Local reviews the Biltmore experience at Christmas I’m not what you’d call an upper-crust kind of guy. The few times I’ve tried to make my way into the more structured world of the elite, I didn’t like it. But what do I like? I like the trappings. I love the tapestries and giant fireplaces and everything that came with being
A Local Offers Tips on What Not To Do at Biltmore Estate In the mountains of Western North Carolina stands America’s answer to Versailles the one in France, not Kentucky. An opulent mansion built by the grandson of one of America’s great robber barons, Biltmore stands as a beautiful testament to vision, persistence and the power of obscene amounts of
The true story of how a community became “Nameless” Just about 30 minutes northwest of Cookeville, Tennessee, and about an hour-and-a-half east from Nashville, lies a town that goes by no name at all – Nameless, Tennessee. The unincorporated community has less than 100 citizens and has had mixed stories about how it gained its incredulous name. But the main
A Gatlinburg resident shares his secrets and insider tips on cheap things to do in the Smokies Traveling can be quite expensive. With the costs of everyday life adding up, it can be difficult to save money for vacation. But as a local, I can personally attest that when you visit Gatlinburg, there are a few ways to stretch your
Local lists the best hidden secrets that are part of Gatlinburg’s rich history One of the most pleasing – and occasionally frustrating – things about life in a tourist town is the nature of change. Things can come and go quickly. Certainly, some institutions become iconic and stand the test of time (hello Pancake Pantry). That said, there seems to
Found deep within the Smoky Mountains is an abandoned town with an unusual sight – a collection of standalone stone chimneys As someone who grew up about 20 minutes away from Elkmont – maybe 30 if there’s traffic – I was aware of remnants of a strange settlement dating back to the days before the National Park. But the history
TN native lists top attractions in the Smoky Mountains, with coupons No trip to the Great Smoky Mountains is complete without checking out at least a couple of museums and walk-through attractions in the area. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to spend your vacation dollars. Remember that any pricing mentioned in this
Just as there are Titaniacs in the world, attracted to the intersection of wealth and tragedy, so are there Biltmoriacs As someone who has written extensively about the Biltmore Estate, I find the darker parts of its history appealing. The trappings of power and extreme wealth and decadence are seemingly attractive to those of us whose nature leans a little
What to expect when you board the Titanic The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge is hard to miss when driving down the Parkway. After all, the outside of the Titanic Museum is, in fact, half the size of the real RMS Titanic. It’s a celebration of the ill-fated ship, its passengers and crew. IN THIS ARTICLE What can you do
The Walker Sisters Place and the women who lived within, surviving off of the land, selling trinkets to tourists In the Great Smoky Mountains, history is often found in the hollers, in the lingering crannies found in the shadow of giant mountain ridges. It’s in these historic places that the great passage of time, which in our everyday lives is