Get the inside scoop on things to do when it snows in Gatlinburg, Smoky Mountains There’s nothing quite like a Smoky Mountain snowfall. We’ve discovered a newfound love of snow we never knew until we became residents in East Tennessee. You see, I never cared for snow much in Ohio. Whenever the weather turned cold and snow was forecast, we
Visitors may notice sparser fish populations as of late, it turns out, the fish are just cold like we are As an East Tennessean with three decades worth of history in the park, I’ve learned that mountains don’t hibernate. Sure, the trees have lost their leaves, and the animals are less active. And fish, have all but seemingly disappeared in
A Smoky Mountain local talks about his favorite hidden gems in the most popular section of the national park – Cades Cove Cades Cove is one of the true wonders of the Smoky Mountains. Known for sweeping views, wildlife watching and connection to pre-national park history, the Cove is the single most popular destination for Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors.
What to know about snow tubing in the Smokies: Pricing, reservation requirements and more The Great Smoky Mountains area is a hugely popular winter destination. Though the winter weather may be unpredictable, you can still find places to enjoy snow tubing in Pigeon Forge and the surrounding areas on just about any given day: Rowdy Bear Snow Park (Pigeon Forge,
How to make hiking in the Smokies safer As a local, I’m frequently asked the question: Is it safe to hike in the Smoky Mountains? The answer is an unequivocal yes from a statistical standpoint. Millions of people visit the Smoky Mountains annually. The number of those who encounter trouble or dangerous situations is very few. Still, there is nothing
A showdown of two popular national parks I had the chance to visit the Rocky Mountain National Park, and I couldn’t help but compare it to my home, the Great Smoky Mountains. The two national parks share a lot in common. They’re mountainous, offer great hiking trails and are stunningly beautiful. But, we’re probably kidding ourselves here to think the
Tennessee local lists favorite little-known facts about the Smokies I always say that it’s no surprise an ancient mountain range cloaked in a thick forest and shrouded in mist has secrets. Each year, the mountains reclaim that which was forgotten or abandoned when the park drove away those who’d lived in the mountains. Of course, the National Park Service has
A Smoky Mountain local talks about one of his favorite area overlooks We were cutting through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, returning home from Bryson City, North Carolina on Newfound Gap Road – aka U.S. Route 441. I was driving so my attention was on the road and I missed some of the natural beauty of the spruce-fir forests. I
A Smoky Mountain local recalls the tale of the tower that was almost canceled The Hatfields and the McCoys. The Jets and the Sharks. The Capulets and the Montagues. The National Park Service and the National Park Association. Queue freeze frame, quizzical look and record scratch. What? That’s right. The organization that was to be the voice of the National Parks
A first-hand experience visiting Oconaluftee Islands Park in Cherokee When visiting the Smokies, my family loves to stop and stretch our legs at Oconaluftee Islands Park. It’s a small park in downtown Cherokee, North Carolina. If you’re heading into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the North Carolina side, chances are you’ll drive right past it, but I always