January is the coldest month around here, but what passes for winter here is hardly ever a reason to stay indoors. We might get a little snow occasionally but it doesn’t last, and cold fronts that push down this far usually only remain a few days before retreating back up north where they belong.
Sometimes you need to get away from home in order to really relax. There is always something that needs to be done around the home, and whether it is work related or household chores, it interrupts your relaxation. Getting away separates you from these distractions.
For a long weekend, the Georgia mountains a short distance to the north offer an opportunity to relax, get some exercise and fresh air and do something different. Some people find the idea of spending time in the mountains in winter strange, since it is cold and there is nothing to do. But that isn’t necessarily true.
Winter in the mountains is colder, but not that much colder than here, only about ten degrees on average. They make some really nice winter clothing that will keep you warm and toasty even in the cold. The winter rain has the streams and waterfalls running at full volume, and freezing temperatures at night allow ice to form around the falls, giving them a look you just don’t see in the summer. The trees are bare, allowing you to see for greater distances, and there might even be some snow.
One place where you can almost always find snow is in the Smokies. It is an easy day trip from anywhere in the mountains over to Cherokee, N.C. From Cherokee, Hwy 441 crosses the mountains to Gatlinburg. Midway across at Newfound Gap you will almost always find snow, often 2-4 feet deep. Kids, and some adults, will be sliding down hills on everything from sleds to plastic garbage bags. A lot of the cars will have Florida tags.
Whether it is just you and your dog, the wife and kids, or a group of friends, with or without the dogs, there are cabins for rent in all sizes, with all the comforts of home.
There is nothing like standing in front of a crackling fire with a cup of cocoa or the toddy of your choice to warm you right up after a day in the outdoors.
