Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

The Smoky Mountains got their name from the Cherokee word Shaconage — "place of the blue smoke" — describing the natural VOC haze that still shrouds the ridges today.

Four grocery options for Pigeon Forge cabin guests — Food City on Teaster Lane, Kroger on Wears Valley Road, Publix on the Parkway, and Walmart in Sevierville.

Atlanta to Gatlinburg is about 200 miles via I-75 North and I-40 East — a 3.5 to 4 hour drive with Chattanooga at the halfway point and mountain views building on approach.

Six Italian restaurants in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg — Best Italian Café, Big Daddy's, Johnny Carino's, J. Del's, Luigi's (open until 2 AM), and Geno's.

Four of the best burger restaurants in Pigeon Forge — Blue Moose, Local Goat, Junction 35's distillery-restaurant smash burgers, and Smoky Mountain Brewery.

Four Smoky Mountain mountain coasters — Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, Rocky Top, Ripley's in Gatlinburg (open midnight weekends), and the Goat Coaster for families.

Five Smoky Mountains hiking trails for history buffs — the alum cave saltpeter works, Greenbrier settlement ruins, Cataloochee's preserved homesteads, logging railroad grades, and Cherokee sites.

Gatlinburg's free trolley runs four color-coded routes year-round — Red Line (Parkway), Yellow (Arts & Crafts), Purple (park trail), Blue (Ober Gatlinburg).

Five things to do at Old Mill Square in Pigeon Forge — tour the working 1830 mill, dine at the restaurant, visit the pottery studio, and walk the Riverwalk.

Six ways to avoid Pigeon Forge traffic — the Fun Time Trolley, Veterans Boulevard bypass, off-peak timing, navigation apps, and the event calendar.

Where and when to see black bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Cades Cove, Roaring Fork, Cataloochee, plus bear safety and the 50-yard rule.

Nine kid-friendly Dollywood rides for families — Country Fair gentle rides, Wildwood Grove's Black Bear Trail and Giant Tree Swing, plus FireChaser Express.

Five Pigeon Forge steakhouses — Gaucho Urbano's Brazilian churrascaria, Alamo's oak-fire grill, Bullfish Grill, Calhoun's, and J.T. Hannah's Kitchen.

Five kid-friendly Gatlinburg restaurants — Big Daddy's Pizzeria, Crockett's Breakfast Camp, Fannie Farkle's, Smoky Mountain Brewery, and No Way Jose's Cantina.

The Gatlinburg Wine Trail connects five tasting rooms for $10 — Tennessee Homemade Wines, Old Mountain, Smokin' Banjo, Tennessee Cider Co., and more.

Six of Gatlinburg's best upscale restaurants — The Greenbrier, Peddler Steakhouse, Cherokee Grill, Chesapeake's, The Park Grill, and Howard's since 1946.

Six of the Smokies' most beautiful spots — Porters Creek wildflowers, Kuwohi summit views, Gregory Bald rhododendrons, Cataract Falls, and Roaring Fork Drive.

Discover the beauty of fall and escape into nature with our top picks for the best hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains. Explore some of the area's most scenic trails with these great tips!

Explore the stunning Smoky Mountains in autumn with the top five fall experiences that Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have to offer! Whether you enjoy nature, food, or adventure, there's something for everyone.

Enjoy the stunning fall colors that the Smokies have to offer. Check out our guide of five key places you can visit for an unforgettable experience in one of America's most beautiful locations.