Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Fun Ways To Avoid Going Stir Crazy
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on April 14, 2020
Most of us have been spending a lot of time cooped up inside our homes these past few weeks. Many folks live alone, some live with just a spouse or significant other, and many have one or more children under the same roof. Regardless of your situation, chances are at least one person has started to get a little stir crazy – that restless feeling you get when you've been stuck inside for an extended period of time. If kiddos are involved, there's no doubt that you parents have heard them whine on more than one occasion, “I'm booorrrred!”
If any of this describes your current household state, then read on. This week, we've got suggestions for ways to help you give boredom the slip and have fun doing it. The best part is that these are all things you can do together as a couple or as a family. Also keep in mind that once social restrictions are lifted, these are activities you can do any time as a family, whether it's just a weekend fun night, a summer staycation or even on vacation in the Smokies. For example, if you stay in an overnight rental cabin, you can take one of our Pigeon Forge zipline tours during the day, and at night, you could spend some quality family time doing any of the following:
1. Board games
The kids may want to escape into their video and online gaming worlds, but there will be plenty of time for that after the coronapocalypse. Try dragging some board games out of the closet (or purchasing one online and having it delivered), and chances are they'll have a lot more fun than they think they will. Some classics include Life, Sorry, Battleship, Scrabble, Checkers, Chess and Yahtzee. And what family game time would be complete without a game of Monopoly that ends with someone getting mad and flipping the game board over? Other popular games to consider include Trivial Pursuit, Scattergories, Pictionary, Settlers of Catan, Wits & Wagers and Apples to Apples. And don't forget about party games like Charades, which don't require anything other than your imagination.
2. Put a puzzle together
Talk about an effective way to kill time... Jigsaw puzzles can require DAYS of focused attention, and it's always extremely satisfying to press that last piece into place. Puzzles also allow for a wide range of participants and abilities. For younger kids, keep it simple and do a puzzle with fewer pieces. If it's adults only, you might want to challenge yourself with something in the 1,000- to 5,000-piece range.
3. Arts and crafts
You may not want to make a special trip out of the house just to purchase arts and crafts supplies, but with materials you probably have on hand at home – glue, tape, construction paper, cardboard, colored pencils, crayons, etc. – and a little help from the world of Google, chances are you can find something creative to make. This is a great way to go with younger children, but even we grown-ups can benefit from a little A&C time now and then.
4. Read
Yes, reading can be a group activity, whether you're sharing a storybook with a preschooler or reading aloud from a chapter book to a group of older kids or adults. Find a title everyone can agree on (hopefully), and try to knock out a chapter or two every day.
5. Indoor scavenger/treasure hunt
These are fun, regardless of your age. Someone makes a list of everyday items that can be found around the house, and everyone else is responsible for finding as many items as possible. Of you can hide a special prize somewhere in the house and leave a series of clues for treasure hunters to find on their way to the final payoff.
That's just a few ideas to get you going. In the meantime, follow Smoky Mountain Ziplines on Facebook, and we'll keep you up to date on our status here. Hopefully, nonessential businesses will be reopening within the next month or so, and when we do, Facebook will be the best way to find out when!
