Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
How To Stay Cool (And Dry) This Summer
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on July 2, 2024
It's officially summer, and boy, have our thermometers been keeping up with the calendar. We're enjoying a nice little spell of heat and humidity in the Smokies, but that shouldn't deter you from forging ahead with those vacation plans - or from making them in the first place.
There are ways to beat the heat this summer, and we're going to tell you how. A few weeks ago, we shared some of our favorite places to go in the Smokies to cool off by getting in the water. This week, we're going to keep things on the cool side, but we'll be taking a different tack: giving you ideas for things to do that will also ensure that you stay cool and dry at the same time.
Pigeon Forge Snow
You don't have to wait until winter to play in the snow when you're in the Great Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge Snow claims to be America's first indoor snow park, and it keeps guests cool all year long with its multilane tubing course that features manufactured water-based snow. You can tube for one hour and enjoy a half-hour of snow place for one fixed price. And the temperature inside usually ranges from 60 to 70 degrees, so you don't necessarily have to dress up in cold-weather gear. Slide down the course to your heart's content and enjoy the conveyor ride back to the top.
Ober Mountain
Most of this attraction's cold activities take place in winter, but there are a couple that you can get in on year 'round. Ober Mountain offers ice skating and ice bumper cars on their indoor rink throughout the year. It's a fun way to take a temperature break during the dog days of summer.
Stage Shows
Of course, one of the best ways to beat the summer heat is to stay out of it altogether. And one great way to do that is to see a music show or other entertainment production in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. More than a dozen theaters host a wide variety of shows and styles of entertainment. Take your pick of music genres ranging from country and bluegrass to rock and gospel. Beyond music, you'll find shows that specialize in comedy, magic, horseback competitions, lumberjack sports and much more. In many cases, you can also enjoy a dinner with your live show. What do all these venues have in common? That's right: air conditioning!
Indoor Attractions
Smoky Mountain attractions have air conditioning, which can provide a refreshing respite from the oppressive outdoors. There are all kinds of options when it comes to spending a couple of hours inside and having fun at the same time. You could consider large attractions like Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies or the Titanic Museum Attraction. You might also choose to visit one of the other, smaller Ripley attractions in town or spend some time playing one of the many indoor miniature-golf courses. As long as the AC is working, you'll be in good shape!
Fast Attractions
When you visit an attraction that gets you moving at high speed, you'll find that breeze power is another effective way to cool down. This can be accomplished any number of ways, including riding roller coasters at Dollywood, racing go-carts on a track or riding the ziplines at Smoky Mountain Ziplines (our Pigeon Forge zip line prices help make this an even more attractive option).
These are just a few of our suggestions, but it is in no way an exhaustive list of all the things you can do in the Smokies that will help you enjoy summer fun without getting overheated. Do some research about what all there is to do in the Smokies, and you may just find that your imagination will help you find others.
