Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
How To Take Advantage Of The Off Season
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on December 26, 2017
Twenty-seventeen is wrapping up, and soon, we'll be ushering in a new year. New years are times for new beginnings, but historically, the months of January and February have been slow days in the Smokies. Tourism numbers drop during the cold winter months, and although more businesses stay open during the traditional off season than in years past, some still go into hibernation until spring. That even goes for our Smoky Mountains zipline attraction.
But just because there's a bit of a seasonal lull on the immediate horizon, it doesn't mean you should necessarily wait until spring to spend some recreational time in the mountains. This week, we'll show you a number of ways that you can take advantage of visiting the Smokies during the off-season. Try it once, and you may just decide that winter is your favorite time of year to vacation in East Tennessee.
1. Fewer Visitors = More Fun Time
Do the math. With significantly fewer people visiting Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, the possibilities for getting in more fun time increase. For example, there's a lot less traffic on the roads, so you won't spend as much time each day traveling to your favorite destinations; no bumper-to-bumper traffic jams to deal with simply trying to move a few miles. That leaves you more time to spend actually doing the things you want to do and seeing the places you want to see. This also translates into shorter waits for everything, from getting seated at restaurants to waiting in line to get into your favorite attractions.
2. Save Some Money
You definitely get more bang for you buck when you come to the Smokies in winter. That starts with gas prices, which tend to be lower in months in which people historically travel less. Once you get to town, you can also expect to pay lower rates on your accommodations, compared to peak-season. From hotels and motels to overnight rentals, you'll generally be charged less per unit per night than you will during the summer months or fall.
3. Make The Most Of What's Available
It's true that some attractions are closed between New Year's Day and the arrival of spring. As we mentioned, Smoky Mountain Ziplines will be taking some time off until March, and Dollywood theme park closes for the rest of the winter as well. But pretty much all the indoor attractions are still open, including many of the music theaters in Pigeon Forge. There used to be a time when they all closed for winter, but now, there are more wintertime entertainment options than ever. One Gatlinburg attraction, Ober Gatlinburg ski resort, actually is most popular in winter thanks to its ski slopes, ice skating rink and snow tubing course. Check their website daily to find out the weather conditions and which slopes are open that day.
4. Pick Up Some Deals
Now that Christmas is over, a lot of shops will mark down the merchandise they carry over into the new year. It's a great time to take advantage of some bargains and even get a really early head start on next year's holiday shopping and décor. Or perhaps you were given a gift card to a restaurant or store for Christmas. Why wait to start swiping them? Head to the Smokies and put that plastic into motion now.
5. Don't Forget The National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open all year, and winter can be a beautiful time to visit some of the park's most scenic locations, like the Cades Cove community. Note, however, that many of the park's side roads and even a few of the main thoroughfares are closed in winter due to weather conditions in the high elevations. Before traveling in the park in winter, always visit www.nps.gov/grsm to learn about specific road and site closures.
