Local lists bans across the National Park and beyond that you should know There’s a feeling that you get when you are deep in the Smoky Mountains, far from civilization and cell phone service. It’s a freedom, a connection to life before we were quite so linked to an interconnected society. But that freedom isn’t unlimited. There are rules to
Tennessee is known for its variety of fauna. Some of the sightings on the list are surprisingly common, others are nothing more than escaped pets. I have lived in the Deep South and also spent a lot of time cruising around the Gulf in Florida for much of my life. Therefore, I’ve seen my share of strange or exotic creatures.
What you need to know about Newfound Gap Road in the Smokies When my family visits the Smokies, we prefer taking the scenic route through Western North Carolina. My husband prefers driving on winding mountain roads. When the weather is warm, my kids love to stop in Cherokee and visit Oconaluftee Islands Park to play in the river. From there,
Welcome to the aptly named Huggins Hell – the most feared part of the Smoky Mountains due to its dark history I have always been fascinated with the hidden, oddly named, rarely explored parts of the Smokies – Mellinger’s Death Ridge, anyone? So, the minute I heard about Huggins Hell, I had to know everything I could about this dense
Found deep within the Smoky Mountains is an abandoned town with an unusual sight – a collection of standalone stone chimneys As someone who grew up about 20 minutes away from Elkmont – maybe 30 if there’s traffic – I was aware of remnants of a strange settlement dating back to the days before the National Park. But the history
Tennesseeans have a long history of outrunning the tax man. And this barn may have been designed to do just that. As someone who grew up visiting Cades Cove, I took for granted one of the Cove’s real treasures. I thought the funny barn on Tipton Place was something you’d surely see on farms around the country. First of all,
Local reveals legend of a lost gold mine hidden in the hills of the Smokies There’s a peril that comes with talk of gold. History changes with the stroke of a pickaxe and the glint of precious metals. Historically, people have done drastic things for the pursuit of gold. And so, before we go any further into talk of underground treasures hidden
A tree that was planted nearly 100 years ago still stands within the Smoky Mountains off the beaten path, and tourists are flocking to see it It was Dec. 7, 1941. Golman Myers – born in Cades Cove in 1894 – was in the process of relocating the family farm to Townsend, making way for the National Park. Golman’s son
Witchy superstitions and stories are practically tradition in the South. Here are a few of the most famous witches and tall tales. I grew up at my grandmother’s knee hearing stories about witches and goblins from her Depression-era childhood. With this in mind, I try to come to the topic of the supernatural in the mountains with something of an
How Gatlinburg sees a surprising amount of rain compared to the rest of the country When visiting an outdoorsy destination like Gatlinburg, the weather might be top of mind. Gatlinburg has a temperate climate. For example, last summer, my family and I experienced some Gatlinburg climate magic. While the rest of the southeastern United States was languishing under an intense