The first day of summer is also the first day of Dollywood’s Great American Summer, from June 21 through August 4 this year. Hours of opening become 3 hours longer, now from 10 am to 10 pm every day. But that’s just the start. (more…)
Blog Archive
Great Smoky Mountain Wheel in Pigeon Forge: Opening June 21, 2013

image courtesy of The Island
There’s a very cool new ride for all the family opening in Pigeon Forge this Friday, June 21. It’s the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, a 200-foot tall observation wheel offering spectacular views of the Smoky Mountains. (more…)
Rainbow Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A nice picture of Rainbow Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, during a hike last year. The water falls 80 feet and makes rainbows on sunny days. The hike is moderate to difficult, about 2.6 miles from the trailhead. The trail continues another 4 miles to the summit of Mount Le Conte. Check the Park web site for more details. (more…)
Gatlinburg Offers Free Trolley Service on Parkway Again for Summer of 2013

image courtesy of Gatlinburg Trolley
Free Trolley service in Gatlinburg starts June 14 along Parkway again this year, marking 2013 as the third year that Gatlinburg has offered this tremendously popular service. (more…)
Andrews Bald in the Smoky Mountains
Andrews Bald is a short, moderate hike from Clingmans Dome, and it’s a great place with a fantastic view. Balds are high-elevation grassy meadows. Most of the trail is shaded, but here’s an open part of the trail, followed by a taste of the view, in a couple of pictures shot by Kelseah Lawson. (more…)
Rhododendrons Blooming in Smoky Mountains
Ah the rhododendrons are blooming – it must be summer! Taken by our favorite Smoky Mountains photographer, Dean Brown. (more…)
Smith Family Theater

image courtesy of Smith Family Theater
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are bursting at the seams with talented performers and high-quality entertainment, and you can prove this to yourself any evening with dinner theater in Pigeon Forge, at the Smith Family Dinner Show.
Dollywood Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival 2013: May 25 – June 09
Once again it’s time for Dollywood to host its 16-day Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival, starting this Saturday, May 25 and lasting through June 9. The festival features over 50 bands in 250 shows staged daily and nightly throughout the park, free for Dollywood patrons and included in admission. (more…)
Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass 2013 – Sevierville May 17-18
This Friday and Saturday, join the street fair in downtown Sevierville and revel in two days of world-class bluegrass music. Mix that up with a barbecue competition that draws experts and cook teams from across the region and the country, competing for cash and the state champion title with their best recipes and award-winning barbecue dishes. (more…)
RiverRush at Splash Country Mother’s Day 2013 – First Water Coaster comes to TN

image courtesy of Splash Country
Dollywood’s Splash Country water park launches its most ambitious new water ride this Mother’s Day. It’s RiverRush, one of the country’s few water coasters and a first for Tennessee. It promises to be a fantastic ride! (more…)