Ways to beat the heat on your Smoky Mountain vacation East Tennessee was in the midst of one of the coolest springs and summers in recent memory until late June when someone kicked the thermostat up a couple of notches. We went from mild to wild in seemingly record time. It’s important to remember that when the temperature rises in
Tips from a local on the best way to enjoy the peaceful side of the Smokies A graduate of Heritage High School, I grew up a 20-minute drive from Townsend. Even then, known as the peaceful side of the Smokies. Except for me, it wasn’t terribly quiet. When I got my driver’s license and the freedom that came with it,
From the mountains to the attractions, how to have a great vacation with the littles Mountain coasters, ziplines, moonshine distilleries – so many of the new, hot attractions in the Smokies aren’t what you’d call toddler friendly. And while the Smokies are extremely family friendly, a lot of the things you can do are better built for kids five and
Things you can do to make your Smoky Mountain vacation unforgettable When I was a young man – somewhere around the Cretaceous period – I went on a school trip to Europe. It was 10 days in Holland, Belgium, Paris, and London. As it was in the ancient days, I didn’t have a cell phone camera with which to document
Safaris, zoos and more within an easy drive of the Smokies After decades of tourists driving hundreds of miles just to see them, it seems the animals of the Smoky Mountains have gotten a little divaish. Sure, it still seems easier to see bears in the wild than ever before. But there’s no guarantee. So, what do you do when
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
Sure, the GSMNP picnic areas are great, but what if you want a change of scenery? We’ve got just the places for you to explore There’s a place on Wears Valley Road that runs between Pigeon Forge and Townsend through (you guessed it) Wears Valley. And it may be the worst designated picnic spot in the world.It’s not far past
Western North Carolina is a tourist destination that has more than a casino going for it I must admit the first time I visited Cherokee, North Carolina – circa 1991 or so – it didn’t make much of an impression. Of course, I was a sullen teenager who found the drive across the mountain full of more tedium than wonder. The
These are the things you have to do to make your visit to Dollywood a success In its 40 years of growth, Dollywood has transformed from a kitschy theme park that you could knock out in less than a day – or even an afternoon – to a massive, sprawling park that is bordering on the precipice of becoming a
The 10 best bites of bits between two pieces of bread in the mountains Is there any food that is as ubiquitous but underappreciated as the sandwich? It’s a utilitarian meal you can carry around and eat on the go. It can be upscale or downscale and everything in between. Maybe it’s an artful demonstration of culinary thought, creativity and