Things To Do

Gatlinburg Skyline near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Don’t Miss These 16 Iconic Gatlinburg TN Hiking Trails

A local’s take on the best hiking Trails near Gatlinburg Planning can be both an art and a science in the popular vacation destination of Gatlinburg, TN. There’s plenty to do, of course. But if you’re going to do everything you want, then you need a plan. You’ll need schematics. Or you can pick representative activities; such as a hike one day,

Ghost Town in the Sky Maggie Valley

Is There New life for Maggie Valley’s Ghost Town? 

The latest from Ghost Town in Maggie Valley The long and winding road that is the history of Ghost Town Village – aka Ghost Town in the Sky – has taken another turn. Ghost Town’s owner Jill McClure told ABC News13 that the potential buyer operates an entertainment venue in Florida.  “Not a big attraction, but one I think that

Summertime in the Smoky Mountains

What Is There To Do in the Smoky Mountains in the Summer?

The Best Things To Do in the Smoky Mountains in the Summertime Ah, summertime in the Smoky Mountains – the kids are out of school, the temperature is hot and humid, and the mosquitos are out to play. Families are packing up their minivans and attempting the impossible, aka, trying to please everyone for the annual summer getaway. But the

The Best Rides at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

Best Rides at Dollywood: Top 11 Rides in the Park Ranked

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Rides at Dollywood I grew up with Pigeon Forge, Tenn. in my backyard. As a result, I visited Dollywood nearly every summer and every holiday weekend since childhood. I’ve had the distinct privilege of not only watching our beloved park evolve over the years but also the opportunity to ride every ride in the

14 Best Things To Do in Pigeon Forge With Kids

A list of the best things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids, according to a local You’ve brought the family to Pigeon Forge. Now what? Great news, person who doesn’t do a heck of a lot of planning for family vacations! There are quite literally hundreds of fun things to do in the area. And certainly, not all of

Bigger. Stronger. Faster. Better. The World Record Holders in the Smokies and Beyond

Record-holding attractions in the Smokies and beyond When it comes to attracting attention in the Smokies, you’ve got to try … hard. Any angle or idea. In other words, any possible thing you can trumpet that will attract the public’s attention – and folding money – is what is necessary to succeed. It’s not enough to provide a mountain coaster. It

It’s Only North Carolina’s Best Rocks but We Like Them 

For those about to visit North Carolina’s most famous rocks, we salute you I am technically a native Tar Heel. My people are mostly Hoosiers and I’ve been a Volunteer now for the better part of 35 years but I was born in North Carolina, the son of a Marine at Camp Lejeune. Truthfully, I don’t remember much of life

Ruby Falls near Lookout mountain in Chattanooga Tennessee

See Ruby Falls! Why the Biggest Wonder of Lookout Mountain Is Not the View From the Top

How a Hoosier With a Dream – and a Surprising Amount of Financing – Found the Largest Underground Waterfall in the Country and Opened It to the Public As a former Hoosier myself, I often joke about the effect that the siren song of the mountains of East Tennessee has on the people of Indiana. Time and again, when researching

a sign that reads "no honking in tunnel" next to the spur tunnel

Long-standing Tunnel Honking Tradition in the Smokies Banned by the Park

The ‘no honking’ signs went up last year, is the change permanent? I’m comfortable when on the Gatlinburg Spur. After all, I’ve been driving between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for more than 30 years now. And so, as I focus quite literally on the road, I might not notice changes going on the periphery. Growing developments certainly seem to be

What Is a Holler and Why Do the Mountain People Say It That Way? 

Breaking Down the Dialect That Led to the Mountain Term, Holler When I was young and still new to Tennessee, I got a job working at a local grocery store. In those days, grocery stores employed three kinds of people. That would be middle-aged adults for whom the grocery business was their career and youngsters for whom the store was