What Causes the “Smoke” in the Smoky Mountains? When is the Best Time to Visit for a Clear View? I was driving west through the mountains to cover a football game. I crested a hill and found myself awestruck by the beauty below. The sun was behind the mountaintops which stood out dark against the strokes of yellows, reds, oranges
There are at least two pop songs that warn of the perils of waterfalls. The first, a Wings-era Paul McCartney dirge, may have at least somewhat inspired the second, an R&B groove by 90s girl group icons TLC. McCartney says don’t go jumping waterfalls and in the second verse helpfully admonishes against chasing polar bears. Good advice, that. TLC says chasing
A Smoky Mountain native offers his opinion on Calhoun’s in Gatlinburg I remember the first time I set foot in a Calhoun’s restaurant, the iconic East Tennessee dining tradition. It was 1994 and the NCAA tournament Men’s Regionals was in Knoxville at Thompson-Boling Arena. In fact, basically right across the street from Calhoun’s on the River. My stepdad suggested we
The Best Scenic Mountain Views in the Smoky Mountain’s, a locals guide You could spend a lifetime searching the Appalachian mountain range for the most gorgeous views. In fact, you could catalog them by state, separating the spectacular views from the merely beautiful views. For instance, are the best views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina
The Life and Times of Bud Ogle in Gatlinburg Tennessee William Ogle himself identified the Gatlinburg area as ripe for European settlement. He was a Delaware native who made his way down to the Carolinas where he met and married Martha Huskey. With the help of the Cherokee locals, he cut and hewed the logs to build a cabin. William returned
A Local Shares Details About Middle Prong Trail a Hidden Gem in the Smoky Mountains Every so often, I completely lose my faith in Hollywood. Oh sure, I like a good superhero movie as much as anyone. But why in the world are we making the 15th Batman movie while nobody has gotten around to turning the life of William
Book ’Em While You Got ’Em. Why the Federal Government Is Making Camping in the Smokies a Lot More Crowded The Great Smoky Mountains and other national parks across the country are caught in political crossfire, resulting in less access to their majesty. There are few things more peaceful than a Smoky Mountain camping getaway. It’s a disconnect from the
A Smoky Mountain Local Tell All on Where To View Wildlife and What Types Are the Most Common Some of the sights of the Smokies are quite easy to see. The trees don’t move. The mountains, though occasionally obscured by clouds or wispy mists, are always exactly where you expect them to be. The wildlife? Well, that’s another kettle of fish altogether.
Local Lists Items That Are Banned Across the National Park Growing up with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in my backyard, I never gave much thought to the rules. I just, you know, went to the park without putting much thought into it. I mean I knew what would be considered the park commandments from a young age. You
A local’s take on why Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains have such lasting appeal Humans – quite frequently – are creatures of habit. Sure, we’ll try new things. But we often find comfort in the tried and the true. For instance, do you have a favorite Mexican restaurant? Do you have a favorite order there? Maybe it’s not something you