Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

When Smoky Mountains fall color peaks, where to see it — Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Roaring Fork, the Foothills Parkway — and how to plan your October cabin stay.

Eight things to do on a fall getaway in Gatlinburg — foliage drives, the Craftsmen's Fair, SkyBridge views, Anakeesta, distillery tastings, and fireplace cabins.

When to book a Gatlinburg cabin — 6–12 months for fall foliage and holidays, 3–6 months for shoulder seasons, and what last-minute availability actually looks like.

Six lighter dining options in Gatlinburg — Chesapeake's seafood, Smoky Mountain Trout House, Mellow Mushroom, Whole Earth Café, and tips for cooking in the cabin.

Five working pottery studios near Gatlinburg — Alewine, Buie, Fowler's Clay Works, Judy Jones, and Old Mill Pigeon River Pottery, most in the Arts & Crafts Community.

Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland at Soaky Mountain Waterpark — a drive-through holiday light show running mid-November through January in Sevierville, TN.

At English Mountain Trout Farm in Sevierville, you fish for your meal in a stocked pond and eat it minutes later. Family-owned since 1962, no fishing license required.

Five reasons to take the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway instead of driving — the views, the 2.1-mile ride at 300 feet off the ground, and no parking hassle.

Ober Gatlinburg's bike park has 11 downhill-only trails — green to double black diamond — accessed by chairlift, with rentals and lessons available.

Seven outdoor dining spots in the Smokies — Howard's creekside patio, Azul Cantina's rooftop, Anakeesta's mountaintop terrace, Jason Aldean's, and more.

Ruby Falls — the tallest underground waterfall in America — is 2 hours from Gatlinburg on Lookout Mountain. Here's the story, what to expect, and how to plan.

The Buc-ee's at I-40 Exit 407 near Sevierville is 74,707 sq ft — the world's second-largest and the closest full-scale Buc-ee's to the Smoky Mountains.

Three places to forge your own knife in the Smoky Mountains — Iron Mountain Metal Craft, Circle Bar T Forge, and Dollywood's Valley Forge Blacksmith.

Six ideas for a Smoky Mountains return visit — Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Trail, the Arts & Crafts Community, a different season, Wears Valley, and a cabin upgrade.

Gatlinburg SkyLift Park has run up Crockett Mountain since 1954 — and the 680-foot SkyBridge at the top is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America.

Ten real facts about Pigeon Forge — the 1830 Old Mill, Dollywood's visitor numbers, the Rod Run, a town that barely existed 60 years ago, and the park next door.

Discover the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains this June! From scenic hikes and outdoor adventures to festivals and wildlife viewing, June offers the perfect opportunities to explore and enjoy the beauty of the Smokies. Plan your summer adventure today!

Five of the best Pigeon Forge shopping destinations — The Island, Mountain Mile, Dollywood's craft shops, Three Bears General Store, and the Old Mill District.

Three farm-to-table restaurants in Pigeon Forge — Local Goat's scratch New American kitchen, and two Old Mill restaurants using stone-ground grain from an 1830 mill.

Six of the best Southern restaurants in Pigeon Forge — Old Mill, Mama's Farmhouse, Bennett's BBQ, Paula Deen's, Huck Finn's Catfish, and Local Goat.