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
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
Do your best to avoid these common mistakes during your next trip to the Apple Barn With its shops, restaurants, hotels and stores, the Apple Barn Cider Mill & General Store essentially becomes its own little village on weekends, especially in the fall. Parking spaces are a premium commodity. The waits for both of the Apple Barn complex restaurants can
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
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,
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