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.
“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 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 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 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
The South Pacific theme returns for Pirates Voyage’s 8th season in Pigeon Forge Swashbuckling adventure returns to the Pirates Voyage and Dinner & Show for its 8th season in Pigeon Forge. The popular South Pacific show elements that debuted last year will remain in 2026. Pirates is – in my opinion – the best of the massive Pigeon Forge Dinner
Ready to ride into a new season and catch the latest acts? I was pondering the other day about Skeeter – the comedic heart of Dolly Parton’s Stampede dinner show in Pigeon Forge. As the Stampede enters its 39th season, I wonder how many people have had the honor of donning the Tennessee hat and overhauls and earning the right
The best places to check out model railroad displays in the Smokies and beyond You ever wonder about the paths your life could have taken? Had you made a decision or two differently, your life could have ended up in a very different place? There are big ones like what if I hadn’t moved to East Tennessee in high school.
The Rampant Lion: An honest review It’s easy to forget that there’s more to Gatlinburg than the strip. That there’s more to the mountain village than celebrity restaurants and various activities associated with the Ripley’s Believe It or Not enterprise. It’s actually not hard to get off the beaten path in Gatlinburg. When you do, you can frequently discover that
The wonderfully named Savage Gulf State Park is growing If you limit your Tennessee visits to the area around the Smokies, you’re going to miss out on some epic natural beauty. I learned this years ago. I was the sports editor for the Advocate & Democrat in Monroe County. The newspaper served Sweetwater, Madisonville, and Tellico Plains. We didn’t get