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
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
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,
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
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
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 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
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
Local compares two mountain towns in attractions, accessibility and more The towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are only separated by a few miles, but getting back and forth between the two can be a real pain. So, if you’re planning a getaway vacation to Sevier County, you may want to decide which place you’ll be spending most of your
A record-breaking billions to trillions of cicadas are set to emerge this spring The cicadas are coming. How many cicadas? As someone who has spent way too much of his life worrying about cicadas, I can say officially, it’s a buttload. In Spring of 2024, a pair of specific cicada broods will be hatching at the same time for the