Here are the top 5 reasons to visit the Smoky Mountains in the winter, according to a local
In the Smokies, we often experience a relatively mild December. But January can have bit of a kick to the shins in winter. It’s can be quite cold, and whatever snow and ice we have even if it is not much, does not quickly melt away. We usually get a handful of days – I call them golfing days – where the weather is mild and you can catch a glimpse of the approaching spring.
But as a Hoosier who moved to the South, winter in the mountains hasn’t bothered me. Except when something like the polar vortex arrives and temperatures or wind chills drop below zero. Nothing good ever happens below zero. That said, there are reasons to visit the Smokies this winter, reasons to see the mountains when the colors are muted and the wildlife less active. It turns out that life is happening year-round in the Smokies, and you should come on down – or up or over – and check it out. With all of this in mind, here are the top five reasons to visit Smokies in the winter:
1. Snow skiing, sledding and tubing
How popular are winter sports in the mountains? Well, there’s an entire business model devoted to allowing people to snow tube even in the summer months. As much fun as indoor tubing is, it’s much better in the outdoors. If you love winter sports like sledding, tubing, snowboarding or snow skiing, then there’s no better time to visit the Smokies than when the thermometer dips. The recent consistently cold weather and snowfall have only enhanced the snow-creation capabilities at Ober Mountain, the area’s premiere winter sports destination. Winter in the Smokies, there’s no business like snow business.
2. Fewer crowds
Not everyone is built like us, adaptable to all weather conditions. Want to visit the Smokies and not worry about massive traffic jams and big crowds? The time is now. Waits for restaurants will be quick. And no big lines to a series of indoor attractions. In other words, there are plenty of fun things to do and the elbow room to do them. Keep in mind that some attractions may be operating on a winter schedule, though.
3. Good deals
There are deals in the Smokies and then there are deals. Businesses that stay open year-round often offer incentives to attract crowds. In other words, a lack of crowds can mean a lack of business, which means shops, restaurants, hotels and attractions can be motivated to lure business with an insanely good loss leader or two.
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4. Seasonal foods
You know what’s great in the mountains? Bundling up by a fire pit with warm coffee, cocoa, cider or tea and taking in the beauty of the snowy mountains in winter. Sure, you can chug an iced tea while sweat drips into your shoes, but it’s just not the same. There’s something to be said for keeping yourself toasty warm inside while the tip of your nose and cheeks turn red – from the cold, not from whatever you used to “sweeten” your coffee. Also, dishes like chili, stew and other hearty meals are better in winter.
I am a big fan of the Beatles as evidenced by my son, John Paul George Gullion. One of the Beatles’ underappreciated songs is called “Rain.” The song is a metaphor for life in general. It is about how people react when a sunny day turns to rain. And how, from a philosophic difference, nothing has changed. Sure, it’s cold, and you have to be smart if there’s snow or ice. But when winter arrives, most of the changes in the mountain are cosmetic.
5. Snow in the mountains
When it snows, the mountains are beautiful. We move through the days, months, years and decades collecting a variety of experiences that will ultimately tell the tale of our time here. The mountains exist from January through December. There are experiences to be had. There are memories to be made.
We’re not bears. We don’t hibernate. Grab your coat and moon boots and get out there and explore. Do the things you love. For instance, go hiking and visit a babbling stream moving too fast to freeze over. Check out the icicles as they form where water leaks out of the rocks, or go shopping and dining and do all the things. Then come back to your hotel or cabin and warm yourself with a hot beverage or a warming spirit.
What are your favorite winter activities in the Smokies? Let us know in the comments and on the socials.