While there are plenty of hidden caves and caverns in the Smoky Mountains, none have thus far produced an underground city As someone who has lived on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I’ve heard a lot of whoppers. They range from extinct animals living in the park to feral people to Bigfeet. And while I’m loathe
Take a look at this little-known hidden cave located in the Cades Cove area of the Smoky Mountains As someone who grew up in the region, I’ve been in caves that cut under the mountains on several occasions. Places like the Forbidden or Tuckaleechee caverns offer a safe place for visitors to see the wonders of the Smokies’ cave system.
It is believed that Cades Cove is named after a real-life historical figure I can remember taking an elementary school field trip to Cades Cove back in the late 1900s. I can’t say for sure that it was my first visit because my grandparents frequently took us on weekend getaways to the Smokies, and we spent a lot of time
These are the 3 best hikes in the Smoky Mountains according to a local When I was a teenager in the Smokies, I didn’t need a trail to go hiking. My uncles would find a pull-off in the park, point to the nearest peak and we’d race up to the top, picking our way through the brush and trees. They
There’s a waterfall in the Smoky Mountains you can walk behind and it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale Having lived in and around the Smoky Mountains for three decades, I understand there is beauty in the park just about anywhere you look. But I also understand some places transcend beauty. For instance, there are places infused
The Smoky Mountains can be a dangerous place, even when you know what you’re doing I don’t think of the mountains as dangerous, and I’ve been around them for 30 years. Generally, I think as long as you exercise even a modicum of judgment, you’ll be fine. However, that doesn’t mean the Smokies are without danger. In this article, we
The different kinds of lightning bugs and fireflies Lightning bugs were a fairly reliable source of entertainment when I was growing up. And I thought lightning bugs – or fireflies as we also called them – were ubiquitous. It wasn’t until I was an adult and met a friend from the arid, dry parts of Oregon that I discovered that
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a drivable trail in the Smoky Mountains With one of the flashier names in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail can be one of the more relaxing experiences in the Smokies. The trail is named for one of the larger, faster and louder streams in the Smokies.
10 Best Things To Do in the Smoky Mountains, According to a Local The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is one of the true wonders of the United States. People flock from all over the country – all over the world – to take in the verdant, majestic splendor. But we live in fast times. A day or two of majestic splendor
Wildlife spotting is part of the fun when visiting the Smoky Mountains, but you’ll need to keep your distance from these dangerous animals As someone who has run around the mountains of East Tennessee for over three decades, I know dangers lurk in the mountains. No, I’m not talking about Bigfeet or feral people or witches or haints. Mother Nature