Make a masterpiece at 3 Generations Art Studio
The Winter chill can make all the fun outdoor activities like hiking and fishing difficult. Instead of just moping around the house waiting for Spring, why not make some art? 3 Generations Art Studio is located in downtown Sweetwater and offers classes on how to paint and sculpt. You and your friends and family can spend an afternoon making your own works of art, or if you are not inclined to get your hands a little dirty from the paint and clay, you can purchase works made by the artists at the studio, but where is the fun in that? Whatever you make (or buy) can make a great Christmas present. The studio is located steps away from several great dining options just in case you work up an appetite after finishing your masterpiece.
Take a boat ride underground at Lost Sea
The caverns at the Lost Sea have a natural average temperature 58° F every day and visitors are advised to wear a jacket when they visit. So what better time to visit when you're already going to be bundled up? The Lost Sea is Sweetwater’s most famous attraction and is the country’s largest underground lake. It has been a popular place to visit for over 20,000 years (though that first visitor was a prehistoric jaguar). Only accessible by guided tour, the experience includes a near-mile loop down and back that takes you past mineral formations with needlelike crystals. At the lake, you’ll board a glass-bottom boat, from which you can see the blind cave trout washed in from upriver streams. Many parts of the trail are slippery and steep, so those with mobility issues will find the tour challenging. Don't forget to wear sturdy shoes. Tickets are available to purchase on their website.
Go holiday shopping on Main Street
Sweetwater's Main Street is lined with several shops (many owned by local women) including boutiques and antique stores. They are perfect for a Winter shopping spree especially if you want to avoid going to a big-box store or shopping online. The boutiques (such as The Lily Pad Boutique and Dogwood Lane Boutique) have great choices for both year-round and seasonal outfits and some also sell home decor. The antique stores (such as Sweetwater Antiques and Sweetwater Market at the Mill) sell a variety of items such as furniture, memorabilia, and who knows what else. If you are looking for stylish masculine outfits, check out Relaxed and Refined Menswear. The quaint Main Street charm is made even better on a snowy day. Note that the shops don't open until 10 AM.
Celebrate a quaint Christmas at Small Town Christmas
In late November, downtown Sweetwater hosts an annual Christmas party featuring all the Winter favorites like carriage rides, roasting marshmallows, a giant snow globe, a live nativity, live music, vendors, and activities for the kids such as a kiddie wagon ride and character photo ops. When you combine the nostalgia of the downtown with the Christmas spirit, it can be hard not feeling like a kid again. Small Town Christmas is a free event from 05 PM to 08 PM. While you are in downtown, check out all the shops along Main Street for some early Christmas shopping.
All aboard at the Polar Express Experience
One of downtown Sweetwater's most famous attractions is a vintage train car which has been restored and is now open to the public. Every December, the train car is used as the venue for a reading of the Christmas classic The Polar Express (a nostalgic favorite for yours truly, the author of this post). Along with the reading, the Polar Express Experience includes a tour of the train car and kids can have their picture taken with the conductor and Santa. Don't forget to get a cup of hot chocolate (hot, hot, we got it!). This is a ticketed event (which one would expect for a train journey) and is held in early December.
