Posts By: Carrie Waxler

About Carrie Waxler

I've worked for Gatlinburg Falls since March 2011. Lived in TN since 1996. I have now hiked Mt. LeConte three times. I've been on every trail that leads to the top. The last one we hiked up the Boulevard. I have walked my first 2.7 miles on the Appalachian Trail. Only 2176 miles to go. I plan to hike the Appalachian Trail when my children graduate. I also love lake kayaking on Cherokee Lake and Douglas Lake. We take our kayaks camping to middle Tennessee as well for river kayaking. I love talking to guests from the places I've visited or lived. Brings back many good memories. I love to be where people are having fun.

Fall 2014 is Here. Things Happening Now…

If you love to fish you already know that this Smoky Mountains area is a great place to cast a lure, not just from the scenery all around but also for the wildlife in the waters, the abundance and variety of fish in the many streams that cut the terrain all around.

You probably also know about the Fall Trout Tournament that starts way early tomorrow morning, Saturday, September 27, 2014, for the weekend – and you’d better be signed up for it already and getting some sleep tonight. All the details on the tournament can be found at the website, and you can read what we wrote about the Fall event of last year here, and the Spring event of this year here. (more…)

15th Annual Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival 2014

Tennessee’s best kept secret may be the annual 3-day, Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival happening this weekend at Dumplin Farm, an easy 25-mile drive north of Gatlinburg on the edge of town in Kodak. The festival features more than a dozen highly acclaimed, top performers this Thursday through Saturday, September 18-20, 2014.

images courtesy of Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival

images courtesy of Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival

All the performers are outstanding at this magic music festival, and the headliners for each night’s final performance are the “Most Awarded Band in Bluegrass Music” Rhonda Vincent & The Rage (Friday), Lonesome River Band (Saturday) and Cordle, Jackson & Salley (Thursday). None of these performers should be missed! (more…)

Hot Rod Roundup – Shades of the Past 2014

It’s the 32nd Annual Shades of the Past hot-rod roundup at Dollywood’s Splash country, all day Friday and Saturday, September 5-6, 2014.

This year again hundreds of gleaming automotive paint jobs will be on display, with shiny performance engines growling and snarling, at times. The site is a huge paved parking lot with grassy areas and trees all around. (more…)

Warbirds Aloft at the TN Museum of Aviation

Images courtesy of TN Museum of Aviation

Images courtesy of TN Museum of Aviation

The Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville hosts a climate-controlled, 35,000 sq ft hangar filled with arrays of exhibits and memorabilia. It also has real warplanes that fly, and a runway right outside the hangar doors to prove that museums don’t have to be dull, or quiet, or even stay still without moving! (more…)

Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival 2014

songwriterThe 3rd Annual Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival bursts into song again in Gatlinburg starting on Thursday through this weekend, August 21-24. It’s four days of mostly free music with a couple of ticketed events, when legends and industry pros mingle with the public in a highly entertaining musical event you will want to plunge into.

Where better than Gatlinburg in summer for musicians and music lovers to come together to celebrate the Appalachian musical roots of much of America’s famous music. (more…)

Weddings in the Smoky Mountains

“Marriage is the crowning result of love in the supremely romantic Smoky Mountains.”

Back_deck_weddingPeople come to the Smoky Mountains for a romantic getaway, and to get married, and to honeymoon. And they return frequently thereafter to celebrate their life with each other, and years later to renew their vows to each other, often with their grown-up children looking on, to everybody’s great satisfaction. (more…)

Alewine Pottery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

images courtesy of Alewine Pottery

images courtesy of Alewine Pottery

There’s plenty of Smoky Mountain spirit to be found in Alewine Pottery of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This much loved, family-run shop knows how to roll out the welcome mat and  provide friendly, individual service.

The Alewine family plies its visitors with free complimentary popcorn, coffee and apples, provide rocking chairs and a checkers table, with live banjo music just outside. (more…)

Massage in Your Cabin – the Ultimate Relaxation

What’s more relaxing than a gorgeous view of the Smoky Mountains from your hot tub on the deck of your luxury cabin? Well, how about a massage with that?

images courtesy of A Mountain View Spa

images courtesy of A Mountain View Spa

How about a massage service that provides cabin-calls? A Mountain View Spa offers services that come to you, to take relaxation to a whole new level.

From one of our rental cabins schedule your service with a skilled therapeutic massage professional. A Mountain View Spa offers you 7 different types of massages to choose from, each lasting at least an hour. (more…)