Beat the Mid-Winter Blahs in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains

Posted by Jon Hoffman in Smoky Mountain Attractions

The holidays are over. Now you're back to the daily grind. Job. School. Chores. Blah, humbug.

Why not take a mid-winter break in the beautiful Tennessee Smokies? These breathtaking mountains provide the perfect setting for a fun-filled February getaway, where you can recharge your batteries, connect with nature, and enjoy some outdoor activities not available back home.

Here are just a few options for family-friendly R&R in the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area.

Hit the Slopes (and More) at Ober Mountain

Love snow sports like skiing and snowboarding? Head to Ober Mountain in downtown Gatlinburg. February is prime time at this popular adventure park (formerly Ober Gatlinburg). Temperatures are colder – ideal for snowmaking. And Mother Nature usually supplies a few inches of natural snow to supplement the manmade powder.

To reach the mountaintop, board the Aerial Tramway at 1001 Parkway (corner of Parkway and LeConte Streets), halfway between Traffic Lights #8 and #10. Snug in your large, enclosed cable car, you'll soar 2.1 miles above downtown Gatlinburg to an elevation 2,813 feet above sea level. Along the way, you'll enjoy full panoramic views of the picturesque mountains.

Once you arrive, you can choose from a range of activities:

• Ski and/or snowboard down well-maintained slopes, with trails for every skill level – beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
• Tube down the 350-foot-long snow Tubing Hill, a kid-pleasing adventure for all ages, 5 and up.
• Ride the Ski Mountain Coaster – at your own preferred speed – along 2,750 scenic feet of twists, turns, dips, and zigzags.
• Glide over 10,500 square feet of ice in a spacious indoor ice-skating arena.
• Zoom, spin, and smash in motorized Ice Bumper Cars – a blast for the entire family.
• Take the Scenic Chairlift to the peak of Mount Harrison, 3,455 feet above sea level.
• Explore Wildlife Encounter, where you'll spot river otters, raccoons, skunks, snakes, flying squirrels, plus an entire family of Smoky Mountain black bears.

Hike to See Spectacular Frozen Waterfalls

Love getting out into nature? In February, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers excellent hiking conditions, with less crowded trails and views that seem to stretch on forever. Just be sure to dress warmly, stick to officially open trails, wear shoes or boots with plenty of traction, and steer clear of any icy, treacherous spots.

Up for a special treat? Drive Roaring Gap Nature Motor Trail to reach the trailhead for Trillium Gap Trail. Then hike about 1.5 miles to reach Grotto Falls, the only waterfall in the Park you can actually walk behind. When the temperature drops below freezing, the entire 25-foot cascade freezes solid, forming a giant ice sculpture that glistens like diamonds in the midwinter sun. Hike in back to see the frozen falls from a whole new eye-popping angle.

The entire 2.6-mile round trip is considered an easy-to-moderate hike, with an elevation gain of only 585 feet. So, it's ideal for a family with school-age or teenage children.

If you're traveling with younger kids, you may prefer to hike partially paved Laurel Falls Trail, located about 3.5 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center via Little River Road. The 2.6-mile round-trip trek takes about 2 hours total. At around the 1.3-mile point, you'll reach 80-foot Laurel Falls, a magnificent two-tier cascade divided by a scenic walkway. It's an awesome sight anytime, but, when it's frozen, it's absolutely stunning.

There's So Much More to See and Do, Both Outdoors and In

And, when you're all finished skiing, hiking, etc., you can head back to your cozy Smoky Mountains cabin for a fun, relaxing evening in front of a crackling fire. Heavenly!

Contact Volunteer Cabin Rentals now to book your February getaway.

This content posted by Volunteer Cabin Rentals. Visit our home page, www.volunteercabinrentals.com to book your next vacation cabin today.

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