Know Before You Go: Snow Mountain @StoneMtnPark

Snow Mountain, the ultimate Southern snow extravaganza at Stone Mountain Park, is now open! True Georgia Peaches and transplanted Yankees alike will love the five football fields of wintery wonderland.  It includes 20 lanes of single tubing, a 400-foot hill for the family-sized tubes, and a huge snow play area. There’s something for everyone!  My under-6 crew loved the Snow Zone which has a mini tubing run just for them!

Since this attraction is one of my family’s favorite, I thought I’d offer some advice for families looking to visit Snow Mountain this season. (But hurry! It closes Feb. 18!)

1. Go early. This means to go early in the day and early in the season. Take advantage of the warmer hours during the day. Don’t worry about the snow melting. (Their cool technology allows for snow to be produced in any climate…up to 360 tons per day!) It feels great to be outside on a crisp winter day. Not so much on one of the more frigid ones. But don’t wait until the end of the season because you might not be able to get a reservation!

2. Bring a change of clothes. Don’t forget socks, underwear, and a complete change of clothes. The snow may not have fallen from the sky, but it still feels like snow and the kids will be cold and wet after a couple hours. Having some clothes to change into should turn whining kids into grateful ones who want to stay to see what else Stone Mountain has to offer (which is a lot by the way).

3. Pack a lunch. Food here, like everywhere is expensive, but Stone Mountain doesn’t restrict you from bringing in food. Why not throw some sandwiches, chips, and juice boxes into a bag? It will save you a ton of money! Then for dinner, buy a whole pizza for around $20, and you can feed the whole family.

4. Have the right mindset. Doing anything with the family, especially when you have little kids, can be trying. They will want to go to the bathroom right as you start to climb the tubing run. They will need a snack “right now” when your stroller (and snacks) are parked n the other side of a snowy field. They may even complain about the time it takes to climb the rung, or about who gets to sit in which seat on the family tubes, or about how cold they are since they lost their mittens. Or maybe that’s just my kids. But having a positive outlook and an extra reserve of patience will go along way toward making your Snow Mountain day one to remember.

5.  Look for discounts.  Regularly priced tickets are $27/person (for everyone 3 and older) but there discounts for Gas South customers. Also check out your local Kroger for discount coupons. Every dollar counts!

Go ahead and take a Snow Day with your family while you can. From snowman building to snowball shooting, tubing to togetherness, it is really a ton of fun. Take a day, or just an afternoon if that’s all you have, and get out and make some memories!