in a hotel/motel on the Parkway or an overnight rental cabin in the mountains, you'll find that rates for accommodations are at their lowest in winter. You can use that to your advantage when planning a trip to the Smokies. Spending less on your lodging frees up more money to play, dine and shop. And don't forget about other applicable discounts when you travel. Are you a member of AAA or AARP? Flash that membership card and save even more.
Post-Holiday Deals
This could be a great time to visit the outlet mall stores and other specialty shops around the Smokies. Many retailers are trying to clear out their 2020 merchandise and get ready for 2021 by marking down older inventory. And remember that this is one of the best times of year to buy Christmas decorations for NEXT year (if you can stand to think that far ahead).
Smaller Crowds
You'll notice when you're driving into the area that there just aren't as many visitors this time of year. That makes for lighter traffic and smaller crowds at attractions, restaurants and shops. Any one of those may not seem like a huge time saver, but they all add up to more minutes in your schedule to spend doing the things you want to do most.
Of course, your ability to travel to the Smokies may depend on your stage of life. If you have school-age children, you're more likely looking at a weekend stay or a daytrip at best. But if you're retired, self-employed or have some vacation time coming, you could consider booking a longer stay in the mountains.
