Smoky Mountain Winter Ideas
You can save big visiting the Smokies during the slow season-winter time. Here's some great ideas.
Winter smoky activities
Snow tube at ober
Living in the south you don’t have a lot of options for snowskiing, tubing, or other winter sports. Snow tubing at Ober is a unique experience for several reasons.
One, they use fake snow! Since snow is rare in Gatlinburg, you won’t have to wait for a fresh coating of powder to go for a snowy ride down the hill! And this also means that you could be tubing in 70-degree weather (or warmer), as we did! Tubing is fun, but it’s even more fun when you don’t have numb hands, fingers, and faces.
Two, they have a magic carpet. At Ober, you won’t have to walk tirelessly up the tubing hill after each ride. You’ll simply hop on the moving outdoor escalator with your tube in tow, and be lifted to the top of the hill! Less calories burned climbing the hill means more runs and more fun.
Grab your snow tubing tickets here. Trust me, you’re going to have a blast!
Rowdy Bears Snow Mountain Park
You can enjoy indoor activities at Rowdy Bears Snow Mountain Park if you want to beat the weather during the slow season. The Mountain Park has several attractions and is very popular in the area. Some we recommend trying out are:
-Alpine Ride Flyer Ride:
Rowdy Bear in Pigeon Forge is home to North America's first alpine flyer ride. The Ski Lift Shootout is a 2-seater suspended coaster that swings, dips, and soars high above the ground of our Pigeon Forge adventure park. Your goal is to take aim at over 50 targets throughout the ride — how many points do you think you can score? Compete against your friend or family member to see who can hit the most targets! We guarantee you won't find a coaster ride like this anywhere else in the Smoky Mountains!Winterfest Holiday Light Show
-Snow Tubing
snow tubing hill opens for the season on November 7th! Grab your family and friends and get rowdy on the largest outdoor snow tubing hill in Tennessee! Our snow tubing lanes are over 500 feet in length with a 70-foot drop! We offer two Magic Carpet Conveyors to the top of the hill, complete with some of the most amazing views of the Smoky Mountains. Our snow-making and snow-grooming equipment is state-of-the-art and allows us to offer an exceptional, unique winter experience like no other.
-Avalanche Snow Coaster
Strap in for an awesome and unforgettable ride on our Avalanche Snow Coaster and zip through the hills at whatever speed you want! That's right, you control the speed on this power coaster! Whether you're looking for a calm ride to admire the scenery or you want to go full throttle for a heart-pounding experience, the choice is yours! All you have to do is pull the handle back to speed up, or push the handle forward to slow down! Rowdy Bear’s Avalanche Snow Coaster operates both during the day and at night. Take in beautiful views of Pigeon Forge and the Smokies during the day, or experience views of the city lights at night.
-Outdoor Axe Throwing
If you have always wanted to go axe throwing in Pigeon Forge, Rowdy Bear is the perfect place to learn! Are you wondering why? One of our trained staff members will be there to assist you the whole time. If you've never thrown an axe before, don't worry! Not only does our staff make the experience safer, but we will teach you how to properly throw your axe. You will love just how "axe-citing" this activity actually is!
-Skyland Ranch
Set on a 100 acre farm in the heart of Sevierville, SkyLand Ranch provides both relaxation and fun just minutes from lodging, restaurants, and one of the largest outlet centers in the South! Hop on the Horizon Skyride and enjoy a scenic ride to the top, where hours of fun await at SkyLand Ranch. This Sevierville attraction has the perfect balance of peacefulness and entertainment. Kick back and relax as you watch live entertainment and take in the gorgeous Smoky Mountain views, or enjoy the ride of your lives on the longest mountain coaster in the Southeast! SkyLand Ranch in Sevierville is the escape you’re looking for and the perfect place to unwind and reconnect with the family.
-Playground
In between riding the Ski Lift Shootout Coaster and the Avalanche Snow Coaster and flying down the outdoor tubing hill, take the kids over to check out the Rowdy Bear Playground! Watch as they climb to the top of the slide and come back down to you, giggling the whole time! The towering assortment of slides, climbing structures, and play areas also offers the perfect activity for the smaller children who aren't quite big enough to ride the big rides. Your little ones can stay busy while the older kids take advantage of the 1-hour unlimited ride wristband. Everyone will be happy and entertained at Rowdy Bear’s Playground! Make sure you take the kids for a snack or sweet treat at Sugar Bears Cafe & Creamery before you leave, and keep an eye out for Rowdy, our mascot. He loves taking photos with kids and their families!
Winterfest Holiday Kickoff
The Winterfest Kickoff event takes place on Nov. 6 in the city’s Patriot Park (186 Old Mill Ave.), beginning at 3p.m. The festivities will conclude with the activation of six million lights throughout the city. Winterfest keeps getting bigger and brighter! When the city-wide festival begins on November 6, visitors will get to experience the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail. In all, more than one million LED lights were added to the city’s Winterfest displays. The 20+ displays include walk-thru arches, a colorful 52-foot-long caterpillar, larger-than-life flowers, and Old Man Winter. Vibrant snowflakes, shooting stars, snow people, and a 20-foot-tall ice fountain will light the way as deer, bears, frogs, and squirrels—ranging in size from 13 to 19 feet tall—frolic alongside the path while lights that mimic fireflies and butterflies dance in the trees overhead.
Performances by the Pigeon Forge High School Choir, Carl Wayne Meekins and Bryson quick will precede the presentation of colors by the Veterans Military Honor Guard of Pigeon Forge. Following this presentation, Emerald Empire Band will perform. The Pigeon Forge Veterans Tribute will conclude with a special patriotic fireworks display.
All Winterfest kickoff event entertainment is free. Free parking is available in the city’s Municipal and Mountain parking lots located just off Teaster Lane. A variety of food trucks will offer guests dining options for purchase throughout the event. Admission is free and activities will take place November 6-9, 14-16 and 21-29.
Hiking
Explore the quiet trails in the national park, which are often dusted with snow. Popular trails include the Gatlinburg Trail, Laurel Falls, and Grotto Falls. Bring waterproof shoes and pants to keep yourself warm and enjoy the enchanted trails.
Ready to book your Smoky Mountain winter vacation? We can help. Email us at Info@CoasttoCoastGetaways.com and let us know what you're looking for and the size of your party and we'll help you find the perfect place.
