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24 Fun Winter Attractions
Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
If you are "on the fence" about visiting Sevier County and the Smoky Mountains in Winter,
don't be fooled into thinking the whole place shuts down.
There are TONS of things to do in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville during Winter. Really...too many to list, but these are some of my favorites,
along with some of the most popular.
If you're still not sure, see Off Season in Gatlinburg, and Why It's My Favorite.
At the end of the page, you will find tips for Winter & Driving in the area
Things to Do in Winter Around Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
1.) Book a Cozy Cabin with Lots of Amenities
like a fireplace, hot tub, movie theater, fire pit, game room, a nice kitchen, mountain views or your very own private indoor swimming pool.
You may never want to leave your cabin at all!
See all my best cabin recommendations here
Large Cabins for Groups
Cabins for Holidays with Safe Roads & Drivable in Winter
2.) Make Reservations for a Dinner Show
like Pirate's Voyage, Hatfield and McCoy, Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud, Grand Majestic Dinner Theater or Dolly Parton's Stampede
Check Availability for:
Soul of Motown at Grand Majestic Theater
3.) Play Games
at one of the many unique game rooms around town, like Activate Games, Arcade City, Lazerport Tag, Dave and Busters, Rockin' Raceway Arcade, Wonderworks, MagicQuest, Gatlin's Fun Center and don't forget Guy Fieri's Downtown Flavortown with arcade and mini bowling.
Or how bout a game of pool at East Tn Billiards or play one of the many Escape Room Games around the area? Or Foam Warriorz and The Pines in Sevierville.
4.) Visit all the Museums!
Like:
Alcatraz East, Titanic, The Bible Museum, Pigeon Forge Wax Museum, The Pinball Museum, Tennessee Museum of Aviation, Wonderworks, and Sevier County Heritage Museum.
Also, Speedwerkz Exotic Car Experience in Gatlinburg and Country Legends Rediscovered in Pigeon Forge!
Check Availability of:
Titanic Museum Tickets
5.) Visit the World-Famous Ripley Attractions
like the Ripley's Aquarium or Ripley's Mirror Maze, Ripley's Haunted Adventure, Ripley's Moving Theater, Guinness World Records and more.
(More Online Tickets available here)
6.) Swim at an Indoor Water Park
like Wild Bear Falls or Wilderness Wild Water Dome, or stay at a hotel with an indoor waterpark like Holiday Inn Express, in downtown Gatlinburg
Check Availability at Wilderness Lodge
Hotels with Kid Friendly Waterslides
7.) Have a Spa Day
Have a relaxing day at top rated Margaritaville's St. Somewhere Spa, or maybe Wanderlust Spa, The Spa at Riverstone or Smoky Mountain Massage Therapy just to name a few.
8.) See Live Music Shows
Like Blake Shelton's Ole' Red, Country Tonite Theater, The Main Event Theater, Dollywood, Jason Aldean's and Hard Rock Cafe
Check Availability of:
Country Tonite Theatre
See Nightlife in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
9.) See a Live Theater Performance
You might like:
Parkway Playhouse, The Silver Bow Show, Iris Theater, Comedy Barn, Impossibilities Magic Show or Array Variety Show. And there are plenty more to choose from!
10.) Go Shopping for Treasures
at Smoky Mountain KnifeWorks, Tanger Outlets, The Bass Pro Shops, Downtown Gatlinburg or The Mountain Mile on Teaster Lane.
Or check out Jolene's and the other new shops downtown Sevierville and the Arts & Crafts Loop in Gatlinburg
Some of the Best Shops Downtown Gatlinburg
11.) Visit a Winery
like Tennessee Homemade Wines, Apple Barn Cider House, Mountain Valley Vineyards, or Hillside Winery and try some local, homemade wine
Check Availability of:
Wine Me, Shine Me, Dine Me Tour
12.) Visit Anakeesta's "Enchanted Christmas"
See the wonderland of lights, run into Santa Claus, do some Christmas shopping, and see the Gatlinburg area Winterfest Lights from the highest point in the area!
See more about Anakeesta
13.) Jump on a Heated Trolley
for the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights. See what over 5 million LED lights shining look like or head over to drive through Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland in Sevierville.
14.) Enjoy One of the Annual Christmas Parades
in Gatlinburg, or Sevierville (see Events) & video below.
15.) Ride to the Top of the Space Needle
Gatlinburg's of the iconic landmark, the Gatlinburg Space Needle has a
360-degree view of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains unlike any other.
16.) Sample Some Moonshine & Tour a Distillery
Yes! Warm yourselves up with a few shots.
There are many family friendly distilleries all around the county. Or visit a Brewery. See my Smoky Mountain Moonshine Guide and FAQ.
17.) Ride the Famous Ober Tram
Go up the mountains to Ober Mountain Amusement Park for snow tubing, ice skating, real ski slopes, epic mountain views and ice bumper cars
really fun!), the snow zone, rock climbing wall, huge jump pillow, outdoor movies and more.
See What's New at Ober Mountain!
18.) Visit Dollywood for a "Smoky Mountain Christmas"
Visit the Magical Dollywood during the holidays, Christmas and New Year's Eve before it closes in early January.
When does Dollywood reopen for the season? Mid-March, so call ahead or check Dollywood.com for exact hours and days.
Pet friendly cabins near Dollywood
19.) Jump on Trampolines
at Top Jump Trampoline and Extreme Arena or Sevier Air Trampoline & Ninja Warrior Park. You may also want to check out Foam Warriorz in Sevierville too!
20.) Stay Nice and Warm while Sledding Indoors
You can play in the snow at Pigeon Forge Snow Indoor Snowpark or go outdoor snow tubing at Rowdy Bear Outdoor Snow Tubing and Ober Mountain (Formerly Ober Gatlinburg) attractions.
21.) Drive Historic Cade's Cove Loop
See Cades Cover and it's natural winter beauty. (Weather permitting) Or take a magical horse drawn carriage ride through the Cove. Check road conditions and road closures before heading over.
Current Conditions - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
22.) Have a Beer at a Local Brewery
Visit Smoky Mountain Brewery in both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, and try the newer The Neighborhood Beer House in Sevierville, and The Iron Forge Brewing Company in Sevierville.
Also, The Casual Pint and Gatlinburg Brewing Co.
Watch sports at the Roaming Gnome Pub & Eatery or The Bluffs.
See Nightlife in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
23.) See the Lights at SkyBridge
Ride the scenic chairlift up the mountain to one of the most gorgeous vistas around, always decorated for the season and holidays. Cross the lighted bridge and then enjoy a hot beverage or cold beer inside the SkyCenter or around the giant firepit in a rocking chair while you enjoy the mountain views over Gatlinburg and the Smokies.
24.) Rowdy Bear Snow Park
Rowdy Bear in Pigeon Forge never runs out of snow, they can make their own! You can snow tube for 90-minute sessions, make reservations if needed, or just show up! Ride solo or connected tubes with friend, and they have 11 lanes, so plenty of space.
They also have a "Ski Lift Shootout Coaster", axe throwing, Cafe & Creamery, and kid's play area. Oh, and let's not forget the "Avalanche Snow Coaster".
QUICK LINKS:
My Cabin Suggestions
My Hotel Suggestions
Attractions
Car Shows
Food & Restaurants
These are just the tip of the iceberg (pun intended) there are many more options you will find along the way as you explore.
Tips for Winter & Driving
in the
Gatlinburg &
Pigeon Forge Area
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Consider renting a cabin with good, easy winter road access. If you worry about ice, snow and cold weather driving in the mountains, these cabins will put your mind at rest! They are close to main roads and on flat or gentle grades and well maintained.
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Be prepared for an unexpected snowstorm. Be aware that if one occurs, you may be expected to stay in place for a day or two. Pack accordingly and ask your reservationist about how they handle snowstorms and resort roads
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Check weather conditions before venturing out, especially on backroads.
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Save this link to the National Park Service to check road conditions https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
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Avoid backroads when possible if the temperature is below 40. Always assume when its around freezing temperatures, there could be black ice
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Dress and pack in layers so you can adjust accordingly from indoor to outdoors
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Call ahead for hours of operation attractions, as some change, depending on the season
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Consider having your car winterized if you've never driven in snow before
Get Ripley Passes!
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