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The Best Ways to Guarantee Seeing "Wild" Animals in the Smokies Safaris, zoos, and more within an easy drive of the Smokies, after all, who doesn't love seeing (or petting) cute animals? The Smokies offer a diverse range of attractions featuring various types of animals, from sea turtles to white buffalo. If you or your family is dying to see some wildlife, rest assured, there are places to go. We break down a few of the most popular attractions, all within a short drive of the Smokies.......

Back in Black: Is the Black Bear Population in the Smokies Increasing? When we moved to Tennessee and first started going to the National Park, bear sightings were rare, or at least they were rare for us. We were lucky to see a bear or two each summer. It seems like in recent years, both personally and through social media, bear sightings are on the rise. All these bear sightings have left me wondering if there are more bears in the Smokies and East Tennessee... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide...

Featured Post! Best Places to Dine at the Dollywood Theme Park We won't factor in how your meal choices might affect the rest of your day. And we won't try to factor in the various seasonal festival offerings. We’re just here to tell you the best meals to eat – day in, day out, and year-round at Dollywood So, what are the best places to eat a meal in Dollywood.... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 11 Best Places to Eat in Gatlinburg So, where do the locals like to eat in...

Featured Post! From Old History to New Traditions, These are the Can't Miss Things in Gatlinburg A disappointing dinner, a less-than-optimal attraction can pull some of the fun out of the whole vacation and leave you leaving – that’s a well-turned phrase – with a sense of frustration or even disappointment. So, what if you're coming to Gatlinburg for the first time or haven't been in a while? Here are the top 5 things you must do to ensure your Gatlinburg vacation is a success.... Read More...

Featured Post! After a Brief Closure, I-40 is Back Open. Now What? A torrential downpour hit the Smokies – right at the Tennessee-North Carolina state line – dumping between 2.5 and 3.5 inches of rain in about two hours. The downpour caused multiple small mudslides. The massive amount of flooding also trapped travelers on the roadway not from the I-40, 451 exit. What does that mean for the roadway and its future in the area? Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 11 Best Places to Eat...

Featured Post! The Roof, the Roof, the Roof Is … Home To Several Goats In Pigeon Forge, where the competition for tourism dollars is fast and furious, you have to do something to stand out from the crowd. Does it mean putting live animals on the roof of your business to attract the attention of the naturally curious Smoky Mountain tourists? Apparently so... 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...

Featured Post! Best places to picnic outside the National Park Since we’ve already told you about picnic spots inside the National Park, we thought we might share some of our favorite spots outside the boundaries. Great places to picnic outside the National Park.... 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... Read Article 13 Best Restaurants in Sevierville If you're a...

Featured Post! Interesting Historical Figures who Visited the Smokies The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited places in the world. The mountains’ natural beauty, tourist-friendly towns, and interstate-friendly location provide the perfect destination for a quick getaway or a more extended trip. As such, it makes sense that, from time to time, famous or historically significant people would make their way to the mountains, either for business or for a getaway.......

Featured Post! Dolly's Dream Came True: The Dolly Parton Documentary Dolly hadn’t originally planned on partnering with an existing park. She had land picked out near Gatlinburg. She mentioned the dream during an interview with Barbara Walters in the early 80s. And it turns out, the right person was listening. As part of the celebration of Dollywood's 40th anniversary, the park has debuted “The Dollywood Dream,” a documentary that tracks the park’s meteoric success story.... Read More 🍽️The...