Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

Spring wildflowers and the firefly lottery, July 4th midnight parade, fall foliage by elevation, and winter quiet — when to visit Gatlinburg and what each season offers.

The drive from Nashville to Pigeon Forge takes about three and a half hours — here are the best small-town stops to make along the way.

Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas brings six million lights, holiday shows, and festive food to the park each winter — here's what to expect.

Four zipline courses near Pigeon Forge, compared — from family-friendly canopy tours to the fastest, highest lines in the Smokies.

Step into an 1880s homestead in the Smokies — a rare saddlebag cabin, the park's last working tub mill, and an easy trail near Gatlinburg.

From the Ogle Dog to hand-pulled taffy, here are seven local dishes that define a Gatlinburg vacation — and where to find each one.

Oktoberfest, the Craftsmen's Fair, Fright Nights, and more — the five fall festivals that make October the best time to visit Gatlinburg.

Wine trails, sunset Jeep tours, and dinner for two — six ways to spend a romantic day (or evening) together in Pigeon Forge.

From singing animatronic chickens to a tropical island vibe, these six Pigeon Forge restaurants turn dinner into part of the entertainment.

From a paved walk to Laurel Falls to a hike back in time to a preserved 1800s homestead, here are five Smoky Mountain trails built for young hikers.

From Cades Cove to the newly renamed Kuwohi, here are seven must-see destinations across Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

From Xtreme Racing Center's 40 mph karts to LazerPort's 50-foot spiral drop, here are seven verified-open go-kart tracks worth racing in Pigeon Forge.

From Splash Country and the Jeep Invasion to indoor snow tubing, here are five great ways to beat the heat in Pigeon Forge this August.

How six unmarried sisters refused to leave their Smoky Mountain homestead — and how their cabin still stands in the national park today.

From Cajun classics to burgers with a mountain view, here are three local favorite restaurants worth the drive to Wears Valley.

From Puckers' massive new video wall to Calhoun's slow-smoked barbecue, here are four great places to watch the game in Gatlinburg.

From moonshine tastings to a rooftop taco dinner, here are eight fun ideas for a Gatlinburg bachelorette party weekend.

From a real steam train to a classic 60-animal carousel, here are five beloved Dollywood rides that aren't about speed — and that guests keep coming back for.

From whiskey-glazed wings to double-smoked barbecue style, here are five Pigeon Forge restaurants serving up the area's best chicken wings.

Black bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, coyotes and more — what wildlife lives in Cades Cove, plus the best times and safest way to view it.