Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

Six million lights at Dollywood, Winterfest's walking trail, Titanic's Christmas ornament program, the Incredible Christmas Place, and five dinner shows — holiday Pigeon Forge.

Snow tubing, candy mini golf, escape rooms, Alcatraz East, Titanic, SkyFly, and Slick City's 20+ indoor slides — what to do when November turns cold or rainy in Pigeon Forge.

Sugarlands' guided tasting bar, Ole Smoky's live music stage, Tennessee Shine's bourbon range, and Ole Red honky-tonk — a Gatlinburg evening built around 'shine and music.

Crowds gone, Winterfest lights on, Dollywood Christmas running, dinner shows bookable without weeks of lead time — seven reasons November beats every other month in Pigeon Forge.

Cabin kitchen for the feast, Dollywood's Christmas already running, Winterfest lights on, national park quiet, shows open Thanksgiving Day — how to spend the long weekend.

Speedwerkz exotic cars, CLIMB Works ziplines over the national park, whitewater rafting, Gatlin's escape rooms, Ripley's Aquarium, and go-karts — Gatlinburg for teenagers.

Written in ten minutes in room 388 of the Gatlinburg Inn in 1967, Rocky Top went from a B-side to Tennessee's official state song and the UT Volunteers' eternal anthem.

Old Mill food gifts, the Arts and Crafts Community loop, Incredible Christmas Place, Gatlinburg distilleries, The Village Shops, and The Island — where to shop in the Smokies.

Five million free Winterfest lights, Dollywood's six million, Anakeesta's mountaintop Christmas, SkyBridge lit end-to-end, and Shadrack's synchronized drive-through — the Smokies lights guide.

Fried deviled eggs, bison burger, hot honey chicken sandwich, wicked shrimp pasta, baby back ribs, and white chocolate bread pudding — Local Goat's best dishes explained.

Mountain Valley Winery, Elkmont's Peach Cobbler Moscato at Old Mill, Bootleggers at The Island, and Tennessee Homemade Wines — free tastings at all four.

Winterfest lights on, Dollywood Christmas running, dinner shows open, Titanic Museum on the holiday, national park crowd-free — Thanksgiving week in Pigeon Forge.

Calhoun's takeout packs, Mama's family-style, The Peddler on the river, Old Mill corn chowder, Paula Deen's unlimited, and Huck Finn's catfish — Thanksgiving in the Smokies.

Fireplace lit, takeout from The Old Mill, apple cobbler in the oven, moonshine hot chocolate, game room tournament, fire pit under the fall sky — the Smokies cabin evening.

The Greenbrier, The Peddler, Gaucho Urbano, Ole Red live music, Paula Deen's, Local Goat, Boudicca's Celtic Pub, and The Rampant Lion — the Smokies girls' trip dining guide.

Three October weekend itineraries — family fall festivals, mellow foliage drives and farm fun, and a romantic wine trail and Appalachian bistro weekend in the Smokies.

Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Mysterious Mansion, Ripley's Fright Nights, haunted coasters, Halloween mini golf, ghost walk, and trick-or-treating — the Smokies Halloween guide.

Patriot Park, Dolly Parton's Stampede, Titanic Museum, The Island, Alcatraz East, and WonderWorks — six essential stops on the Pigeon Forge Parkway.

Dog rules in the national park, tick prevention, packing list, crating, first aid, water safety — the complete guide to bringing your dog to a Smoky Mountain cabin.

Parrot Mountain's tropical birds, Stampede's Horse Walk and 32 horses, Goats on the Roof, Pirates Voyage animal encounter, Comedy Barn, and Cades Cove wildlife.