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
Western North Carolina offers all of the best of the Smokies, plus trains I am a Tennessee Volunteer fan. Therefore, I am thankful to Bryson City for the gift that is and was Heath Shuler. Before Shuler was a U.S. Congressman, before he was an unfortunate bust for Washington football, before he was a Heisman runner up quarterback for 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
Once a forgotten part of Sevier County, Sevierville is now a key piece of the larger Smoky Mountain pie Back in the old days of the early 1990s, Sevierville was not really the destination that sprang to mind if you thought of fun in the Smokies. To put it in the Achy-Breaky vernacular of the day, if the Great Smoky
From exploring the park to dining out to shopping, here are the things you can’t miss in the Smokies The Smokies and surrounding regions are massive. You could spend decades exploring the region and still not see everything. I should know. I’ve been here more than 30 years and keep finding new surprises and places I haven’t yet explored. But
Spout Spring Estates is a surprising, picturesque spot hidden in the mountains of Blaine, TN Even after more than 30 years in and around the mountains, there are things that surprise me. Well-known things that have eluded me, secret spots or stories only known by a few, or places that I just haven’t made it to, yet. The mountains are