With the summer rafting season closing out, we like to look forward to the activities that you can do in the Smokies outside of rafting, ziplining, rock climbing, and participating in our high elements ropes course. Many of our guides continue on in the off-season with rafting in warmer climates, but you don’t need to leave the area to have adrenaline-pumping fun. Here are a few activities you can participate in right here!
Go Karts
Who doesn’t love the rush of competing against others? You can race at top “go-kart” speeds in Pigeon Forge at Blake Jones Racing Center. Best of all, you can race all year long on their indoor track. They also offer bumper cars within the indoor portion of their facility. NASCAR SpeedPark offers eight different tracks, including a track for younger riders (at least 36” tall). They also have an arcade, mini-golf, and carnival-style rides.
Haunted Houses & Buildings
While they are also open throughout the year, the hype increases in the fall around Halloween. Visit Gatlinburg’s oldest haunted house, the Mysterious Mansion, and make your way through corridors and rooms covering three floors that are sure to raise the hairs on our arms. They offer special Halloween events on weekends in October. If you are already planning to visit some of Ripley’s attractions, consider a combo pass and add the Haunted Adventure to your itinerary. Open daily, they offer a standard walk and scream adventure, but they’ve also added a Laser Strike experience where it’s your job to use laser weapons and shoot zombies and monsters and get the best score.
In addition to the ideas above, don’t forget that The Smoky Mountains has plenty of festivals to keep you busy in the fall, from OktOBERfest held at Ober Gatlinburg to crafts and harvest festivals. Check out calendars from Gatlinburg.com and MyPigeonForge.com to stay up-to-date with the latest festivals. It’s also the perfect time to grab a camera and check out the lovely foliage as the mountains take on a vibrant display of red, orange, and yellow.
If you need something to satisfy your taste buds, the Apple Barn Cider Mill in Sevierville is a great place to stop for plenty of harvest fares like apple pies and pancakes. You can walk down to the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and Grill for a family favorite like roast turkey and dressing. Every meal comes with apple fritters, homemade apple butter, and applewood julep. If you are staying through Thanksgiving, you can have your dinner there or take your holiday to-go with a takeout feast that includes a turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potato casserole, gravy, rolls, sauce, and pumpkin pie.
