Editorial

Downtown Sevierville

3 Things You Shouldn’t Ever Do in Sevierville TN, According to a Local

Here are three things not to do when you’re visiting Sevierville, TN As someone who has lived in the area for decades, I can remember when Sevierville was the boring part of Sevier County. If Sevier County was a mullet, Sevierville was the business in the front part. But things have changed over the years. Sevierville is now a destination

timeshare resort with emoji over it

7 Funny Ways To Escape a Timeshare Presentation

Local offers cheeky tips to get out of a presentation So you took the plunge and traded your precious time to save money on lodging during your vacation. I mean, 90 minutes listening to a timeshare presentation for three days and two nights of free hotel? That’s a deal. Or is it? Your desire to get back to your vacation

dollywood entrance and showstreet

Dollywood Rumored To Be Working on a Year-Round Experience

Rumors say Dollywood might be starting a year-round experience similar to Disney Springs in 2025 I love my East Tennessee home. I love the traditions, the food and the people. And especially how those people can’t always keep a secret. After all, a little harmless gossip is practically tradition. And this week, the rumor mill is buzzing about our favorite

downtown gatlinburg aerial

3 Brutally Honest Reasons Not to Live in Tennessee, According to a Local

While Tennessee can be a great place for some, there are a few downsides, says a local I know what it’s like to move to and from Tennessee. I am not a Tennessee native, but I have lived here for several years minus a brief out-of-state stint for work. Though I love my adopted home state of 30+ years, I

girl looks at view from anavista tower in gatlinburg

5 Must-Do Experiences for First-Time Visitors to the Smoky Mountains

Local lists things first-time visitors should do in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg Tennessee Most people get a set number of vacations in their life – two a year, if they’re lucky. Allocation of that time is precious. If you are planning your one and only family vacation to the Smoky Mountains, the algebra changes. Of course, the highlights become essential. So,

compilation of pigeon forge with sign and pigeon

The Little-Known History Behind the Name ‘Pigeon Forge’ in TN

Local shares the surprising reason the town was named Pigeon Forge It’s not uncommon to wonder what Pigeon Forge was before it became the tourist town it is today. It’s possible, I think, if you get into remote and old enough parts of the forest, to visualize what the first settlers saw in the deep woods. But, so much has

the comedy barn theater in pigeon forge tn

These Are the 3 Most Cheesy Attractions in the Smoky Mountains

Local lists the cheesiest attractions around Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Part of Sevier County’s tourism industry is the natural beauty that surrounds Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. But the founding fathers of the tourism industry realized early on that while it ain’t easy bein’ cheesy, it certainly pays the bills. That’s how Carbo’s Smoky Mountain Police Museum, whose claim to fame was

a bucees drinking cup in front of a bucees store

3 Surprising Facts About Buc-ee’s That Will Make You Love It Even More

Lesser-known fun facts about the world’s most beloved travel center: Buc-ee’s As the self-proclaimed preeminent Buc-ee’s journalist East of the Mississippi, I’ve certainly learned a lot about the cathedral to convenience. And frankly, I’m also happy to spread the gospel of the greatest gas station ever conceived by man. Just ask the folks at the paper of record in Ft. Worth

a woman walks the trails of the great smoky mountains national park

Are the Smoky Mountains Worth It? A Brutally Honest Opinion

A local offers pros and cons and determines whether or not a visit to the Smoky Mountains is ‘worth it’ As someone who first visited the mountains as a tourist 40 years ago before moving south in 1990, I’ve something of a unique perspective. I’ve certainly been here long enough to take the mountains for granted. I get up every

The Oliver Family (foreground) the oliver cabin (background)

The Real-Life Kissing Cousins of Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains

Nearly half the residents in Cades Cove in the 1850s can be traced back to two families: The Olivers and the Shields As someone who has lived in and around the mountains of East Tennessee, I’ve heard all the insults. They’re particularly rampant on social media – especially if you frequent certain SEC football message boards. Mouth breeders or kissing