If you already miss the joys of the Christmas season, you will be delighted to know that you can extend the holiday magic with a winter vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains! While many of your neighbors might have already started taking down their holiday light displays and decorations, you still have time to enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg! Here are 3 fun ways to extend the magic of the holiday season during your Smoky Mountain vacation:
1. Take the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights
One of the best ways to extend the magic of the holiday season during your Smoky Mountain vacation is with the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights in Pigeon Forge! This is a unique opportunity to experience more than 5 million lights as they shine throughout the city all the way until mid-February. The best part is that the peak crowds from Christmas to New Year’s Day are gone so you don’t have to worry about traffic congestion! Along your driving tour, you will see lighted displays of bear, fox, deer and other critters that are native to the Smoky Mountains, as well as giant ornaments and huge lighted trees! You can pick up a free brochure at the Pigeon Forge Welcome Centers or the Pigeon Forge Trolley office for a guide of the tour.
2. Visit the Incredible Christmas Place
It is Christmas all year long at the Incredible Christmas Place, which is the largest permanent Christmas retail shop in the South and one of the largest in the United States! The store was founded as a small family business in 1986 and eventually grew to the 43,000 square foot Bavarian style shopping village of today! You will find just about every Christmas collectible imaginable on the shelves, ranging from traditional to contemporary designs. The Incredible Christmas Place also features a spectacular display of Christmas trees that has to be seen to be believed! The store is located at 2740 Parkway in Pigeon Forge and is open daily except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
3. Enjoy the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights
Continue the magic of the holiday season during your Smoky Mountain vacation with the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights! This relaxing 45-minute trolley ride through the Gatlinburg Winter Magic light displays runs each Saturday night in January with departures at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Each of the trolley tours depart from the Gatlinburg Mass Transit Center at traffic light #5. Along the route, you will see whimsical snowmen, dancing fountains, a shiny rocking horse and many other fabulous displays! While you can drive your own vehicle to view the light displays, there is nothing better than seeing the millions of lights and amazing decorations from the comfort of a Gatlinburg trolley!
Check out more Smoky Mountain events you can enjoy while you’re in town extending the magic of the holiday season, and start planning your trip! We look forward to seeing you soon at Amazing Views Cabin Rentals!
