Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

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.

Six of the best Smoky Mountains fall hikes — Charlies Bunion, Ramsey Cascades, Rainbow Falls, Gregory Bald, Alum Cave, and the AT from Newfound Gap.

Five spots for fall foliage in the Smokies — Cades Cove, Newfound Gap Road, Kuwohi summit views, Roaring Fork, and Deep Creek's late-season color.

What to pack for a Gatlinburg cabin trip — layers for mountain weather, hiking gear, what the cabin provides, food to bring, and first aid essentials.

Pigeon Forge is famous for Dollywood, its gateway location to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, The Island, a packed attractions corridor, and year-round events.

Gatlinburg is worth visiting for the national park access, Ober Gatlinburg, Ripley's Aquarium, SkyLift Park, the Arts & Crafts Community, and Ole Smoky Moonshine.

Four Gatlinburg coffee shops — Gatlinburg Grind in the Arts & Crafts Community, Ski Mountain Grind Haus at Ober, the Donut Friar open at 5 AM, and Coffee & Company.

Five Dollywood activities for non-riders — Craftsman's Valley artisans, the Chasing Rainbows Museum, Wildwood Grove, Showstreet live entertainment, and the food.

Five Smoky Mountains hikes with panoramic views — Alum Cave, Chimney Tops (observation deck), Kuwohi summit, Mount Cammerer fire tower, and Rainbow Falls.

Seven mother-daughter Gatlinburg ideas — the Arts & Crafts Community, Cades Cove, Anakeesta, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, spa day, history, and cabin time.

September in Gatlinburg brings cooler temps, early ridge color, Dollywood's Harvest Festival opening, and fewer crowds than October — here's what to plan for.

Nine hiking essentials for the Smoky Mountains — the right pack, moisture-wicking layers, water, trail food, bear spray, navigation, and a rain jacket.

Six Pigeon Forge sweet stops — Buzzed Bull liquid nitrogen ice cream, Curl de la Crème, The Fudgery's singing staff, Country Candy Kitchen, Gigi's, and Crumbl.

Ten tips for visiting Cades Cove with kids — start early for wildlife, pack snacks, use the historic structures, bike the vehicle-free morning loop, and more.

Mount LeConte stands at 6,593 feet — the third highest peak in the Smokies, with five trail routes, a backcountry lodge open since 1926, and two summit viewpoints.

Six GSMNP secrets — the Elkmont Troll Bridge, steam engine wreck, Pearl Harbor Tree, Gregory's Cave, Walker Sisters Cabin, and Hyatt Lane ruins.

Seven things to do in Townsend, TN — river tubing on the Little River, Tuckaleechee Caverns, Cades Cove, the Heritage Center, horseback riding, and the Townsend Y.