Editorial

bucees store with pickled brussels sprouts in front

5 Things Not To Eat at Buc-ee’s, According to a Beaver Fanatic

A Buc-ee’s fan offers advice on what not to eat at the popular travel stop Even in paradise, a little rain must fall. Buc-ee’s, aka the most magical place on the interstate, is a jewel for road trippers, commuters and travelers everywhere. Europeans make the trip over the pond just to marvel at the wonder of a gas station with

Top 10 TV Shows Filmed in and Around the Smoky Mountains

Series and shows that you didn’t know were filmed around the Smoky Mountains It’s certainly a big deal when Hollywood comes to the Smoky Mountains. Over the decades, several big-name stars filmed movies on location in the mountains. But with current economic incentives, it doesn’t happen much anymore. Stars like Harrison Ford, Paul Newman, Ingrid Bergman, Bradley Cooper and many

large cabin in the smoky mountains

What Not To Do When Renting a Cabin in the Smoky Mountains

Don’t do these 7 things when renting a cabin in the Smokies There are a lot of factors you want to consider when you book a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. For example, you’ll want to book at a good price, get a good view and find a convenient location. But have you ever considered what NOT to do when

archive photos of loyston and butler tn

How These 3 Towns in Tennessee Became Sunken Underwater Ghost Towns

The story of those who lost to the Tennessee Valley Authority My home is located in what is known as the Lakeway Area. With tentacles in Hamblen, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Greene, Hawkins, Claiborne and Hancock counties, the Lakeway Area is a relatively modern term. Our communities touch Norris, Douglas and Cherokee lakes. But the truth is, had you arrived here

aerial view of anakeesta park in gatlinburg

5 Things Not To Do During Your Next Visit to Anakeesta

A local offers advice on mistakes to avoid to make the most of your next trip to Anakeesta It arrived one day without much fanfare, just seemingly appearing on top of the mountain. Self-billed as Gatlinburg’s “theme park”, there wasn’t a lot to do at Anakeesta that first season. However, a program of steady improvements has seen expansion nearly every

skybridge at dusk with lights

5 Things Not To Do During Your Next Visit to Gatlinburg’s Famous SkyBridge

A local offers advice on mistakes to avoid to make the most of your next trip to the SkyBridge With Anakeesta drawing traffic across the valley and Ober Mountain under new ownership, the competition for your “SkyDollars” has never been higher. But the eldest of the major mountaintop attractions isn’t ready to wave a white flag of surrender. The park’s

tennessee tornado at dollywood in tennessee

These Are 4 Things I Won’t Ever Do Again at Dolly Parton’s Theme Park

A Smoky Mountain resident talks about experiences he wouldn’t try twice at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge While I can’t lay claim to being the world’s biggest Dollywood fan, I’ve been visiting since the first year it transitioned over from Silver Dollar City. I’ve watched in awe and appreciation as it has grown through careful planning and execution from a kitschy

welcome to north carolina sign

The Counties in North Carolina That Unexpectedly Became Part of Tennessee

The short-lived State of Franklin and how it reshaped Tennessee In the early days following the American Revolution, a handful of counties that had belonged to North Carolina petitioned the U.S. Government to become the 14th state, eventually seceding from the United States. The State of Franklin is an odd and strangely impactful episode of North Carolina, Tennessee and U.S.

ghost town in the sky imagined as a christmas town during the holiday season with snow and snow tubing

Christmas at Ghost Town: Imagining What the Holidays Would Look Like

A local imagines holiday time at Ghost Town in the Sky We don’t think about it much anymore, but back long ago, Christmas was a time of ghosts. Back in the days of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” with its holiday hauntings, telling ghosts stories around the Yuletide fire was something a tradition. The peculiar holiday would include the ending

space needle in gatlinburg, tennessee

The 5 Cheapest Vacation Destinations in the U.S. – Gatlinburg’s Included!

Study finds these popular tourist destinations to be the least expensive in the nation It is part of daily life existing in modern media. Each day, we are served various pitches designed to deliver clicks to the PR firm’s client. “Top 10 towns to retire in the country” “Top 10 towns to get pizza in the Southeast” “Towns where you’re