TheSmokies.com

A Few Tips and Tricks on what Not To Do when you see Wildlife As someone who has lived near the mountains for more than 30 years, I’ve seen my fair share of people who have surprisingly little awareness of both etiquette and common sense. But it’s essential if you’re going to the Smokies to be prepared for animal interactions and educate yourself on what not to do. Both tourists and the wild residents of the Smokies are becoming more active... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 11...

What Roller Coasters are Safe To Ride at Dollywood? Over the summer, a man died on a coaster at the new Epic Universe Park. So roller coaster safety has become a topic of new and travel organizations all over the world. Who should or shouldn’t ride, and who could or couldn’t ride, became topics of intense discussion. And it left us discussing how the lessons learned – and being learned – in Orlando and other parks would affect operations here back home at Dollywood... Read More 🍽️The Foodie...

Dollywood's 40th anniversary was Amazing, but 2026 will be Even Better So, in 2025, Dollywood celebrated its 40th season with quite a bit of fanfare. But not a lot of substance. Sure, there was the refurb on Blazing Fury and some other fun little things. But Dollywood officials themselves acknowledged they expected the 41st season to have a little more steak to its sizzle. And – if you like reading tea leaves – the hints are pretty clear that Dollywood officials think the 2026 season could be...

Breaking Down Two Favorite Restaurants I can’t imagine what it’s like running a restaurant in the Smokies. I know a lot of places have competition, and the restaurant business is notoriously tricky. But in the Smokies, where new competition arrives seemingly weekly and any success is met with a dozen copycats, sustaining excellence, retaining staff, and delivering a consistent experience must be incredibly hard. Recently, we were let down – to some degree – by restaurants that had been among...

Famed Michelin Guide Gives Stamp of Approval to Local Restaurants For the first time in its history, the MICHELIN guidebook has published a guide to the restaurants of the American South, and several restaurants – 15 in the Asheville region and 3 in the Knoxville region were recognized. You want to try some MICHELIN-approved dining options in the mountains? 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...

Favorite Spooky Abandoned Attractions and Homesteads in the Smokies I’ve also stumbled across a few forgotten places in the mountains. Sometimes I find them above the streams and along the old roads. They are forgotten places where generations of people lived, worked, and called home. I often say, “If these walls could talk... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 🍔 Blue Moose Challenges Calhoun’s Blue Moose takes on Calhoun’s—see who claims the crown... Read Article 🥩Battle of...

The Famous Glass-Bottomed Bridge in Gatlinburg In recent years, the Gatlinburg SkyPark’s glass-bottomed SkyBridge has become one of the most iconic attractions in the Smoky Mountains. It is not only an attention grabber from the Parkway, but it’s become the stuff of legends. The SkyBridge at Gatlinburg SkyPark is an attraction that is certainly worth visiting unless you’re afraid of heights... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 🍔 Blue Moose Challenges Calhoun’s Blue Moose takes on...

Design Your Own Candy Bar at Goo Goo Clusters I couldn’t help but think of Willy Wonka. The kids had finished designing their candy bars at the kiosks in the next room and were ready to watch the Goo Goo artist, like a Subway sandwich artist, but with candy – bring their concoction to life. Since the kids had designed their own candy concoctions, a song about “Pure Imagination” didn’t seem out of place... Read More 🍽️The Foodie Guide to The Smokies🍖 11 Best Places to Eat in Gatlinburg So,...

Dolly Parton sets the Stage for an Epic Competition with Buc-ee's There's a brouhaha brewing on the interstates of Tennessee. Queen Dolly Parton is prepping to take on the current King of convenience stores, Buc-ee’s, for the hearts, minds, and maybe the very souls of Tennessee travelers. Parton and her new business partners have announced Dolly’s... 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...