December 04, 2014

5 Things You Need to Remember to Pack for Your Smoky Mountain Winter Vacation

When you start packing for your Smoky Mountain winter vacation, there’s a few things you just can’t forget. Here’s our advice, so you know what to pack for spending some time in the Smokies this winter:

1. Dress in Layers

Of course, you’ve probably heard it at least a hundred times, but it’s one of the most important things you can do when you spend time outside in the winter–dress in layers.

When you pack layers of clothes, you don’t have to worry about being too hot or too cold. Even when you’re not hiking in the mountains, it’s a good idea to wear layers. A few items to pack include: heavy winter coats, sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts, jeans, cardigans, light jackets. Other things include: scarves, gloves, hats and slippers.

You don’t want to overpack for your vacation, so make sure you choose items that are easily worn twice and can be mixed and matched to other clothes in your bag

2. Wear Comfortable Shoes FAmily sitting in the trunk of their car with ski gear

Comfortable shoes are one of the most important things you can pack for your vacation, no matter what time of year you are visiting. Whether you plan to spend a lot of time in the national park or you want to visit the area to walk around and experience all of the fun things to do on the Parkways, you will definitely want comfortable shoes.

If you plan on doing a lot of heavy hiking this winter, you may want to even pack a pair of hiking boots, so you can be extremely comfortable while you’re out in the mountains.

Always remember to pack a few extra pairs of socks, so you can be very comfortable (and warm) while you are visiting.

3. Pack Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must when you are planning on spending a lot of time outside in the Smoky Mountain winter weather. Especially if you have young children in the Smokies this time of year, the cold wind can really hurt their faces. If you’re hiking, sometimes even the sun will shine brightly through the trees, so you may also want to pack some sunglasses for those peak daytime hours.

In addition to sunscreen, you should pack chapstick to keep your lips moisturized, to keep them from chapping.

Family playing cards at a table in a cabin

4. Fun and Games

When you stay in a Smoky Mountain cabin rental, you usually don’t have to worry about having plenty of things to do. The cabins are equipped with all sorts of great amenities, with everything available, from game rooms to home theaters.

Sometimes it can be kind of fun to pack your own games, though. If you have kids with you on your Smoky Mountain winter vacation, they will love sitting down to play their favorite board game or watch their favorite movie. You can even pack something as simple as a deck of cards for hours of fun in a cabin.

5. Don’t Forget Your Bathing Suit

Yes, we know it seems strange to pack your bathing suit for a Smoky Mountain WINTER vacation, but it’s not! Most of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals have an outdoor hot tub, so you can sit back and enjoy the cool air of the Smokies while you’re warm and cozy in the hot tub.

To start planning your family vacation, take a look at all of Hearthside’s two bedroom cabins in the Smoky Mountains. These are perfect for families who want to relax for a few days and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you have any questions about staying with Hearthside Cabin Rentals, go ahead and give us a call and we will be happy to help you through the process.