Taking The Fun Outside

Posted by Phil Rodgers in Things to Do

Now that spring is in full swing, more and more folks are heading outdoors to take advantage of these warmer days and, when they're fortunate, abundant sunshine and blue skies. Weather like this is made for outside play, especially when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. So next time you're in our area, consider either of both of our recommendations for Smoky Mountain attractions where the good times can be enjoyed during what is arguably one of the most pleasant and beautiful seasons of the year.

Goats on the Roof

Our Pigeon Forge attraction has several ways to make the most of an awesome spring day. Let's start with the goats. Yep, we actually do have live goats on our roof, a tradition carried on from the original Goats on the Roof attraction in Wisconsin. Just head up to the upper level of our main building, and you'll find our favorite critters up there grazing or just hanging out or chowing down on our goat food. Guests can actually get involved in the goats' feeding by pedaling one of our Goat Cycles located on the ground level. The cycles utilize a unique pulley system to transport buckets of feed up to the rooftop.

Elsewhere at Goats on the Roof, we have a cool alpine coaster called, appropriately, the Goat Coaster. This attraction, built into the side of our mountain, measures 4,875 feet in length-nearly a mile-and, depending on the number and size and weight of the passengers-it can reach speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour as it winds its way down the hillside. Rides usually last around seven minutes.

Like any roller coaster, gravity does all the work as each passenger car winds its way down the track. Speed is controlled with a handbrake by the passenger/driver. You can go easy on the brake and fly down the track at full speed or slow things down if you're uncomfortable with that much velocity.

At Goats on the Roof, we also have a gem-mining area, where prospectors of all ages can use our water sluice to sift through gem-rich soil in search of semiprecious stones. This section is covered by a roof, but it's still open-air, so you can enjoy good weather on nice days and be protected from rain on the not-so-nice ones.

Finally, don't forget to take a swing through our store, where you'll find a wide array of souvenirs and other keepsakes to commemorate your visit. Our two-story, air-conditioned shop has a little bit of everything, from T-shirts and toys to novelty items and authentic woodcrafts. We also offer a tasty selection of edible goods like candies, hot sauces and jellies as well as homemade fudge and ice cream.

Smoky Mountain Ziplines

After you've spent some time at Goats on the Roof, you could continue your outdoor vacation bonanza at Smoky Mountain Ziplines. This popular outdoor attraction is located on the southern end of Pigeon Forge, just a couple of miles off the Parkway. They have seven ziplines on their mountainside course that total nearly a mile in length. Top speeds are around 25 miles per hour. Individual lines range from short cables to help you get started to long spans of up to 800 feet. Some of the lines are as high as 100 feet above ground level.

Each line is packed full of excitement as passengers whiz through the treetops while enjoying tremendous views of the Great Smoky Mountains in the distance. Knowledgeable, entertaining and safety-conscious guides make every tour a memorable one, and their vertical-descent feature offers yet another dimensional experience for guests. Smoky Mountain Zipline is now open for the 2023 season, so call or go online to book your next spring tour today.

This content posted by Goats on the Roof of the Smoky Mountains. Visit our home page, goatsontheroofofthesmokies.com for more information on the goats and their coaster.

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