Winter is an ideal time to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Many winter activities and recreational opportunities are available in the area. Gatlinburg borders Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering visitors winter campsites and productive trout and bass fishing during the cold months.
Winter Recreation
Enjoy winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing at the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort, located at Mount Harrison in the Great Smokey Mountains. Skiers and snowboarders can test their skills at the resort's eight slopes with different difficulty levels.
Take the aerial tramway from downtown Gatlinburg to reach the resort. Ski rentals are available from the ski rental shop. A 10-lane snow tubing park also is available in the resort as well as an ice-skating indoor arena.
Aquarium
Visit the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and see 12-foot sharks and other exotic sea creatures. Exhibits in the aquarium include the Stingray Bay, where you can watch divers feed the stingrays. Get closer and touch the stingrays at the shallow end of the tank or attend one of the numerous educational presentations and dive shows hosted by the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.
Winterfest Celebration
The Annual Winterfest Celebration in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville area is held each year from early November to late February. See the lights and festive decorations displayed throughout the city and attend local events such as entertainment live show performances and craft shows.
Other events include the Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade and the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community Holiday Arts and Crafts Show.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Visit the Great Smokies for winter activities such as snowshoe hiking, winter camping and fishing. Fish for bass and trout in the national park's numerous streams that are open for fishing all year. Species available are rockbass, brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout. Winter camping is also available in the park's many campgrounds.
Attractions
Visiting museums during wintertime in Gatlinburg can enhance your experience while in the area. The Hollywood Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe it or Not offer many interesting displays such as the Mirror Maze and Haunted Adventure. Ripley's Mirror Maze has more than 100 mirrors with digital sound and LED lighting to confuse and amaze you as you try to find your way out.
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