An area Smoky Mountain resident’s plea to park visitors I see them every so often: Someone visiting one of our national parks with little or no common sense. Maybe they’re out west and get too close to a buffalo. Or maybe they’re in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and want a photo op with a family of black bears (I see
There’s an old springhouse in the Smokies that looks like something straight out of a fairy tale If you’re like me, and you’ve lived in the Smoky Mountains for a considerable amount of time, there’s a chance you’ve heard about The House of Fairies – an unusual moss-covered structure located off the beaten path in the Smoky Mountains. But now
Gatlinburg sits on the Western edge of the Smoky Mountains. That means there is a significant change in elevation moving East to West from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park toward Pigeon Forge, Knox County and the rest of the Tennessee Valley. Since an average of 85 inches of rain falls in the high country each year, the elevation and
I interviewed a guy from East Tennessee once whose “thing” was mountain climbing. He wasn’t a particularly rich guy, just a guy who loved the thrill of climbing up high in the tallest mountains in the world. When we spoke, he’d just come home from a successful climb up Everest. He tried to describe to me the pull, the attraction,
Lightning bugs are just about everywhere in the United States. However, they are usually much more difficult to detect in some areas. According to the Smithsonian, males flash when they’re in flight to attract females among the Eastern species. However, out West, it’s the females that glow. However, the females glow more faintly and on the ground. What months are
The Cades Cove Loop, located a few miles beyond the Townsend Park entrance, is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And it’s a great way to experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains – drive-thru style. But when it comes to navigating Cades Cove like a pro, there are a few things