Blog for Zip line Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
The 4 Best Things About Spring In The Smokies
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on March 21, 2023
It's finally springtime in the Smokies, and with the change in season come a host of benefits for visitors of all ages. This week, we'd like to share with you just a few reasons to head to the Great Smoky Mountains in the next few weeks, whether it's for an overnight outing or a full-on vacation.
1. It's getting warm enough to play outside
The cool nighttime and morning temps of winter haven't gone away completely, but with daytime highs now reaching well into the 70s, the conditions are ideal for outdoor recreation. Of course, that's something we're excited about here at Smoky Mountain Ziplines. We kicked off our 2023 season recently, and we're already booking lots of tours for first-time guests and return visitors alike, all stoked to ride our Pigeon Forge ziplines. We suggest calling us or visiting the website to book your next tour to ensure that you can reserve the dates and times that work best for you.
But ziplining is just one great outdoor adventure you can enjoy right now. In the Smokies, you can ride everything from horses and ATVs to alpine coasters and unique attractions like Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge. And Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails not to mention multiple options for camping, picnicking and cycling.
2. Nature's color show
Spring is also when nature comes roaring back in beautiful living color. The deciduous trees have been budding for a couple of weeks now, and we're just days away from seeing full green canopies in the treetops. (By the way, that's when the scenery becomes particularly spectacular for our zipline groups.) And no visit to the Smokies in spring would be complete without catching all the wildflowers in bloom. The sights vary depending on elevation and plant species, but in general, any trip to the national park has a lot of potential for floral beauty. In fact, there are more than 1,500 kinds of flowering plants in the Great Smoky Mountains, more than in any other American national park. Right now, we're seeing mostly spring ephemerals like trillium, lady slipper orchids, crested dwarf iris, columbine, little brown jugs and violets, to mention just a few. Witnessing their re-emergence is yet another benefit of taking a hike or nature walk in the national park as we mentioned above.
3. Theater shows
While a few of the music and variety theaters in the Smokies stay open all year long (albeit on limited schedules), many go on a temporary hiatus at the end of each year, only to kick off a new season in spring. By now, most of the shows are back up and running, including long-time productions like the Comedy Barn, Country Tonite Theatre, Dolly Parton's Stampede, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show and Memories Theatre, just to mention a few. Right now, many theaters may still be on limited schedules, but there are still abundant opportunities to find a matinee or evening show that will appeal to everyone in the family.
4. Dollywood is back
Speaking of kicking off new seasons, that's exactly what they did at Dollywood just a couple of weeks ago. This popular theme park is back with all the great things that visitors have come to love over the years, including a dynamic assortment of rides, attractions, shows, shops and restaurants. Folks also love the multiple seasonal festivals the park hosts to supplement its permanent activities. Right now, visitors can take part in the park's I Will Always Love You Celebration through April 8. It's a big way of saying a happy 50th birthday to Dolly's iconic song “I Will Always Love You.” Festival highlights include special park décor, limited-time merch and special musical performances throughout the park. Also, don't forget that Dollywood is premiering its Big Bear Mountain roller coaster in the Wildwood Groves section of the park this year. It's now the park's longest coaster, with nearly 4,000 feet of track laying the groundwork for a rollicking two-minute journey.
