Winter is one of the most underrated seasons in Tennessee, if you ask us. Everyone seems to go crazy about fall colors and spring flowers and summertime swimming holes, but what about the snow encrusted beauty of our winters?! We found seven places that will make you fall in love with your home state all over again, through the dark and chilly months and all the way through to next year.

  1. This is quite possibly the prettiest Tennessee drive in the wintertime.

Jade Leetz - Flickr Cades Cove is stunning throughout the entirety of the year, but taking the Cades Cove Loop is the perfect way to experience the beauty of the area without the chill.

  1. These hiking trails are best experienced in the heart of wintertime.

Alex Ford - Flickr We’ve found the best hiking trails in Tennessee for a snowy hike or a crisp walk through the snowy beauty of our great, wintry state.

  1. The mountains are perfect for winter explorations.

Ernest Duffoo - Flickr There’s nothing more beautiful than a weekend spent in the mountains, and we’ve pulled together some of the most magical mountain spots Tennessee has to offer.

  1. Riding horses is a neat pastime, but what about through the snow?

Cades Cove Horse Stables - Facebook Cades Cove offers a horseback riding experience that’s great during the chillier months - plus, it feels absolutely magical when you’re wandering the snowy woods atop your gallant steed.

  1. There’s nothing more magical than an evening spent among Christmas lights.

Denise - Flickr With millions of lights strung across hallways and storefronts and restaurants, you’ll never want to leave the winter wonderland of Tennessee’s very own Opryland.

  1. Cherokee Caverns is probably one of the most insane experiences in the state.

Cherokee Caverns - Facebook Would you care to visit a Christmas cave, anyone? Tennessee does quite well when it comes to celebrating the holidays, and this right here proves it.

Continue exploring Tennessee with this gorgeous town in the mountains.

Jade Leetz - Flickr

Cades Cove is stunning throughout the entirety of the year, but taking the Cades Cove Loop is the perfect way to experience the beauty of the area without the chill.

Alex Ford - Flickr

We’ve found the best hiking trails in Tennessee for a snowy hike or a crisp walk through the snowy beauty of our great, wintry state.

Ernest Duffoo - Flickr

There’s nothing more beautiful than a weekend spent in the mountains, and we’ve pulled together some of the most magical mountain spots Tennessee has to offer.

Cades Cove Horse Stables - Facebook

Cades Cove offers a horseback riding experience that’s great during the chillier months - plus, it feels absolutely magical when you’re wandering the snowy woods atop your gallant steed.

Denise - Flickr

With millions of lights strung across hallways and storefronts and restaurants, you’ll never want to leave the winter wonderland of Tennessee’s very own Opryland.

Cherokee Caverns - Facebook

Would you care to visit a Christmas cave, anyone? Tennessee does quite well when it comes to celebrating the holidays, and this right here proves it.

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