A Sunny Weekend

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

Just in case you’re not in the Smokies area when you read this, we thought we’d let you know that the weather forecast for this weekend is calling for mostly sunny skies with highs in the low 50s on Saturday. That surely does sound like great ziplining weather to us, so if you haven’t already, make plans to give us a spin this weekend at Smoky Mountain Ziplines in Pigeon Forge.

Zip lining in Tennessee, especially on an unseasonably warm winter day, accomplishes a lot in one handy stop. First, it’s a unique experience, whizzing along a cable suspended high in the air and feeling the wind in your face. Once you take that leap of faith and launch yourself from the platform, you get a sensation that not everyone has had the chance to enjoy, so you’re participating in a different form of recreation.

Second, you’re getting some fresh Smoky Mountain air in your lungs and a little bit of exercise. There’s not much walking on our tour, but just enough to do you some good. And the scenery is pretty nice too. Our canopy course is surrounded by mature hardwoods and rolling hills, which the sunshine will accent nicely.

You also get the chance to spend time with your family, whether it’s a spouse, the kids or the whole family together. Zip lining is a shared experience that you’ll all have in common, and it may just give you all something to talk about at the dinner table for a change.

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Stormy Weather Options

Posted on January 17, 2012 by admin

People often ask us if we run our Pigeon Forge zipline tours in the rain. Yes, we do, unless conditions include strong winds, extremely heavy rain or lightning. After all, we’re all about safety first around here. So for the rare occasion that we don’t have tours running, we’ll give you some options for what to do on a rainy day in the Smokies.

• Go on with the show
There are nearly 20 different shows in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg, and unlike the old days, when it was all about the music, you’ll find a little bit of everything on the stages of the Smokies these days. Yes, you’ll hear plenty of country, gospel and bluegrass music, but other theaters entertain with horseback exhibitions, lumberjack competitions, comedy and variety, acrobatics, magic and even murder mysteries. These shows are great for all ages, and in many cases, you’ll get a meal along with your show as well.

• Spend a day in the museum
When we say “museum,” we’re not talking about some stodgy old institution full of paintings and dinosaur bones (although those can be pretty cool too…). We’re talking about unique attractions that are full of fun and unique exhibits designed to delight the entire family. You’ll see nature’s oddities and extreme feats at places like the Guinness World Records Museum and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, and you’ll see amazing vehicles from TV and film at the Star Cars Museum, all in Gatlinburg. In Pigeon Forge, WonderWorks is full of amazing interactive exhibits that entertain and make you think at the same time, while the Titanic Museum Attraction is a hands-on journey back in time that pays tribute to the legendary ship.

• Discover the animal attraction
You’ll discover some of the most amazing species of animals on the planet at places like Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg and Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo in Sevierville.

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Wheee! Wheee! Wheee!

Posted on January 10, 2012 by admin

Have you seen the Geico commercials starring Maxwell the pig? You know, the one where he’s riding in the back seat of a car and crying “Wheee! Wheee! Wheee!” all the way home? In the latest ad featuring Maxwell, we actually see him squealing with delight, trademark pinwheel in hand, as he’s zooming his way along a zipline! He aptly describes the experience in the commercial as “Pure. Adrenaline.”

If you’ve never been on a zipline before, you might want to take Maxwell’s cue and experience a little bit of pure adrenaline yourself. Ziplining is tons of fun, it’s safe, and it’s something that virtually anyone can experience, even if you’ve never had any previous experience. But best of all, it’ll give you a natural rush as you speed along our ziplines, suspended in the air and traveling as fast as 40 miles per hour.

And if you’re looking for the area’s best place to zipline, Gatlinburg and Sevierville don’t have anything like what you’ll find at Smoky Mountain Ziplines in Pigeon Forge. We have a 14-line canopy tour and a four-line SuperZip course that’s bigger and badder than any other zipline outfitter around. So come check us out and see if you don’t wind up screaming “Wheee! Wheee! Wheee!” all the way home.

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Never Too Cold For Outdoor Fun

Posted on January 3, 2012 by admin

Here we are in January, but evidently no one has told Mother Nature. We’ve had some pleasantly mild days so far this winter, which makes the conditions ideal for enjoying some outdoor fun in the Smokies. Here are a few suggestions for ways to take advantage of the unseasonably balmy days:

• Go ziplining, of course! And if you’re going to try out a zip line, Pigeon Forge, TN is where you’ll find us at Smoky Mountain Ziplines. Go faster, farther and higher than any other zipline course in the area and enjoy our beautiful Smoky Mountain surroundings.

• Take a hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many trails are still accessible, although snow in the higher elevations may make access to some trails difficult. Visit www.nps.gov/grsm for up-to-date information on trail conditions in the park.

• Try bungee jumping. There are several amusement center on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge that do bungee jumping and other thrill-seeking activities all year long.

• Go horseback riding. There are also many different riding stables throughout Sevier County where you can saddle up and take a nice leisurely ride through the scenic trails and back country areas.

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A New Year’s Resolution

Posted on December 27, 2011 by admin

The start of a new year always brings with it a clean slate and the promise of new beginnings. Maybe one of your New Year’s resolutions could be to do something exciting that you’ve never done before. If one of those things happens to be ziplining, then Smoky Mountain Ziplines is a great place to get started!

Whether you’re staying in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, zipline with us at our outpost just a mile or so outside Pigeon Forge. We have all the gear you’ll need, including helmet, gloves and harness, and our zipline guides will tell you everything you need to know to start flying through the air safely.

Our canopy tour offers 14 different ziplines, starting out nice and easy so that you can get the hang of things, and by the time you finish the course, you’ll be zipping along at nearly 40 miles per hour like an old pro. So we hope you’ll resolve to put us on your list of new accomplishments in 2012.

And Happy New Year!

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Last-Minute Gift Ideas

Posted on December 20, 2011 by admin

If you’ve still got names on that Christmas list that still haven’t been crossed off, you can go from naughty to nice pretty quickly with some last-minute shopping in the Smokies. Here are a few ideas to get things kick-started:

• Give the gift of ziplining in Pigeon Forge! Check with us at here at Smoky Mountain Ziplines, and we’ll help you put together a zipline package that’s sure to spread lots of holiday cheer.

• A mall gift certificate! There are several outlet malls around here, and with one gift certificate or gift card, you can let someone shop the stores they want to visit and pick out just what they need.

• A restaurant gift card! Whether it’s at a local chain of restaurants or your favorite mom-and-pop eatery, you can share the flavors of the Smokies with that hard-to-please person on your list. Who knows? Maybe they’ll take you along for the experience. Best of all, several places are even open for lunch and dinner on Christmas Day if they decide to cash in right away.

• Give the gift of music! Everyone loves live entertainment, so consider getting someone you love tickets to a music theater show. Or a magic show. Or an acrobat show. Or a dinner show. There’s something for everyone on the stages of the Smokies.

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Fueling Up in the Smokies

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin

So you’re planning to do some ziplining on your next trip to the Smokies? Our Smokey Mountain zip lines should do a great job of feeding your need for speed, adventure and excitement. But after a full afternoon or morning of clipping up, taking off and flying through the air, you may have a hunger of a different kind.

Fortunately, from our location just outside of Pigeon Forge, you won’t be far from any number of great restaurants that can accommodate both your budget and your appetite. In this one city alone, you’ll find everything from fast food to fine dining and everything in between. Here are just a few suggestions for where to eat:

• Pancake houses. There are probably a dozen of these in Pigeon Forge alone. Another popular breakfast destination is the good ol’ Cracker Barrel. There are actually two of them in town, one at the north end and one at the south end.

• The Old Mill. Whether you’re eating in the original restaurant or at the Pottery House Café across the street, you’re in for some classic Southern recipes and flavors, many of which are made with corn meal ground on site at their historic Pigeon River mill.

• Ethnic cuisine. Pigeon Forge has restaurants serving everything from Italian to Asian to Indian food?

• Tony Roma’s. Nice food and service and conveniently located near several local music theaters.

• The Apple Barn restaurants. A must-do for visitors. Start your day off with an apple julep and enjoy some apple fritters and country ham while you’re at it.

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The Most Christmasy Place In The Smokies

Posted on December 8, 2011 by admin

Some of you Scrooges out there are still having a tough time getting into the mood of this holiday season. Well here’s a sure-fire way to turn that melancholy into holly-jolly. Start by checking in at the Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge and check out the area’s most seasonally festive lodgings. This hotel is decked out for Christmas 365 days a year, from tasteful décor and beautiful trees and lighting displays that spread Yuletide cheer winter, spring, summer and fall.

Now that you’ve got your home base established, it’s time to head out and immerse yourself in all things Christmas right across the Parkway at the Incredible Christmas Place, where tens of thousands of square feet are packed with everything you can imagine to celebrate the holidays. You’ll find trees and tree displays, ornaments, a floral department, Christmas collectibles, gifts and tons more stuff. There’s even a singing Santa to keep you entertained while you shop.

And finally, don’t forget to get out and enjoy some of this brisk fall/winter air with a zipline adventure. If you’re looking for the Smokies’ best place to zip line, Pigeon Forge and Smoky Mountain Ziplines is the place to go. We hope to see you soon!

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Shopping Strategies in the Smokies

Posted on November 29, 2011 by admin

With Christmas stampeding toward us like a bull dressed in red and wearing a white beard, it may be time to consider getting some of your holiday shopping done while you’re having fun in the Smokies. Of course, for many of you, shopping is a fun activity in itself, and if that’s the case, here’s an overview of some of the best places to find unique merchandise and moneysaving deals.

Let’s start with the bargain part. There are several outlet malls in the area, all of which offer a wide selection of name-brand merchandise at substantial savings over retail. Inventory includes clothing, footwear, kitchenware, housewares, tools, books, music and more. In Sevierville, destinations include Tanger Outlet Center at Five Oaks as well as Governor’s Crossing Outlet Mall. In Pigeon Forge, look for Belz Mall, Tanger Outlet World and Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet Mall.

For something that’s uniquely Smoky Mountains, you might venture into Gatlinburg, where dozens of quaint downtown shops and the many artisans that make up the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community offer handmade craft works and fine arts that are often made on site by local artisans. Look for everything from painting, sculpture and photography to traditional regional crafts like handmade baskets, pottery, jewelry, woodwork, candles, brooms and more.

And don’t forget that this area is also home to a large number of antique stores and flea markets, the greatest concentration of which is located on Tenn. Hwy. 66 in Sevierville, between Interstate 40 and downtown. Here you’ll find a treasure trove of goodies, old and new, collectible and unique.

But also don’t forget to take a break from all that shopping and get outside for some fresh air and excitement on our Smoky Mountain zip line course. We’ll fill an entire morning or afternoon with scenery and thrills, and you won’t even need a shopping basket!

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Take Advantage of the Mild Temperatures

Posted on November 22, 2011 by admin

We may be just on the brink of winter, but autumn is still having a last hurrah this week thanks to a forecast of unseasonably warm days. Looks like highs are going to be in the upper 50s to mid-60s throughout the week with rain-free days, for the most part.

That means that whether you’re visiting Pigeon Forge, Sevierville or Gatlinburg, zip line fun is still in store for the whole family at Smoky Mountain Ziplines in Pigeon Forge. Just make sure that before you visit, you check the latest weather conditions so that you can dress appropriately. We generally recommend wearing long pants anyway, so it’s mainly a matter of how many upper-body layers you’ll need to wear to keep warm.

You won’t have to worry about working up too much of a sweat, because we provide land transportation from our outpost to the first leg of our 14-line canopy tour, and along the way, there’s minimal walking from one line to the next. The longest trek by foot is only 50 yards or so, and you’ll even have a chance to rest up for a minute if you need.

Also don’t forget that when you’re zipping along on some of the longer lines – in some cases as fast as 40 miles per hour – you’ll have a wind-chill factor of sorts going on, so be sure that you don’t under dress for the occasion.

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