You have always wanted to visit the Great Smoky Mountains, but you have always been put off by the crowds of people that visit the area in the summertime. Why not take a winter vacation to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge? The Cabin Rental Store can find you a beautiful home that is the perfect place to spend the holidays. Once you are here, you will find that there are many wonderful things to do in Pigeon Forge in the winter. Not only can you enjoy the great outdoors but there are shows to see and plenty of shopping to do.
Ober Gatlinburg
Tram Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Ober Gatlinburg is the perfect place to spend a ski vacation. You can catch the aerial tramway to the top of the mountain and spend the day shushing down the slopes. The aerial tramway is $19.00 per person. Ski passes are $30 to $70 depending on your age and when you ski. If you do not know how to ski yet, that is no problem. You can take a lesson. They have lessons for children and adults at several different levels. If you hail from a place where it does not snow, you can rent jackets and ski equipment as well. They also offer snowboarding and lessons and even tubing. Even if you do not like to ski, you can take a ride to the top of the mountain and just enjoy the beautiful scenery and a cup of hot cocoa. You can also enjoy such indoor Gatlinburg winter activities as ice skating and bumper cars.
Winter Magic Tour of Lights
One of the best things about Christmas is seeing all the different decorations that people put up. Not only are the towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge all lit up for Christmas, but the parkway is also fully decorated. You can take the trolly from town to town and look at all the beautiful lights. If you should come into town a little bit later than Christmas, fear not; the lights stay up until the end of January. Not only are the lights absolutely beautiful, but if you take a trolley ride, you will be supporting education in Tennessee. The proceeds of this Pigeon Forge winter activity go to the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Take a Winter Hike
If you love to hike, you may think you will not get to engage in your favorite sport if you travel to a place with snow during the winter. Fortunately, there are a few places to hike during the winter in the Smoky Mountains.
One of the best places for a winter hike is the Twin Trails Creek. As you walk on the trail, you will find a Civilian Conservation Corp that was utilized during the Great Depression. It was an organization that was dedicated to finding work for people during this difficult time in American history. This is a shady trail which is cold during the winter, so be sure to dress in layers and wear your hiking boots.
The Sugarlands Trail is another fun thing to do in Pigeon Forge in the winter. It is actually more traversed after October 1st than it is in the summer simply because there are fewer bugs and it is considerably cooler. You can get to the trailhead from downtown Gatlinburg in just a few minutes. They have a visitor center where you can learn all about the history of Gatlinburg, the trail, and the surrounding area. It is a good idea to wear hiking boots or put tracks on your shoes when you go winter hiking as icy conditions may appear suddenly.
Shopping
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are known as two of the most popular tourist spots in the country. As with all tourist spots, there are many souvenir shops in the area. The Smoky Mountains are home to some of the most famous artists in the country.
You can take a drive down the Arts and Crafts Trail and find the perfect piece of art to bring back home to your friends and family. You will find about 200 different shops all of which specialize in a specific craft. Nothing is quite as much of a conversation starter as a toy or a quilt that you acquired from an Appalachian artist.
If fine arts are not your thing, you can visit the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum that is located at 461 Brookside Village Way, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. You will find salt and pepper shakers in every shape and style that you can imagine. No matter what you love, you will find a salt and pepper shaker that is perfect for you. If you are an animal lover, you will find a shaker in the shape of your favorite creature. If you love Hollywood, you may find a shaker in the shape of your favorite celebrity. They have exhibit shakers and those that are for sale.
More Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Winter Activities to Enjoy
After a day of touring, you will need a wonderful place to stay. Contact us today to reserve your winter vacation home with The Cabin Rental Store and enjoy a winter escape to the Smoky Mountains!
