The Road to Nowhere in the Smoky Mountains has become an unlikely tourist attraction They say you shouldn’t mess with Texas. But there are other places in the world with well-earned reputations of grittiness that surpass ordinary folks like you and me. But while some talk a good game, other folks are all about that life without catchy slogans or
Exploring an internet-driven passion while in the Smokies The truth is that I prefer my crime fiction. Why? Maybe because it’s safer. It could be that after years of working in newspapers, I’ve had enough of the real thing. Or maybe it’s because I have my own True Crime story in my past, and that’s enough for this lifetime. The
What To Do When The Weather Threatens Your Smoky Mountain Vacation A few years ago, I took my family on a Gulf Coast vacation. We started off over by Mobile and then drove around the panhandle to visit family near Tampa. Or at least that was the plan. There was something swirling in the waters of the gulf. It was
How annual controlled burns in Cades Cove are good for the environment and the forest “John, wake up. The woods on fire.” It was a little after midnight and I quickly found myself – at the age of 13 or so – standing in the front yard with one of our two hoses, wetting down the yard and the tree
What restaurants offer wild meats in the Smokies? I remember the first time I ever had wild game meat as a kid. Importantly, I didn’t come from a hunting family. But I’m sure we had cousins out in the wilds of Indiana hunting rabbits and squirrel and other such critters, varmints and such. The details are somewhat fuzzy, but the
Local lists the best things to do in Gatlinburg this winter Most people don’t know that Gatlinburg has five seasons. There’s spring, summer, fall and two winters, one pre-Christmas and one post-Christmas. If you come for Gatlinburg’s first winter, it is joyful but tinged with a hint of seasonal melancholy. People are hustling and bustling – and possibly rustling –
The Smoky Mountains’ amusement park cleans up (again) at Golden Ticket Awards If I’m being honest, I never really understood just how many amusement/theme parks there were in the United States. Growing up in the Midwest before moving to the mountains, I was well aware of places like King’s Island, Cedar Point and Six Flags. I knew about smaller parks
What scientists are predicting for this year’s fall colors Science! Forgetting reading tea leaves. Leave the horoscopes at home. Got a Ouija Board? Toss it out the window! Or maybe store it carefully, respectfully in the closet so as not to anger any spirits who’ve attached themselves to cheap, mass-produced board games. Honestly, if you’re in the spirit realm and
Repairs are now complete on US 441, aka Newfound Gap Road. The National Park Service (NPS) has fully reopened US 441/Newfound Gap Road as of September 12, 2025. This is over 18 days ahead of schedule. Single-lane closures may still be in place for several more days until all final work is completed. The project has been a big success,
This Iconic East Tennessee gas station and convenience store has a reputation for clean facilities, great milk and lighting people up on social media With a history that goes back almost as far as East Tennessee, Weigel’s (pronounced ‘Why-gulls’) is a thriving regional institution. Locations in Tennessee range from Bristol to Chattanooga and as far west as Crossville. The Weigel’s