A first-hand experience visiting Oconaluftee Islands Park in Cherokee When visiting the Smokies, my family loves to stop and stretch our legs at Oconaluftee Islands Park. It’s a small park in downtown Cherokee, North Carolina. If you’re heading into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the North Carolina side, chances are you’ll drive right past it, but I always
A Smoky Mountain local of 35 years shares his favorite nighttime activities for downtown Gatlinburg I think there’s just something about Gatlinburg at night. There’s a bit of a chill in the mountain air. It’s the excitement of the bright lights along the strip – which seem all the more luminescent against the dark backdrop of the mountains. There’s the slight mystical
A local reveals his all-time favorite picnic spots in the Smoky Mountains Though the pirate ships and dinner theatres are alluring, the outlet shopping appealing, the go-cart racing entertaining, the draw of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the park itself. And one of the best ways to enjoy the Smoky Mountains region is with
The hidden tunnel at Kuwohi is becoming a tourist attraction in its own right Nearly everyone who has visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is familiar with Kuwohi, formerly Clingmans Dome, and its famous observation tower, located along the state line of Tennessee and North Carolina. Completed in 1959, the tower is the highest point in the Smoky Mountains.
This hidden moss covered bridge in the Smoky Mountains looks like something out of a fairy tale The Great Smoky Mountains are rich in history and full of hidden gems. Through the sands of time, these lost landmarks become something of whimsical fantasies. An old spring house becomes a fairy house. A trail connection becomes a hidden, abandoned tunnel. And
An insider’s guide on what not to do when visiting Gatlinburg, the surrounding area As someone who lives near the Smokies and frequents the main strip every chance I get, I can tell you from first-hand experience that there are several ways to approach a visit to Gatlinburg. Or really any vacation for that matter. But no matter how you
Mysteries and rumors surrounding Biltmore as passed down through generations When I visit Biltmore, I always think about how we are trained to think of great houses as places of secrets and mystery. And when we think of the enormous North Carolina estate, a playground for people with enough money to buy their way out of trouble, the mind tends to wander.
Attractions in the Smoky Mountains that actually make special accommodations for guests in wheelchairs, as recommended by a local I see a change in the Smoky Mountains. The ADA, of course, has been a big driver in terms of improving accessibility for area attractions. But as larger corporations have moved in, it has become a standard course to plan with
There’s an old springhouse in the Smokies that looks like something straight out of a fairy tale If you’re like me, and you’ve lived in the Smoky Mountains for a considerable amount of time, there’s a chance you’ve heard about The House of Fairies – an unusual moss-covered structure located off the beaten path in the Smoky Mountains. But now
Things you never knew about Biltmore: $100 loans, pink hair and family drama Every time I visit Biltmore and the estate, I am amazed by its beauty, the architecture and its rich history. I’ve been fortunate enough to take the tour many times now – both self-guided and with audio. Below, are some of the fascinating facts I learned along