Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Your Smoky Mountain Bucket List
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on August 3, 2021
When the movie The Bucket List came out in 2007, it popularized the notion of creating a list of things that a person should do or accomplish before he/she dies-or “kick the bucket,” as the expression goes. The main lesson is not to wait too long in life to do the things that are most important to you. Go out, seize the day and experience life's greatest moments now, while you can still do them and enjoy them.
In that spirit, Smoky Mountain Ziplines has put together a mini bucket list of sorts for anyone visiting the Great Smoky Mountains. You could knock many of these out in one or two visits. One in particular could take years to complete. Either way, make sure you enjoy each step and enjoy the ride. It's more about the journey than completing a checklist.
Here's our list of six must-dos, in no particular order:
1. See the fall colors in the mountains
There are few sights as impressive as the Great Smoky Mountains in autumn. The colors in the regional foliage change from green to a seasonal palette of reds, yellows and oranges. Some time between mid-October and early November (it depends on the weather and rainfall), these colors reach their peak, often in vibrant hues, before the leaves drop for the year. This is a wonderful time of year to come to the area and explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether you're hiking, picnicking, riding a bike around the Cades Cove loop or simply taking a scenic drive, you'll be rewarded with some awe-inspiring views that will live in your memories. Or to be on the safe side, take some photos and relive the moment for years to come.
2. Whitewater rafting
The Smokies are home to some pretty wild rivers, and nothing gets the heart pumping quite like a rafting trip through a set of frothy whitewater rapids. There are several different companies and outfitters in the Smokies region that charter whitewater rafting tours of rivers like the Ocoee, the Pigeon and the Nantahala. Knowledgeable guides will provide you with all the gear and instruction you'll need to enjoy a morning or afternoon of rollicking thrills (and some calm passages) from your seat in a multi-passenger raft. It's not only fun, it's a refreshing way to stay cool on a hot summer day.
3. Hike all the trails
We mean all the trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Including both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides of the park, that totals more than 800 miles of trails. Just think of all the beautiful scenery and wildlife that you would likely encounter along the way, not to mention how much exercise you'd get. Park trails range from easy to very strenuous, but if you're an outdoor enthusiast who's in reasonably good shape, this is a totally attainable goal if you have the time to invest. Make sure you have good footwear and have enough water and calories to see you through each hike.
4. Ziplining
Like whitewater rafting, ziplining is a thrilling and daring experience that just about anyone can participate in. At our outpost in Pigeon Forge, we provide all the gear and instruction, and our experienced guides will assist you every step of the way. Except for that big step off the launch platform, of course; you'll have to take that one yourself. Our zip lines in Tennessee are highly rated and offer hours of fun throughout most of the year. Give us a call today to book a tour for your next visit to the Smokies.
5. See the synchronous fireflies
The Elkmont section of the national park is one of only a handful of places in the world that have synchronous fireflies-that is, the entire population flashes their tails in periodic intervals, stopping and starting at the same time, after sunset during a two-week period in June. Each year, park officials allow limited numbers of visitors a chance to shuttle in to the Elkmont site from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Spaces are awarded through a special online lottery, and those who win are required only to pay a nominal fee to cover the expense of the shuttles.
6. Ride roller coasters at Dollywood
Roller coasters aren't everyone's cup of tea, but if you're a coaster fan, you could easily spend days and days riding all the roller coasters at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. They come in all shapes, sizes and lengths, but they're all guaranteed to make your day a fun and exciting one. Or if you're not crazy about roller coasters, maybe you could head to Dollywood anyway and conquer your fear.
