Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
The 7 Most Adventurous Things You Can Do on your Smokies Vacation
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on June 7, 2016
Next time you travel to the Great Smoky Mountains, consider doing a little more than just sightseeing. Maybe on your next visit, you can try some sight-DOING. We've got all kinds of ways around here to stretch the boundaries of excitement, get outside the usual vacation rut and push the envelope of fun.
Even if you usually consider yourself a big chicken when it comes to thrill seeking and adrenaline-inducing behavior, you can take comfort in knowing that most of these activities are accessible by novices and first-timers, with no previous experience required and, at most, a minimum of training.
So this week, Smoky Mountain Ziplines would like to suggest several different ways you can transform yourself into an adventurous vacationer.
1. Ride a Zipline!
Naturally, we're a little partial to this one. And if the idea of zip lining in the Smoky Mountains sounds appealing, we have a lot to offer. Nothing gets the juices flowing like stepping into a body harness, clipping onto a zipline trolley and stepping off into the wild forest-green yonder as you whiz through the air among the treetops.
Also, we recently debuted our new canopy tour course, which includes a rappelling feature, adding even more excitement and challenge to what might have been just another day in the mountains.
2. Climb Mt. LeConte
The good thing about this outing is that no actual mountain climbing skills are required. Just consider it a long but very scenic hike. There are five different trails leading to the summit of the third highest peak in the Smokies, and each offers a different experience and challenge. Some are longer but less steep, while others are steeper but shorter. However you get to the top, allow a full day for an average hike to the top, some sightseeing time from the summit's different vantage points and then heading back down to your trailhead.
If you've not done a lot of hiking before, be sure to wear proper footgear and bring plenty of water, snacks and sun protection before taking on LeConte. And be sure to bring a camera or phone, because you'll see lots of photo-worthy sights along the way.
3. Whitewater Rafting
If you're staying in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge or Sevierville, you're only about an hour's drive from Hartford, TN, which is home to several whitewater-rafting outfitters. These companies will give you guided rafting trips down rivers like the Big Pigeon or the Ocoee, both of which feature whitewater rapids that are guaranteed to get your blood pumping. Some pre-float training is required for guests, but even if you're a newbie, you should have no trouble following your guide's commands and enjoying a soaking-wet day on the river.
4. Skydiving
Yep, there are places in East Tennessee that will allow you to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and parachute down to the ground, usually jumping in tandem with an experienced jumpmaster. There's also an indoor skydiving attraction in Pigeon Forge that allows you to simulate the feeling of a freefall in a large vertical wind tunnel.
5. Outdoor Gravity Park
Formerly known as Zorb, this attraction allows guests to roll down hill inside a giant inflatable sphere. You can either somersault your way down as the ball rolls or sit inside a water-filled sphere that allows you to coast downhill sitting upright, similar to a water slide.
6. Bungee Jumping
All it takes is one cruise up and down the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville to see that there is no shortage of opportunities to do a little bungee jumping. Just clip on to the bungee cord, step to the edge and say a little prayer before taking that big leap.
7. Other…
In addition to all the things we've mentioned, there are still even more ways to enjoy a little outdoor adventure in the Smokies. Take a balloon ride or hop on the back of ATV and do a little four-wheeling. You can take a scenic aerial tour in a helicopter or even go on a safari at an animal refuge in the Smokies. The choice is yours.
What adventure are you in the mood for this week?
