Travel guides, local tips, and everything you need to plan your perfect adventure
Deep in the Great Smoky Mountains lies one of the park’s most fascinating secrets: Elkmont. Once a lively summer resort for Knoxville’s elite, today it’s a ghost town filled…
Gatlinburg has plenty of fun things to do, but the costs add up when doing activities like Anakeesta. Let’s check out some free or cheap things to do in…
Picking Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge as a base is one of the top questions we get. Both towns are in the Smoky Mountains, so you’ve already made a great choice!…
Behind barbed wire in Tennessee’s mountains, 75,000 workers secretly built the atomic bomb while living in a hidden wartime city.
If you’ve ever driven the scenic stretch of US-441/321 known as the Gatlinburg Spur, you’re familiar with the short, dark tunnel that cuts through the mountain. For decades, this…
If you’re heading to Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, the Treetop Skywalk is the hanging-bridge loop up in the trees. It’s probably our favorite part about Anakeesta. You walk across 16…
While Gatlinburg offers plenty of fun and unique experiences nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, not every attraction is worth your time or money. Here’s your guide to what…
Wondering what it looks like right now inside the most visited national park? Here are four live views, plus two daily trail cameras. National Park Live Cameras Newfound Gap…
Poison hemlock is a highly toxic plant found throughout North America that often hides in plain sight. All parts of this plant are poisonous to humans and animals, making…
Dollywood is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025 with special offers that make it easier to share the experience with friends and family. May 3, 2025 Only: Bring a…
Dollywood is celebrating its milestone 40th Anniversary, and they’re bringing back Public Employee Appreciation Days from April 21 through June 13, 2025! This special event honors the dedication of…
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is our favorite scenic drive in the Great Smoky Mountains. What makes it so special? This narrow, winding road feels like a hiking…
Six East Tennessee restaurants made it onto Yelp’s prestigious Top 100 Family-Friendly Restaurants list for 2025, giving you plenty of delicious options during your mountain getaway. The Local Goat…
The Great Smoky Mountains offer breathtaking scenery that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy, regardless of mobility challenges. Fortunately, there are several stunning drives and accessible locations that…
You might not know it by driving through Pigeon Forge, but there are Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They’re only in a few areas, so we…
Submerged beneath Tennessee’s hills, the mysterious Lost Sea conceals unexplored chambers within America’s largest underground lake system.
The towns around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have a mix of outdoor adventure and small-town charm. And, in some places, an overwhelming amount of tourist attractions! Some…
A black bear’s viral shopping spree last night at a Gatlinburg candy store has wildlife officials delivering a grim warning: these cute encounters often end in the bear’s euthanization….
While snow is possible in the other parts of the state, your best bet is concentrated in a small area in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…
In a contest that would make Willy Wonka proud, Dolly Parton is giving families across America a chance to win an unforgettable Dollywood experience. The beloved country music icon…
The Smoky Mountains are one of our favorite places for a vacation. They mix beautiful scenery, family-friendly attractions, and outdoor adventures. We know vacations aren’t getting any cheaper. But…
The closest airport is McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, which is around an hour away. A rental car is almost necessary for a Gatlinburg vacation as you’ll need…
A severe thunderstorm brought flash flooding to Dollywood, a popular theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on Sunday. The park was hit with torrential downpours that flooded the park…
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, sits in a valley surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains, with some great scenic overlooks above the town. These spots provide beautiful views of the town and…
The Sinks is located on Little River Road, west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you’re taking Little River Gorge Road from Gatlinburg…
“Don’t feed the bears!” Everyone has heard it, but it keeps happening (intentionally or unintentionally), usually with deadly consequences for the bears. A recent video from a Gatlinburg hotel…
In Townsend, Tennessee, The Abbey is an example of creative repurposing. Once the site “I do’s” as the Heartland Wedding Chapel, it’s now a scenic and unique riverside lunch…
Anakeesta is one of the most popular attractions in Gatlinburg. We’ve been going to Anakeesta for years, and in this review we’ve got the best things to do there….
In one of the best locations for exploring Gatlinburg, the Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg offers a unique blend of mountain charm and tropical paradise. We’ve stayed here multiple times, and…
Hidden within forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont Ghost Town reminds of a bygone era. This former resort community, also known as Daisy Town, offers a glimpse…
In this local guide, we’ve got the best places for a family to stay in Gatlinburg, TN. We’ve visited or stayed at all of these, and they’re all great…
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has some of the best natural beauty of anywhere we’ve been. The landscape makes for some beautiful views at dawn and dusk. There…
Smoky Moutain Day Trip Plan #1 In this new series, we’ll provide ideas and plans for a family-friendly partial or full day of activities. Our first idea is one…
The Gatlinburg SkyBridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. It’s easy to spot when you’re in Gatlinburg, sitting high above the Parkway. It’s fun (and scary…
We previously stayed at the new Embassy Suites in Gatlinburg when it first opened. During that stay, the outdoor pool and lazy river were not yet opened, which is…
Looking for the perfect Smoky Mountain vacation in Tennessee? This list has some of the best cabins with private indoor swimming pools in the area. They offer the perfect…
Gatlinburg is a great destination year-round. We’re here every month, so here are our recommendations: We love visiting Gatlinburg anytime, even during the winter. But if we could pick one…
Looking for a quick new Smoky Mountains hike? We’re not expert hikers, but gave this just under 2-mile hike a try right after some heavy rains in May. Spruce…
Free kids admission to Soaky Mountain June 5th and 6th with an A report card! We went last year and plan to go this year, too (good job, kids!)….
We stayed at the new Embassy Suites in Gatlinburg just a few weeks after it opened. Despite some minor issues, we loved the spacious suites, fantastic pool area, and…
Gatlinburg has some amazing scenery nearby, including places you don’t need a long hike to see. Here’s our favorite drives that let you explore the Smoky Mountains. without leaving…
Gatlinburg is one of the most well-known towns in the Smoky Mountains. It’s a town with plenty to do and some great scenery. Living nearby, we’re here all the…
There’s no shortage of family attractions in Gatlinburg. Here are the top things we’d visit if we were visiting for the first time. This list has our favorites, and…
The scenic valley town of Townsend, on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has been one of our favorite places to visit for years. Living right…
Gatlinburg still has the abandoned remains from Fun Mountain Theme Park visible from town. Fun Mountain, an abandoned theme park in Gatlinburg, TN, closed its doors in 2000 after financial struggles. The…
We always recommend downtown Gatlinburg (or a cabin) to families heading to the Smoky Mountains for the first time. If you’re staying downtown and looking for a newer hotel,…
Picking Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge as a base is one of the top questions we get. Both towns are in the Smoky Mountains, so you’ve already made a great choice!…
This resort is over 6,500 ft elevation, requires at least a 5-mile hike each way to get there, and has supplies hauled in by Llamas. Sounds interesting, right? Other…
Looking for a vacation that’s anything but boring? Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, might be your answer! This lively mountain town is right down the road from us, but is still…
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park combines natural beauty, fascinating wildlife, and history. On top of its smoky-looking mountains and picturesque valleys, there’s much more to this national park….
The Smoky Mountains are known for their natural beauty and wildlife, including black bears. While the chance of a bear attack is very low, there are a few things…
Pigeon Forge is packed with fun things to do, but fun doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag! Here are some top ways to spend time in Pigeon…
The synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are an amazing natural spectacle, lighting up the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. This rare phenomenon has become so popular that the…
With about 9 inches of snow annually in downtown, Gatlinburg isn’t somewhere you’ll find real snow all winter. But there are some great options for snow tubing in the…
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is one of Gatlinburg’s biggest attractions, but is it worth the money? This review was not sponsored. This was our own experience, paid for…
Is Ober Mountain worth visiting for a day if you’re not going skiing? We hadn’t visited Ober Mountain in several years. The original attraction, previously known as Ober Gatlinburg,…
This summer, a week-long stay at some of the more expensive hotels in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, can cost more than a family trip to Europe. This isn’t a secret deal;…
WildSide is planning on more mountaintop fun coming to the Smoky Mountains in the Summer of 2024 near Pigeon Forge. This 900-acre park will feature off-roading and mountain biking…
The Smoky Mountains’ half-million acres extend beyond the best-known attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. While millions visit for the iconic views, there are some spots not everyone knows…
The National Parks Service has released its 2023 data, with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park holding the #1 spot by a huge margin. From the Smoky Mountains of…
Our favorite photos show how beautiful the Smoky Mountain area is. Most are inside the national park, while others are outside in Gatlinburg, Townsend, and Pigeon Forge. We took…
Heading to Gatlinburg? Here are 6 live views to see what’s going on now. Looking for Smoky Mountain views from inside the national park? Check out this page. SkyPark…
The Smoky Mountains are home to natural beauty and a lot of history, including some former towns that have been preserved and still remain. Here are five places you…
The Townsend Wye is a popular local swimming area, just inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance. Y or Wye The Wye (or Y) is where the Little…
About a week ago, we paid $37.95 per adult to visit the Gatlinburg Skypark and Skybridge for last-minute same-day tickets. This has been the normal price for tickets booked…
The Smoky Mountains are one of our favorite places for a vacation. They mix beautiful scenery, family-friendly attractions, and outdoor adventures. We know vacations aren’t getting any cheaper. But…
Here’s what’s brand new in Pigeon Forge this year for attractions and places to stay. #1 Dollywood’s New Attractions Dollywood’s making a few changes for 2024! #2 Wilderness at…
While we’ve often stayed in Gatlinburg overnight, we hadn’t stayed at the Hampton Inn on the Parkway until we needed a last-minute hotel on a weekend. Here’s our review…