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Five Historic Restaurants Located Outside of the Smokies When visitors come to the Smokies, they are beset by merchants, restauranteurs, and more. And all are selling a particular brand of nostalgia. Authentic mountain goods, authentic mountain recipes. Some of it is real. However, some of it is catering to specific expectations. But the taste of East Tennessee – even the mountains – is bigger than fried chicken and taters. It is more than meatloaf and fried okra. And while those things are...

East Tennessee’s Fantasy World - Ancient Lore Village is Expanding The project launched modestly. The luxury cabins are amazing. But there weren’t that many of them. At launch, the Village could house 22 people in seven dwellings. It was nice, very nice. But not really enough to get fully immersed. In a press release announcing the promotion of Micah Spice to Vice President of Brand & Business Development for Boyd Hollow Resorts, the company lays out what is next for the Village and for Boyd...

13 of the Best Waterfalls Around the Smoky Mountains 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. With an average of 85 inches of rain falling in the high country each year, the elevation and rainfall create one of the truly most magnificent attractions of the Smokies – an abundance of...

The Real Story Behind the Legend of the Gatlinburg BMW There is a mystery in the mountains of Gatlinburg. But it doesn’t have anything to do with haints, haunts, or wild people. We won’t be talking about Bigfoot or spooky hollers. If you’ve ever been to Gatlinburg on a busy summer day – or maybe at the height of leaf-peeping in the fall – you know the horror that is trying to find a good parking spot. For years, there’s been a very nice car wedged into a triangular spot beside the iconic...

Are Car Shows, Invasions, and Runs Becoming too much for Pigeon Forge and the Smokies? Trouble with groups of car show enthusiasts in the Smokies is nothing new. Back in 1978, during the inaugural Shades of the Past event in Gatlinburg, tensions were high between police, area car clubs, and a large crowd of spectators and enthusiasts. After the Slammedenuff event in Pigeon Forge and Sevier County in the first week of October 2025, the issue of massive gatherings of car, jeep, or truck...

These are the Best Places that will be Open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Maybe you’ve got a hotel for Thanksgiving to get an early jump on the Black Friday shopping. Maybe – instead of giving each other sweaters or gift cards – you’ve decided to spend your holiday gift budget on a Christmas getaway in a Smoky Mountain cabin. Whatever the reason you’ve planned for a holiday getaway in the mountains, you’ve got to eat. Luckily, in tourist places like the Smoky Mountains, there are options. Not...

What restaurants offer wild meats in the Smokies? I remember the first time I ever had wild game meat as a kid. Over the years at Orville’s place, I was introduced to all manner of game, and while living in South Alabama, there was an annual game cookoff event that drew massive crowds. Now, however, when I’m in the mood for something exotic, I go to the restaurants of the Smoky Mountains where you can find all kinds of different flavors and meats... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The...

14 Best Things To Do at Dollywood That Aren’t Rides When I first visited Dollywood, it was in the first year after Dolly Parton invested in the park and changed it from Silver Dollar City. At that time, there weren’t many rides in the park other than Blazing Fury. Even as Dolly’s dream team has transformed the park into something the teenage version of me would have found acceptably entertaining, I’ve mellowed as I’ve aged. I’ve grown to appreciate the many things to do in Dollywood that...

3 Big Mistakes I Made When Visiting Pigeon Forge As someone who has been knocking around Pigeon Forge for more than 35 years, you wouldn’t think I’d be prone to making mistakes. But I still do. You get complacent and forgetful. In other words, dear reader, you get cocky. Pigeon Forge – one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world – requires a certain level of forethought and a certain level of planning... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 A steak lover's dream: Peddler...