Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Making The Most Of The Snow
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on January 16, 2024
If you're like those of us who live in the Great Smoky Mountains, you may have just received a lot of snow in your neck of the woods. For many, this latest Snowmageddon has caused its share of problems - power outages, burst plumbing, inability to get to stores, loss of wages and more. If you've been negatively affected in such a way, our hearts go out to you.
But if you want to put a positive spin on things, you can look at this recent winter storm as a way to do some things that you normally wouldn't have the opportunity to do. So let's focus on that this week as we forge ahead and brainstorm some ways to make the most out of all that white stuff.
• Spend time with family – A lot of workplaces and schools are closed, and roads are treacherous to drive on. That can mean only one thing; a lot of parents and kids are stuck at home at the same time. That can have its challenging moments, especially when younger children (or those who are prone to boredom) are involved. But what a great opportunity for parents and kids to bond. Find some things you can all do together, such as watching your favorite TV series or movies, playing old-school board games or putting puzzles together.
• Get stuff done – If the kids are pestering you because they're bored, promise to put them to work, and chances are they'll get out of your hair super-quick. Because snow days are great for cleaning up and getting organized around the house. Been looking for the right time to log those charitable donations and get them ready for the thrift stores? Now is the time to do it. Or when was the last time you cleaned out your refrigerator or your pantry or went through your closets and got rid of items you don't wear anymore or really gave the garage a good once-over? If you can't find time to do those things now, it's unlikely you'll get them done anytime soon.
• Play in the snow – This is another fun one. One of the best ways to take advantage of snow days is to go outside and be a kid again. The possibilities are many, from making snowmen and having snowball fights to sledding down hills and making snow angels. One thing you probably shouldn't do is venture out onto a frozen lake. You never know how thin the ice may be.
Another variation on playing in the snow applies to any of you who may have already been in the Smokies when the snow hit and are still in town. Probably the most appropriately seasonal thing you could do this week is visit Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg. This year-round theme park is especially geared toward wintertime fun, and with all the natural snow and cold temperatures that hit us this week, we can only imagine how great the skiing and snowboarding is up there right now.
If you decide to go, you probably don't want to attempt driving up Ski Mountain Rd. Your best bet is to take the Aerial Tramway from downtown Gatlinburg. Once you're at the top, the activities are many, from the aforementioned skiing and snowboarding to snow tubing, indoor ice skating and much more. However, we do recommend checking their website before visiting. For example, on the day of this writing, the attraction has announced that all activities will shut down at 5 p.m.
And although we have the area's best ziplines, Smoky Mountains weather is too unpredictable for Smoky Mountain Ziplines to be open this time of year. Which is why we temporarily close our doors each winter. Can you imagine ziplining in the middle of this kind of weather?
