Things To Do

purple lights in the astra lumina night walk experience at anakeesta in gatlinburg, tennessee

These 3 Attractions in Gatlinburg Were Enough To Make Me Move Here

I moved to my favorite tourist town, and here are three attractions that helped in that decision My family and I made dozens of trips to Gatlinburg before moving here. We often would alternate restaurants or try to squeeze in a new one with every visit. Attractions, for us, were secondary. After our first few visits, Gatlinburg became less of

dolly parthen at the frizzle chicken farmhouse cafe

See the Tennessee Restaurant Where Guests Dine With Singing Robot Chickens

Come for the food, stay for the … singing animatronic chickens? I’ve been around these mountains for a long time. I’ve seen the hooks, the gimmicks, businesses use to entice tourists to spend their dollars with them. Usually, I get it. Our go-karts are faster. We’ve got Pirates. Hey, remember the infamous Kentucky family feud that caught national attention 160

titanic museum in pigeon forge

These are the Best Museums in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg

TN native lists top attractions in the Smoky Mountains, with coupons No trip to the Great Smoky Mountains is complete without checking out at least a couple of museums and walk-through attractions in the area. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to spend your vacation dollars. Remember that any pricing mentioned in this

the campground at cades cove

Is It Safe to Camp in the Smoky Mountains? A Local Weighs In

The Smoky Mountains are generally considered to be safe, but that doesn’t mean they are without danger I’ve been around these mountains too long to fear them. After 30 years, a body tends to be comfortable with its surroundings. And so, when people ask if the mountains are safe, I say of course they are. But that doesn’t mean there

downtown gatlinburg and a thumbnail of no way joses

These are 3 Things I Won’t Ever Do Again in Gatlinburg

A Smoky Mountain resident talks about experiences he won’t try again in Gatlinburg As someone who has been hanging out in Gatlinburg for more than 30 years, I’ve been burned a few times. It could have been a restaurant, an attraction or an experience. Sure, we all have our favorite things, but we also want to try something new. Sometimes

Disney is quietly making plans to build a new theme park in North Carolina

Disney Buys Ghost Town in the Sky, Unveils Plans for Massive New Theme Park

Disney set to expand their empire to the mountains of North Carolina at former Ghost Town location The theme park competition in the Smoky Mountains is about to get very real and quite magical. On the heels of Universal officially announcing its Epic Universe park in Orlando and a kids-themed park in Texas, Disney officials are moving to announce their bold

gregory's cave

There’s an Abandoned Tourist Cave Hidden Beneath the Smoky Mountains

Take a look at this little-known hidden cave located in the Cades Cove area of the Smoky Mountains As someone who grew up in the region, I’ve been in caves that cut under the mountains on several occasions. Places like the Forbidden or Tuckaleechee caverns offer a safe place for visitors to see the wonders of the Smokies’ cave system.

the ramp to clingmans dome

I’ve Hiked Dozens of Trails in the Smoky Mountains, These 3 Are the Best

These are the 3 best hikes in the Smoky Mountains according to a local When I was a teenager in the Smokies, I didn’t need a trail to go hiking. My uncles would find a pull-off in the park, point to the nearest peak and we’d race up to the top, picking our way through the brush and trees. They

grotto falls in the smoky mountains

The Magical Walk Behind Waterfall You Have to See in the Smoky Mountains

There’s a waterfall in the Smoky Mountains you can walk behind and it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale Having lived in and around the Smoky Mountains for three decades, I understand there is beauty in the park just about anywhere you look. But I also understand some places transcend beauty. For instance, there are places infused

gatlinburg downtown

If I Only Had One Day in Gatlinburg, this is How I’d Spend It

How to get the most out of one day in Gatlinburg, according to a local As someone who has lived near Gatlinburg for nearly 35 years, I have an advantage. I can go whenever I want. Carve out a little drive time, and I can pop in and pop back out at will. But I also know that many don’t