Editorial

Gregory's Cave has been off limits now for several decades

3 Forbidden Places Where Visitors are Not Allowed in the Smoky Mountains

They may be fun to learn, but these forbidden places in the Smoky Mountains are off-limits for visitors I’ve been told over my 30 or so years living around the mountains of places I shouldn’t go. There are places that for a variety of reasons aren’t safe or aren’t welcoming. But in the Smokies, few places are forbidden or off limits.

The Ice Cream shops of Pigeon Forge Tennessee

9 Best Places To Get Ice Cream in Pigeon Forge, Ranked

The Best Ice Cream shops in Pigeon Forge, according to a local There was a time – for centuries of human existence – when no one alive had ever tasted ice cream. Seriously. Julius Caesar never knew the joys of a waffle cone. But you? You can get a rocky road cone or a bowl of butter pecan or a bucket of

buc-ee's store

10 Things Not to Do at Buc-ee’s According to a Superfan

Do your best to avoid these social faux pas during your next trip to Buc-ee’s As the Buc-ee’s brand is growing across the South, the Texas-based gas station has transformed road-tripping across the nation. I used to evaluate road trips based solely on the time we made. Now? We’re checking for Buc-ee’s stops along the route. If our 10-hour trip becomes

tourists walking the strip in downtown Gatlinburg during winterfest

These Are the 4 Absolute Worst Times to Visit Gatlinburg, Says Local

If you visit Gatlinburg during one of these times, you may swear you’re never going back As a local who has been knocking around Gatlinburg for more than 30 years, I’ve developed something of an informal guide system on when it’s a good idea to go to the Burg and hang out. Gatlinburg – unlike its sister city Pigeon Forge

people taking pictures in the cove

7 Things You Shouldn’t Do in Cades Cove According to a Local

An area Smoky Mountain resident asks visitors to use common sense Cades Cove is the crown jewel of the Smokies. It is a confluence point of natural beauty, mountain history and conservation. However, there are many days I’d rather go to the dentist than risk a trip around the Cove. It’s not the Cove itself mind you. I consider it a sacred, almost

Johnny Cash's Museum in Nashville, TN

Why Does Tennessee Have So Many State Songs and Why Are So Few of Them Good?

How many state songs does Tennessee have? Nobody seems to know Tennessee has HOW many state songs? Even the state’s official website doesn’t seem to know for sure, listing 11. However, further research reveals three songs that were reportedly added to the list in 2023 and 2024 that don’t make the state’s list. And perhaps two more that may have

What Is a Holler and Why Do the Mountain People Say It That Way? 

Breaking Down the Dialect That Led to the Mountain Term, Holler When I was young and still new to Tennessee, I got a job working at a local grocery store. In those days, grocery stores employed three kinds of people. That would be middle-aged adults for whom the grocery business was their career and youngsters for whom the store was

person holds trash lid over head to avoid rain

10 Things Not to Do While Visiting Pigeon Forge, From a Local

An insider’s guide on what not to do when visiting Pigeon Forge, the surrounding area As someone who frequents Pigeon Forge, I know too well that when planning a vacation, in the words of a musical maestro, it’s about knowing when to hold them and knowing when to fold them. When you plan your next trip to the Smokies, I want

20 Best Things To Do in Gatlinburg TN for Couples

The Best Couples Activities in the Smokies Gatlinburg and the surrounding Smoky Mountains are often considered to be a family vacation destination. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a romantic getaway in the Smokies. Here are some of the best ways to spend time in Gatlinburg and the surrounding areas for couples: 20. Enjoy some shopping You don’t

cars with for sale signs line the parking lots along the parkway in pigeon forge during rod runa

A Popular Rod Run Tradition Has Been Banned in Pigeon Forge

The days of seeing cars lined up with ‘For Sale’ signs along the Parkway are over In my 30 years in the area, Rod Runs meant classic cars lining the parkway adjacent spots in Pigeon Forge. Some were there to ogle the classic cars. Others were there to trade, dicker and deal. However, Pigeon Forge officials, at the request of