TheSmokies.com

Tips for Enjoying the Peaceful Side of the Smokies When I got my driver’s license and the freedom that came with it, we spent a lot of time in Walland and Townsend, where many of our classmates lived. There were campouts and days on the river, a variety of adventures in the forest, and at the Wye. So, what do I, as someone who grew up in the area, recommend you do in the Peaceful Side of the Smokies? Well, let me tell you.... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 11 Best Places to Eat...

Looking for Something Unique Found Only in the Smokies We come to the Smokies – or any vacation destination – for different reasons. Some of us want the familiar. We want to return to the places our parents took us or revisit the spots where our family made its best memories to see if we can recreate them. Conversely, some of us want to spend our vacation chasing something new. A new experience we’ve never done. Maybe try food we’ve never tasted before.... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The...

The Untold Story of Dollywood’s Third Train, Hidden in Plain Sight The Slow Poke and Easy is sometimes called the Slow and Easy, which sounds like a Tina Turner Song. The train never took off the way they’d hoped in 1907. Demand for the line was barely enough to keep it afloat, and the railroad changed hands several times.... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 11 Best Places to Eat in Gatlinburg So, where do the locals like to eat in Gatlinburg? We break down our favorite places......

The Legend of Secret Lake + New Hidden Hollow Aviation Attraction For quite some time now, we’ve known something massive and new was coming to Dollywood soon. Information has been revealed in dribs and drabs. We know it’s not a roller coaster. But we do know it is a $50 million indoor attraction that will be housed in a five-story, 44,000-square-foot building. But what is the ride exactly? We know that previously, Dollywood VP Pete Owens said the attraction will be unlike anything in the...

What Not To Do on the Gatlinburg Strip For decades, I have been running up and down the strip in Gatlinburg – the stretch of Highway 441 that runs from Ole Red up to Ski Mountain Road. I’ve had some of the best days – and evenings – in the shops and restaurants along that strip. However, I can also see that the strip is not perfect. The Gatlinburg strip – it turns out – is a perplexing and complicated place. With this in mind, here are our best tips for avoiding crucial mistakes.... Read More...

Celebrating the Legends Created by the People of the Mountain A young man, alone at night, finds a young woman in some level of distress. She needs a ride home. On the way, the young man becomes smitten and drops the girl off, planning to reunite with her in the days to come. When he came back in the light of day, she was nowhere to be found. But what about the true stories of the mountains? Not true in the sense that they’re literally true, but true in the sense that they really originated...

Toddlin’ Baby: Things To Do in the Smokies With a Toddler From the mountains to the attractions, how to have a great vacation with the littles. While the Smokies are extremely family-friendly, a lot of the things you can do are better suited for kids five and older. At many of the Smokies attractions, the only thing a small child can do is tag along. But that’s not always the case. It turns out there are plenty of things that will keep you and your toddler well entertained.... Read More 🍽️The...

Ideas for a Movie: Starring These Colorful Mountain People Frequently, when doing research for an article – or noodling aimlessly about on the internet – I’ll come across some historical figure or colorful character and wonder, “Why haven’t they turned this person’s life story into a movie?” And so, as a service to the Hollywood folks who might not be rustling around in the deep cuts of mountain lore for their next idea, let us share a few stories of colorful, interesting, odd, or notable...

Things You Can Do to Make Your Smoky Mountain Vacation Unforgettable There are many reasons we take vacations. Part of it is to recharge, a well-earned respite from the grind of our lives. Part of it is to live in the moment, enjoy time with family and friends. And part of it is to make memories, something to hang on to when our lives are in a different place. Much of what I think about today is trying to make memories for my family to have when I’ve gone on, following the subject of my own...