If you\u2019ve done any research or had friends or family who\u2019ve visited the Great Smoky Mountains, you\u2019ve probably heard about the changing of the leaves in fall or the sparkling holiday lights in winter. But did you know that the two mountain towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer fun all throughout the year? While fall and the holidays are popular times for visitors, so are spring and summer.<\/p>\n
There truly is something happening any time of year in the Smokies, from exciting Gatlinburg events to fun Pigeon Forge attractions. We know it can be difficult to find a time to get away, and that\u2019s why the Great Smoky Mountains are so perfect for vacations. You\u2019re not limited to summers at the beach or winters skiing in the mountains. You can vacation to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge any time of the year and know that you\u2019ll have no shortage of things to do.<\/p>\n
Sweet, Sweet Summertime<\/strong> And summer fun goes beyond the water. Play some putt putt at Ripley\u2019s Davy Crockett mini golf<\/strong>, race go karts, cool down with ice cream at Mad Dog\u2019s Ice Cream & Donuts, stop in at an arcade for laser tag and games, or plan your trip during one of the many events held throughout the summer. There are races, 4th of July celebrations<\/strong>, kids\u2019 activities, and more \u2013 and you can find it all on our blog<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Crisp, Cool Fall<\/strong> Fall in the Smokies brings the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival<\/a>, the celebration of all things fall, as well as craft shows hosted by the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community<\/strong>, festivals devoted to your favorite foods, live music along the streets, delicious seasonal foods (apple everything, anyone?), and festive d\u00e9cor around each turn.<\/p>\n And with cooler weather, it\u2019s also a great time to get outside. Throw on some hiking shoes and hit the trails (800+ miles of them in the national park), go horseback riding, have a pumpkin spice latte (you know you want to) while rocking on your cabin\u2019s relaxing deck, or climb into a bubbling hot tub at the end of the day and let the hot water wash over you.<\/p>\n A Winter Wonderland<\/strong> You can taste dozens of different local chilis at the Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff<\/strong> downtown, browse the uniquely decorated Christmas trees in the Gatlinburg Convention Center, take the Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights<\/a> to see millions of LED lights in holiday themes, pick up seasonal treats at The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge, or see the Titanic Museum Attraction<\/strong> decked out with Christmas trimmings for the holidays. And that\u2019s just a small sampling of the winter fun.Check our blog<\/strong> for events throughout the year, and be sure to plan a trip to Ober Gatlinburg for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing in winter!<\/p>\n
\nSummer is probably the easiest and most popular time to get away, with kids out of school and warm weather calling. Summer in the Smokies is like everywhere else, all about fun on the water (but so much more). When the weather gets warm, splash around in your cabin\u2019s private indoor pool<\/a>, head to the community pool<\/strong>, spend the afternoon fishing and finding swimming holes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or play the day away at Dollywood\u2019s Splash Country<\/a>. You can even ride in a ZORB (giant inflated ball) with water down a hill!<\/p>\n
\nThe Great Smoky Mountains completely transform in fall, with the lush green trees morphing into autumnal beauties. The mountainsides seem to be brushed with color, boasting varying hues of red, yellow, gold, orange, and purple. It is a truly remarkable sight, and it\u2019s worth a trip all its own. But if you\u2019re looking for more than just changing leaves on your fall vacation to Gatlinburg, there\u2019s plenty more in store for you.<\/p>\n
\nYou might think that a snowy mountain town with lots of skiing is the only place that\u2019s worth a winter vacation somewhere cold, but Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge prove that\u2019s not true. Winter is a fantastic time to be in the Smokies, not only for the sparkling ice and gently falling snow, but also for the exciting events happening.<\/p>\n