Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
This Christmas, Give The Gift Of Experiences
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on November 15, 2022
Sometimes, Christmas shopping can be hard, especially when the person you're trying to buy for is one of those people who has everything they could ever need or want. Plus these days, a lot of our homes have so much stuff in them that we're either running out of comfortable living space or we can't even keep track of all the possessions lurking in all those closets and storage areas anymore.
This year, consider buying experiences for your friends and loved ones instead of another relic that's very likely to wind up getting ignored or donated to charity in the not-so-distant future. Experiences have a lot of advantages. They show that you've put thought into the gift, and in many cases, they're experiences that the recipient can share with people that he/she cares about - possibly you!
Following is a short list of fun things to do and places to go in the Great Smoky Mountains that would make great presents this year. Another advantage to gift cards and gift certificates is that the recipient usually has at least a year to redeem them. So if the activity doesn't suit their fancy now, maybe it will in the spring or summer.
Hatchet job
Ax-throwing attractions have grown in popularity in the Smokies in the last few years. Whether you're an experienced woodsman or it's your first time to wield an ax, there are several places you can visit that will let you try your hand - your whole arm, actually - at this challenging and exciting recreation. Just think darts but with a bigger target and a bigger weapon. Some of the places to look for include Pigeon Forge Axe House, Country Roads Axe Company, Outdoor Axe Throwing at Rowdy Bear's Smoky Mountain Snow Park and Gatlinburg Axe House. Some of these businesses offer other types of fun on site as well as food service.
Saddle up
Do you have a horse lover in the family, or does someone you know enjoy hitting the trail on a trusty steed? Consider a gift certificate to any of the many riding stables in the Great Smoky Mountains. Local horseback outfitters typically offer either guided or unguided trail rides (or both) and allow you to select from their stable of horses. The settings offer a wide range of outdoor experiences, from mountain trails to peaceful pastures. Some of the stables to consider include Five Oaks Riding Stables, Sugarlands Riding Stables, Big Rock Dude Ranch, Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Cades Cove Riding Stables, which is actually located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Zip it
Yes, we're a little partial to ziplining here at our zipline in Sevierville, TN. Almost anybody can zipline, and at Smoky Mountain Ziplines, we only have a few age and weight restrictions. Our course consists of seven different zipline experiences that total nearly a mile in length. Some are as high as 100 feet off the ground, and our entire canopy tour is ensconced in the beautiful foothills of the Smokies, with the majestic range itself laid out panoramically on the horizon. The scenery and the photo opps are spectacular. We're open spring through the end of each year, and a high percentage of our customers come back to zipline with us again and again. We're also the highest rated outdoor activity in Pigeon Forge on Trip Advisor.
It's all downhill from here
Have you heard of Zorb? It's an outdoor activity that originated in New Zealand and consists of guests climbing inside a giant inflatable sphere and then rolling down a hillside. It's that simple. You can tumble over and over inside a dry sphere or, when they add water to the inside, you can sit down and ride to the bottom with the sphere rotating beneath you. It's like a Slip 'N Slide except the slide moves with you all the way to the bottom. They're even open in cold weather; fortunately, they put very warm water in the sphere with you so you don't freeze your patootie off.
