Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Want To Explore The Smokies? There's An App For That...
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on July 23, 2019
I think we can all agree that most of us spend way too much time on our phones and other devices these days. It's so easy to get swept away in a sea of social media, games, texting and other electronic pursuits. Too often, this comes at the cost of human interaction and basic conversation. When you visit a place like Great Smoky Mountains National Park, having your nose stuck in your phone screen is an even worse no-no. Why stare at Facebook when you have some of the most beautiful scenery in the country in front of your actual face.
All that being said, we may have found a worthy exception to those rules. The Townsend, TN-based Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority has several interactive ways for visitors to the Smokies to enhance their experience. The distinction here is that the website and apps the organization has to share are meant to complement a visit to the mountains, not take the place of one.
The agency's website, www.smokymountains.org, is a great online resource for planning a trip to the Smokies, especially Townsend and the proverbial “peaceful side of the Smokies.” Most of the events, attractions, shops, eateries and lodging providers are based in Townsend, Maryville and other Blount County locations.
And now the SMTDA also has six phone apps that you can download, each of which is designed to help you get the most out of a specific aspect of a trip the Smokies. Examples include an app on hiking and biking the Smokies, one on the annual Scottish Festival and Games in Maryville and one on the area's Native American History.
One of the more intriguing apps will guide you through a driving tour of the Cades Cove section of the national park. The app includes history of the Cove as well as GPS mapping, voice narration and photos of historical structures that will assist you on your drive through this popular 11-mile one-way auto loop.
How do you get these apps? Go to www.smokymountains.org and click on “Download Vacation Guide” on the home page (or you can pick up a hard copy of the guide at the welcome center in Townsend). On the cover of the guide are screen shots of all six apps as well as scannable QR codes that will let you download the selected app onto your smart device. Pick your favorite app or apps, and you'll be ready for your next trip to the Smokies.
While you're in the area, we invite you to book a tour at Smoky Mountain Ziplines, one of the most exciting activities in the mountains. We offer outdoor adventure, gorgeous views of the Smokies and the adrenaline rush that can only come with several hours spent with friends or loved ones riding ziplines. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville and Townsend are all within an easy drive of our outpost in the Smokies, so now matter what your specific destination is on your next trip to East Tennessee, you can easily work our canopy tour into your travel itinerary.
