Celebrating the Unique Dining Spots in the Smokies Mimicry in the Smokies is king. Success breeds imitation. That’s why everywhere you look, it’s pancake houses and go-kart tracks and mountain coasters as far as the eye can see. But the Smokies isn’t all about imitation. Some folks eye the landscape and decide to carve their own path. When everyone else
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
While many Smoky Mountain Restaurants are marketed as being a ‘mom and pop,’ these are as authentic as you’ll get As a writer, I sometimes become attached to the literal meaning of words or ideas. You spend your life mulling the minutia of second and third definitions – or fourth or fifth – and you can get a little lost
A local’s guide to the Best Drives in the Smoky Mountains One of the great things about the Smoky Mountains is that just about any drive you take can be a scenic drive. For instance, there are spots on I-40 as you climb up into the higher elevations where the river cuts a path down through the truly breathtaking valleys, especially
A locals favorite Scenic Overlooks in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains If we start a discussion of the best scenic overlooks near Gatlinburg TN, we should begin with a caveat. You don’t have to leave Gatlinburg at all for great mountain views. To illustrate, there are several great views located just a short walk from downtown Gatlinburg. Anakeesta offers majestic
The worst times to visit the Smokies, according to a local The perfect time to hit the Smokies depends on what you want out of the experience. For example, in the spring, the mountains are fresh, green and blooming. They retain a bit of the nip in the air. Summer is also great when nothing is more refreshing than a
A Smoky Mountain Expert Weighs In on Which Mountain Park Is Most Deserving of Your Money The best views in the Smokies remain free. You can drive up to Kuwohi – formerly Clingmans Dome – and soak in the natural wonder that made our ancestors see the mountains as something worth preserving. A drive along Newfound Gap Road offers several
Where Is the Best Place To Stay in the Smoky Mountains? Recently, some out-of-town guests visited me near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They stayed in a nice cabin overlooking the Gatlinburg SkyBridge. I wondered where I would stay for my vacation if I was not local. For example, would I want to stay in a popular destination to
These are the 6 most irresistible desserts in Gatlinburg, according to a local I’ve always believed that half of the experience of a Smokies vacation is experiencing the local cuisine. From chicken and dumplings to barbeque, you have to admit, East Tennesseans know how to get the most out of some good old-fashioned southern homestyle cooking. But a tragically unsung
A Smoky Mountain native offers his opinion on Calhoun’s in Gatlinburg I remember the first time I set foot in a Calhoun’s restaurant, the iconic East Tennessee dining tradition. It was 1994 and the NCAA tournament Men’s Regionals was in Knoxville at Thompson-Boling Arena. In fact, basically right across the street from Calhoun’s on the River. My stepdad suggested we