A local’s guide on what you shouldn’t skip on a trip to the Smokies The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a massive forest centered along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. But it’s not quite as big as many assume. The national park is part of a larger range of national forests along the Appalachian Mountains. To the south, there’s
What is the legend of Secret Lake and what does it have to do with Hidden Hollow? For quite some time now, we’ve known something massive and new was coming to Dollywood in the near future. Information has been revealed in dribs and drabs. We know it’s not a roller coaster. But we do know the Hidden Hollow Aviation is
TN native offers tips, what to expect at the Dolly Parton Stampede in Pigeon Forge Dolly Parton’s Stampede, formerly known as the Dixie Stampede, is one of the most popular dinner shows in the area. And while I’m on the record for preferring Pirates Voyage, I still appreciate the top-notch, talented cast and impressive trick riding that the Stampede offers.
Safaris, zoos and more within an easy drive of the Smokies After decades of tourists driving hundreds of miles just to see them, it seems the animals of the Smoky Mountains have gotten a little divaish. Sure, it still seems easier to see bears in the wild than ever before. But there’s no guarantee. So, what do you do when
Ranking the best places to eat when you’re visiting America’s favorite theme park How you tackle Dollywood’s many dining options depends somewhat on what you want to achieve on your park day. Are you marching up and down the various hills and hollers? Then you’re gonna wanna carb up a little. Beware the quick sugar fixes brought on by places
From old history to new traditions, these are the can’t miss things in Gatlinburg If you visit Gatlinburg frequently, you can afford to experiment, although we often don’t. It’s easy to fall into a rut of doing and redoing your favorite experiences, eating at the same favorite places, shopping at the same stores choosing from the handful of attractions that
Things not to do at Goats on the Roof Pigeon Forge In Pigeon Forge where the competition for tourism dollars is fast and furious, you have to do something to stand out from the crowd. Does that mean develop a luchador mask-wearing Gorilla mascot to help sell Mexican-adjacent food at your new taco stand? Unfortunately, yes. Does it mean making
Dollywood debuts a documentary 40 years in the making Somehow, it’s a story that has been undersold. In the early 80s, Dolly Parton was certainly a multimedia icon. But she also had a vision on a scale only matched by Walt Disney. She dreamed of building a theme park in the Smokies, near her hometown. A place much, as Disneyland’s
These are the things you have to do to make your visit to Dollywood a success In its 40 years of growth, Dollywood has transformed from a kitschy theme park that you could knock out in less than a day – or even an afternoon – to a massive, sprawling park that is bordering on the precipice of becoming a
From exploring the park to dining out to shopping, here are the things you can’t miss in the Smokies The Smokies and surrounding regions are massive. You could spend decades exploring the region and still not see everything. I should know. I’ve been here more than 30 years and keep finding new surprises and places I haven’t yet explored. But