A showdown for Smoky Mountain seafood supremacy When my grandparents retired to Florida’s Nature Coast back in the early ’90s, I developed a standard for fresh seafood that is hard to replicate. Their next-door neighbor was a professional crabber. He’d return from a day on the Gulf and hand a sack full of claws over to my grandparents for that
How close did the Southern Appalachian Mountains come to hosting the park that would become Disney World? A couple of years ago, we had a little fun on April Fool’s Day. I wrote a story about Disney buying the former Ghost Town in Maggie Valley with the intent of reopening it. It featured all the defunct rides that “super” fans
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
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
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
If you have heard of the Great Smoky Mountains, you’ve probably heard of Kuwohi, formerly Clingmans Dome. Being the highest point in the most visited national park will grant you that kind of notoriety. But with great fame comes great curiosity. Below we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this iconic landmark to help you plan your
English Mountain Trout Farm is an off-the-beaten-path restaurant that lets you catch your own fish in the Smoky Mountains While I grew up in the mountains I’ve always been a city girl at heart. Sure, I’ve tried all the various “outdoor” activities. Hiking, camping and of course, fishing. While I appreciate the kind of person these sorts of activities appeal
Thousands of visitors are leaving their handwritten wishes at this beautiful bridge in the Smoky Mountains I’ve been around the Smoky Mountain tourism game for more than 30 years. So, I’ve come to expect certain liberties to be taken with local lore. Any mountain, cove, den, holler, waterfall or creek that happens to come under the ownership of a money-making
A local shares his biggest missteps in hope you can learn from his mistakes One of the benefits of being a local to the mountains is it gives you a certain freedom to make a mistake. When I’m vacationing someplace like the beach or Disney, mistakes get magnified because my days are limited. If you get a week a year