Great Smoky Mountains National Park seems endless with its vistas of rolling mountains like waves running into the distance – but hidden in the middle of it all is a beautiful flat valley of almost 7,000 acres, a haven for wildlife of all kinds, and human visitors. This is Cades Cove, the most popular destination… Read more »
Taking a scenic drive is one of the easiest and most rewarding things you can do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With almost 400 miles of roadway in the park and the surrounding scenic area, you can drive to specific locations to enjoy, as well as tour through steadily changing vistas of great beauty…. Read more »
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a remarkable accomplishment by the National Park Service, a slow and easy drive through nature that’s as richly rewarding as a hike or nature ramble, with beautiful scenic views, along a mountain river and through lush forest teeming with wildlife, but in the comfort of your car. Situated just… Read more »
The park has over 150 maintained hiking trails, offering more than 850 miles of hiking. Here’s our definitive guide to hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including a trail map of the national park, links and resources, most popular trails – AND the hidden gems, easy strolls, nature trails and best hikes…Read more »
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 2,000 miles of running water, and its folded topography allows for rocky slopes at every elevation and almost literally around every corner. Water plus sloping rock equals waterfall – and the park has them in abundance. Some of the popular waterfalls are on the North Carolina side of… Read more »
Autumn leaf color changes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is for many people the event of the year. The rolling mountain landscape forested with more than 100 varieties of trees provides a display of changing colors that lasts for almost 7 weeks. Mid-September The leaves begin to turn on the mountain tops and higher… Read more »
Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is allowed year-round, every day, from 30 minutes before until 30 minutes after official sunrise and sunset respectively. The park is one of the last habitats in the eastern US for wild trout. The park doesn’t stock fish, but with almost 3,000 miles of running water throughout… Read more »
Camping is abundant in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the options range from rugged to luxurious. Full information on the variety of options and campsites can be found at the park’s website. Here’s our quick guide to all your options. Backcountry camping involves hiking to a camp site located deep in the park away… Read more »
The twin peaks of Chimney Tops present some of the finest panoramic views in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Chimney Tops trail is one of the most popular trails in the park, and yet it’s not exactly easy. Although fairly short, the trail is very steep and quite challenging, but the rewards are what people… Read more »
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 1,500 black bears in the wild. With ten million human visitors each year, the park pulls off a remarkable feat keeping the wildlife wild, and the humans tame – so we guests in the park don’t damage the animals, their well being or their habitat. Everyone… Read more »
Festivals happen all year in the Smoky Mountains area of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, and hundreds of thousands of people plan their visits according to particular events and seasonal activities. Here’s a calendar of seasonal festivities to help you plan your stay…Read more »
In Pigeon Forge there’s one show you don’t want to miss and it’s Country Tonite. The spectacular show features a variety of song, choreography, comedy and costume, impressive for the sheer quality of the talented performances and the seamless flow of the fast-paced, dynamic show…Read more »
Try some Southern entertainment, Pigeon Forge style, at dinner shows featuring some of the nation’s top performers. Here’s a sample of what to expect. Can the Hatfields and McCoys finally solve their differences after all of these years feuding with each other? Probably not, but one thing is guaranteed – everyone in your family will… Read more »
Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede is an ultimate dinner theater extravaganza experience. Action-packed from start to finish, Dixie Stampede is a star-studded spectacular renowned across the nation for its special effects and amazing stunts…Read more »
Dinner theater in Pigeon Forge has a new addition with Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures, on stage twice a day with live performances and good old fashioned southern food. The show takes place in the old Lumberjack Feud theater on Parkway, and retains the same sense of acrobatics and high-climbing scale. The new dinner show… Read more »
“Variety” is too small a word to describe everything that’s happening in the smorgasbord of amazing visuals, music and acts on display at the Smoky Mountain Opry in Pigeon Forge – “America’s Ultimate Variety Show”. This show has it all, from exotic animals to special effects to comedy routines to dancing and musical numbers –… Read more »
The towns and theaters of the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains area are home to many types of world-class entertainment, and fantastic magic shows are no exception. Here are some of the most notable and popular magic shows in the area so you can start planning the magical entertainment for your next visit. Impossibilities:… Read more »
Almost everyone knows about the many great music shows that play in theaters in the Smokies, but fewer people are aware that there is plenty of world-class comedy to be found here as well. Check out some of the following options for shows that will have you doubled over in laughter on your next Smoky… Read more »
Quality entertainment, big laughs and solid productions aptly describe the dinner theater scene down in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. You and your friends and family simply can’t afford to miss some of the top-notch performances you’ll find here. But when it comes to family-friendly comedy, one venue in particular stands out: The Comedy Barn… Read more »
If you like improv comedy and admire theatrical talent you’ll love Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre in Gatlinburg. If you’ve never been, it’s a treat you should give yourself, featuring original work by a theatrical cast performing comedy “as good as any you’ll find on Broadway.” Read more »
A great theater with 3 high energy, rousing dinner shows of song, dance and comedy for the whole family. America’s Hit Parade – hit songs of the 50’s thru 80’s. Soul of Motown – the signature sound that became an instant world hit. Hazzard County Hoedown – characters and antics from the famous TV show…Read more »