A Smoky Mountain resident talks about experiences he won’t try again in Gatlinburg As someone who has been hanging out in Gatlinburg for more than 30 years, I’ve been burned a few times. It could have been a restaurant, an attraction or an experience. Sure, we all have our favorite things, but we also want to try something new. Sometimes
The little European village in the Smoky Mountains you need to see As someone who has visited Gatlinburg since the middle ’80s, I’ve never known a time without The Village. But what is The Village? It’s a collection of shops featuring European-style architecture. Along with the Pancake Pantry, The Village Shops has set the mood for anyone coming to Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg captures the hearts and minds of millions of visitors every year. Many folks dream of moving to the Smoky Mountains, thinking it will be the breath of fresh air they need. While that is certainly true in my case, it doesn’t come without its costs. Of course, vacationing here gives you an idea of what to expect in terms
Local reviews Gatlinburg’s first pancake eatery In 1960, a pair of tourists from Indiana decided to bet their futures on a specialty pancake restaurant in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. I think of June and Jim Gerding as visionaries determined to start a hotcake revolution. When the Pancake Pantry opened, it was Tennessee’s first and only pancake house. And
A local talks about how to safely hike in and around Gatlinburg and recommends three of his favorite trails I’ve never had a safety issue and I’ve been around the Smoky Mountains for more than 30 years. So, I don’t think of the Smokies as dangerous. But as someone who has also lived on this planet for nearly five decades,
A local compares two popular mountain towns, Gatlinburg, TN and Asheville, NC While we don’t want to speak in generalities, there are some pretty obvious differences between the cultures of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. As someone who has lived in East Tennessee and driven across the mountains to visit North Carolina, I find those differences stark. In this
How to get the most out of one day in Gatlinburg, according to a local As someone who has lived near Gatlinburg for nearly 35 years, I have an advantage. I can go whenever I want. Carve out a little drive time, and I can pop in and pop back out at will. But I also know that many don’t
A list of the most iconic things to do in Gatlinburg, according to a local There’s a joy that comes with being someplace like Gatlinburg with time to burn and a little money in your pocket. We recently spent a day in Gatlinburg with my kids starting with Ripley’s Aquarium, followed by some shopping at The Village and dinner at
A local talks about his favorite hotels in Gatlinburg Not surprisingly, there are a lot of great options for staying in Gatlinburg. My favorites are along the River Road where the hotels face the river and back into the side of the mountain. They’re close to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and an easy walk over to downtown Gatlinburg. We like
A visit to the Smokies doesn’t have to be expensive – here’s a roundup of the best free things to do in the Smoky Mountains Vacationing on a budget can be tough. And even if you’re planning on hitting most of the major attractions, it’s nice to build in a day that is free from financial obligations and strict schedules.