Veterans Day in the Smokies 2026: Free Park Day, Ceremonies and Military Discounts
Free parking in the national park, the Gatlinburg ceremony, Sevier County tributes and the military discounts we could confirm for Veterans Day 2026 in the Smokies.
Sevierville Rising
A longtime local explains why Sevierville, once just the town you drove through, is now a destination of its own for dining, shopping and easy Dollywood access.
5 Top Things To Do in Wears Valley in 2026, According to a Local
A Smoky Mountain local shares his favorite things to do in Wears Valley, Tennessee Growing up, I mostly treated Wears Valley as a negative space. It was a scenic drive at best, connecting the quiet side of the Smokies near my home with Pigeon Forge and Dollywood. It was a place you drove through to get to other more interesting things. But
Fall Foliage in the Smokies 2026: When Will the Colors Peak?
2026 Fall Color Update (updated Oct. 10, 2026) What scientists are predicting for this year’s fall colors Science! Forgetting reading tea leaves. Leave the horoscopes at home. Got a Ouija Board? Toss it out the window! Or maybe store it carefully, respectfully in the closet so as not to anger any spirits who’ve attached themselves to cheap, mass-produced board games.
Clash of the Titans in Tennessee: Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop Is Open
Dolly Parton’s answer to Buc-ee’s is open on I-65 It’s Ali vs Frazier. Yankees vs. Red Sox. It’s Godzilla vs Mothra. And now, it’s Tennessee vs. Texas. Yes, there’s a brouhaha brewing on the interstates of Tennessee. Queen Dolly Parton stepped in to take on the current King of convenience stores, Buc-ee’s, for the hearts, minds and maybe the very
On the Open Roads in the Smokies
Summer is upon us and the seasonal roads through the backwoods and the high country are (mostly) open for exploration Spring is all but gone and summer is upon us? What’s that mean? It means it’s time to get into the Smokies and explore. Luckily, it also means all the seasonal roads in the Smokies are open and ready to be travelled.
The Best Burgers in the Smoky Mountains (Ranked by a Local)
“I’d gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today…” – and these are the ones worth it. When you think about the Smoky Mountains, I suspect the first foodstuff that comes to mind is pancakes, probably followed closely by barbecue. That is, unless we allow liquid refreshments on the list, in which case moonshine is probably right near the top.
The Road to Nowhere in the Smoky Mountains That Locals Hate
The Road to Nowhere in the Smoky Mountains has become an unlikely tourist attraction They say you shouldn’t mess with Texas. But there are other places in the world with well-earned reputations of grittiness that surpass ordinary folks like you and me. But while some talk a good game, other folks are all about that life without catchy slogans or
A Battle of East Tennessee Restaurants: Aubrey’s vs Calhoun’s
A battle of two East Tennessee institutions When it comes to East Tennessee culinary dominance – local chain division – you’ve got a few contenders in the race. Among them is Calhoun’s, a barbecue institution that started in West Knoxville in 1983. The restaurant won the National Rib Cook-off in Ohio shortly thereafter. Another option is Aubrey’s, a less specialized
My GPS Sent Me Here… Big Mistake
My GPS suggests I take a shortcut through the mountains. Should I take it? We ran a story in my newspaper – or I should say the newspaper where I work my day job – probably 12-15 years ago about a woman whose GPS rerouted her in the mountains up near Cocke County, in Hartford, I think. She followed the