Is it still worth it to plan a holiday shopping trip to the Smokies? I’ve always been a fan of Black Friday shopping. There’s a little twinge – for some people more than a little – of competition in getting to the store, getting in line and getting the best deal. For years, my plan would be to scour the
The World’s greatest convenience store chain is expanding in states across the South and beyond. Are the mountains of North Carolina on the radar? When I think of things that have taken the South by storm, the list probably starts with General Sherman. Certainly, a close second is Kudzu – the impossible to eradicate vine that devours landscapes like something
Picking which shopping mall is best for your Smoky Mountain shopping spree I remember when Red Roof was king. When It came to outlet shopping in the mountains, it started and ended with the Red Roof Outlet Mall. A wide variety of outlet shops, food and more spread over multiple levels in the heart of Pigeon Forge, it was glorious.
Which of the dozens of purveyors of this vacation staple is the best in the mountains? We joke a lot about the foundations of the tourism business in the Smokies. At the bottom of everything, after all, is a layer of pancake houses, of go-kart tracks and mini golf upon which a second tier of mountain coasters and moonshine distilleries
Hulk Hogan is gone but the show goes on A row of flowers – mostly red and yellow – lined the walkway in an out of the way strip mall in Pigeon Forge Sunday. Above the flowers were windows filled larger than life photos of a larger-than-life man. Or maybe it was the larger-than-life man’s alter ego on display. Hulk
Things not to do at Goats on the Roof Pigeon Forge In Pigeon Forge where the competition for tourism dollars is fast and furious, you have to do something to stand out from the crowd. Does that mean develop a luchador mask-wearing Gorilla mascot to help sell Mexican-adjacent food at your new taco stand? Unfortunately, yes. Does it mean making
From exploring the park to dining out to shopping, here are the things you can’t miss in the Smokies The Smokies and surrounding regions are massive. You could spend decades exploring the region and still not see everything. I should know. I’ve been here more than 30 years and keep finding new surprises and places I haven’t yet explored. But
Navigating the place in Pigeon Forge where the Christmas spirit is in full swing all year long In the heart of Pigeon Forge is an unlikely complex – split in half by the parkway – in which the spirit of Christmas is alive and well all year long. The Incredible Christmas Place shops as well as the Inn at Christmas
Top 5 things not to do on The Island at Pigeon Forge Having grown up around the chintzy neon glow of Pigeon Forge, I feel like I’ve got a pretty good handle on how this top-tier tourist destination works. You give the people what they want. Does that mean we end up with repetition more than innovation? Yes. Are we
Our Guide to Memorial Day in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge 2025 Memorial Day weekend often serves as the unofficial kickoff to summer and offers many folks a three-day weekend. If you’re planning on enjoying your Memorial Day weekend 2025 in the Great Smoky Mountains area, there will be plenty of outdoor fun, shopping and dining opportunities in store for you.