Gatlinburg

Fun Mountain in Gatlinburg

There’s an Abandoned Theme Park Rusting Away in the Smoky Mountains

Local theorizes what happened to Fun Mountain in Gatlinburg TN In 1993, Dollywood was still in its first decade of growing out of its Silver Dollar City phase. Other Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge attractions were morphing with the dawn of the internet age. And Fun Mountain, located at the entrance to the strip in Gatlinburg, tried to lay its claim

a cheeseburger

These 7 Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants Are the Best in Gatlinburg

A Smoky Mountain local reveals his top picks for the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Gatlinburg In a world filled with chain restaurants and expensive dining options, sometimes you find the best restaurants where you least expect them. We call them hole-in-the-wall restaurants for lack of a better term. However, we use it with affection. Often, the best places to find

Aerial View of Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Morning

The Biggest Mistakes I Have Made Visiting Gatlinburg

A local shares his biggest missteps in hope you can learn from his mistakes One of the benefits of being a local to the mountains is it gives you a certain freedom to make a mistake. When I’m vacationing someplace like the beach or Disney, mistakes get magnified because my days are limited. If you get a week a year

the peddler restaurant with a steak

The Peddler: An Honest Review of Gatlinburg’s Famous Steakhouse

A Smoky Mountain native offers her opinion on local restaurant darling: The Peddler The Peddler in Gatlinburg is a local favorite. And there’s no doubt it has delicious food and a unique ambiance. Plus, its location in downtown Gatlinburg couldn’t be more convenient. Ok, I guess it could be more convenient if the parking lot was larger, but I digress

Channing Tatum at a gas station on I-40 in Newport

13 Celebrity Sightings in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains

These are a few famous faces that have been known to make an appearance in and around the Smoky Mountains When you live near a popular tourist destination like the Smoky Mountains, you must keep your head on a swivel. You never know when the person behind you in line at the Salt and Pepper Museum might be a famous

Gatlinburg Skyline near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Don’t Miss These 16 Iconic Gatlinburg TN Hiking Trails

A local’s take on the best hiking Trails near Gatlinburg Planning can be both an art and a science in the popular vacation destination of Gatlinburg, TN. There’s plenty to do, of course. But if you’re going to do everything you want, then you need a plan. You’ll need schematics. Or you can pick representative activities; such as a hike one day,

Summertime in the Smoky Mountains

What Is There To Do in the Smoky Mountains in the Summer?

The Best Things To Do in the Smoky Mountains in the Summertime Ah, summertime in the Smoky Mountains – the kids are out of school, the temperature is hot and humid, and the mosquitos are out to play. Families are packing up their minivans and attempting the impossible, aka, trying to please everyone for the annual summer getaway. But the

How Long Do Black Bears Live? The Answer Might Surprise You

Surprising facts about the Smoky Mountain black bear A couple of years ago – in the early spring when the black bear yearlings are moving to establish their own territories – we had a bear in our neighborhood.  More accurately, a bear was spotted in our neighborhood. There are enough tracts of trees and forest around that there are probably

Bigger. Stronger. Faster. Better. The World Record Holders in the Smokies and Beyond

Record-holding attractions in the Smokies and beyond When it comes to attracting attention in the Smokies, you’ve got to try … hard. Any angle or idea. In other words, any possible thing you can trumpet that will attract the public’s attention – and folding money – is what is necessary to succeed. It’s not enough to provide a mountain coaster. It

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