I was a teenager when I moved to my adopted home state. And I was full of opinions and inherited attitudes toward mountain people based on stereotypes propagated through the media. And I didn’t want to be from the mountains. In other words, I didn’t want to be … tacky. I’ve spent a lot of time in small mountain communities,
Anakeesta vs. Ober Mountain: Which is better? This is one of the most common questions we receive. But as with most things in life, the answer is subjective, so it is not always simple. Let’s take a look at the differences between Anakeesta and Ober Mountain in Tennessee. Anakeesta vs. Ober: The similarities Let’s start with the basics. Why are
Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains are known for their family-oriented attractions. As such, the majority of entertainment, attractions and dining are designed to include the young or young at heart. But what about the couple on a romantic getaway? What about the group of friends looking for a fun night out on the town? What about mom and dad
The year was 1989. At the time, I was an eighth-grader at Bachelor Middle School in Bloomington, Indiana. It was my first year at the school. We’d moved to Bloomington that year from a much smaller Indiana town, but I made friends fairly easily. We moved a lot when I was a kid. Bloomington is a college town, a little
A local’s review of Ole Red in Gatlinburg The first time I tried to eat at Ole Red in Gatlinburg was unsuccessful. We had just spent a beautiful fall day at Anakeesta. It was the time of year when you start the day in sunny, 70-degree weather and end the day shivering as temperatures drop below 40. After waiting in
I grew up in a part of the country where the “I” in Italian was overly emphasized. For example, our knowledge of “Eye”-talian cuisine was limited to the meager offerings of small pizza places. The ones that churned out pies that needed heavy hits of red peppers just to add some flavor. But I learned better. We moved around and
The Cades Cove Loop, located a few miles beyond the Townsend Park entrance, is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And it’s a great way to experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains – drive-thru style. But when it comes to navigating Cades Cove like a pro, there are a few things
Worrying about weight limits and ride restrictions can be a bit of a buzzkill when it comes to vacation planning. For instance, it’s never a great feeling to spend your hard-earned cash on an attraction only to find out you can’t participate when you get there. Therefore, having a plan is key. And that brings us to Anakeesta – the mountaintop
Gatlinburg was destined for greatness. Sure, it has natural beauty, but that’s not all. There’s Dolly Parton, too. Of course, as a child, I single-handedly attributed the area’s tourism completely to Dolly. There’s surely no doubt that she fulfilled her dreams of both giving job opportunities to locals and offering tourists more reasons to visit the Great Smoky Mountains with
There are certainly many beautiful places in the mountains. So why did Gatlinburg flourish? The natural beauty, of course, was part of it. The idyllic location that first drew settlers from the sweltering South Carolina heat was rugged yet beautiful, and mercifully mild in the summer. Infrastructure also played a part. Old trails through mountain passes became roads, highways, and