A Tennessee resident weighs in on the debate surrounding the state’s new license plate design Back when I was a boy growing up in Indiana (before moving to Tennessee), I remember when government officials changed the official license plate slogan from “Hoosier State” to “Wander”. It was actually the focus of a tourism campaign: Wander Indiana. People did not take
Tennessee native offers tips on black bear safety from Bear Wise There is a lot of wildlife to see in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. I grew up in East Tennessee, and I’ve come across black bears on several occasions. To be honest, I’m never sure that it gets old. However, it also makes me sad to
There’s an immersive Christmas village in Tennessee that keeps it festive 365 days a year Christmas in my house starts on Thanksgiving Day. While my wife is inside preparing a traditional Thanksgiving meal, I’m outside decking the house for Christmas. We run strands of colorful lights along the eaves of our small front porch. We decorate the bushes. I’m a Christmas guy. We’re Christmas
An analysis of Tennesee’s famous fight song, Rocky Top When you grow up with the Smoky Mountains in your backyard, the mountains can become window dressing. An omnipresent decoration that fades to the background until something happens that draws it back to the fore. Such is the case, when you live in East Tennessee, with “Rocky Top” the unofficial theme
A local offers his opinion on the famous glass-bottomed bridge in Gatlinburg In recent years, the Gatlinburg SkyPark’s glass-bottomed SkyBridge has become one of the most iconic attractions in the Smoky Mountains. As a local who has had a first-row seat to witness how the Gatlinburg skyline has transformed in recent years, I can understand why. It is not only
A mom shares her favorite things to do in Gatlinburg with her family In my experience, I find that those visiting Gatlinburg for the first time are often surprised by the number of attractions competing for their tourist dollar. What seems like a sleepy mountain town can sometimes feel like an array of neon lights and eye-catching, quirky displays. But
The Park Grill offers some of the best service and food in Gatlinburg with (slightly) less wait I see The Park Grill – the unofficial restaurant of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – as a port. It’s the perfect launching spot for an adventure in the park or the perfect destination to return to civilization after a day of
Kennedy Concepts restaurants thrive on the experience. In fact, I know this because that’s what their PR team wrote in the “about” section of their website. Thrive is an excellent word. It sounds so good. Places like the Loco Burro Fresh Mex Cantina and its sister restaurants are dedicated to going beyond filling bellies to “create memorable experiences” for each and every
Cocke County TN has been identified as the worst county in the state of Tennessee. Who says? The good folks at 24/7 Wall St. They identified three categories – life expectancy at birth, percentage of the population with bachelor’s degrees and poverty rate – to determine the worst counties in which to live for all 50 states. For those who
Have you considered buying a Dollywood season pass? If so, you may have run across a few questions. How many times do I have to visit to get my money’s worth? Should I get a Gold Pass? What the heck is a Dining Pass? If you’re anything like me, you work hard for your money and want to be sure