Things To Do

Christmas Place

Things Not To Do at the Incredible Christmas Place

Navigating the place in Pigeon Forge where the Christmas spirit is in full swing all year long In the heart of Pigeon Forge is an unlikely complex – split in half by the parkway – in which the spirit of Christmas is alive and well all year long. The Incredible Christmas Place shops as well as the Inn at Christmas

10 Ways To See the Smoky Mountains in the Fall

Fall is the best time to visit the Smoky Mountains. The air is cool and crisp and towns are adorned with fall decorations. The trees are also on display with different arrays of yellow, orange and red. Countless people visit the mountains to see the beautiful fall foliage each year. So if you’re looking for a few additional activities to

dolly parton statue in sevier county, tennessee

Dolly Parton Reacts to Statue in Her Image in the Smoky Mountains

“That’s the only time you’ll ever catch me out of my high heels,” says Parton It can be risky to commission a monument. One day it’s a great idea, but sometimes, years later, all you have is a controversial landmark. But there are also times when creating a statue to honor a native son or daughter is a no-brainer. Such is

The Island from above in Pigeon Forge

What You Can Skip at This Popular Smoky Mountain Tourist Destination

Top 5 things not to do on The Island at Pigeon Forge Having grown up around the chintzy neon glow of Pigeon Forge, I feel like I’ve got a pretty good handle on how this top-tier tourist destination works. You give the people what they want. Does that mean we end up with repetition more than innovation? Yes. Are we

dolly parton, guy fieri and paula deen in the smoky mountains

5 Places Where the Celebrities Go in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg

The Smoky Mountains are a popular destination for celebrities, these are some of the locations where they’ve been sighted I’ve lived in the area for more than 30 years. So I’m not surprised at this point when I hear about a celebrity visiting the Smokies. Over the years massive stars like Channing Tatum, Jason Momoa, Katie Perry and Nicole Kidman

Kuwohi at Sunrise

Things Not To Do at Kuwohi – The Mountain Formerly Known as Clingmans Dome

Things not to do at Kuwohi a locals take William Shakespeare – through his timeless star-crossed heroine Juliet – once asked “What’s in a name?” I find myself pondering that question more these days than ever before in my life. It’s certainly a question that in today’s times – like so many pieces of our lives that had been relatively

Do go chasing waterfalls

Do Go Chasing Waterfalls: The Road Trip Guide to Cascading Water Near the Smokies

A guide to some of the best cascading water in the Smokies and beyond One of the blessings of living in or near the mountains is access to beautiful waterfalls. To be clear, you don’t necessarily need mountains to have a great waterfall. However, rapid changes in elevation do increase the frequency and availability of the natural wonder of falling

The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge

What Not To Do at the Old Mill Restaurant

A local offers tips on how to avoid faux pas at Pigeon Forge’s premier historical eatery There’s a challenge that comes with some of the “what not to do” articles. And it comes with an assumption of what you, the reader, need to hear versus what other readers need to hear.  For instance, you don’t need to be told not

The mile high swinging bridge on Grandfather Mountain

Would You Walk This Mile-High Suspension Bridge?

A local with a fear of heights talks about swaying in the sky at Grandfather Mountain I am afraid of heights. It is not, for the most part, a debilitating fear. I can – usually – overcome it. If I’m inside and feeling secure, I don’t have a problem. Neither the former Sears Tower in Chicago or the St. Louis

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,