Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

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.

Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi, Roaring Fork, and the Foothills Parkway — the five best scenic drives in the Smokies, with distances, seasons, and what to see.

The House of the Fairies is a moss-covered stone springhouse off the Twin Creeks Trail near Gatlinburg. Here's its history and how to find this Smoky Mountains hidden gem.

Dollywood began in 1961 as Rebel Railroad, became Goldrush Junction, then Silver Dollar City, and finally Dollywood in 1986. Here's the full history of the park.

Dine beside the Little Pigeon River at Gatlinburg's best waterfront restaurants — The Peddler, Howard's, The Heirloom Room, Chesapeake's, and No Way Jose's.

Anakeesta, Ripley's Aquarium, the SkyBridge, and a rider-controlled mountain coaster — the best kids' birthday activities in Gatlinburg, plus group-rate tips.

Take I-40 to Exit 407, then TN-66 South into Pigeon Forge. Here are directions by region, the alternate route that skips Parkway traffic, and the closest airport.

Ole Smoky's Holler in Gatlinburg is America's most visited distillery — free tastings, working copper stills, live bluegrass, and 25 moonshine flavors. Here's what to know.

The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge is the South's largest Christmas store, open 365 days a year. Themed rooms, custom ornaments, Santa visits, and fudge.

North America's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, the 1954 SkyLift chairlift, Tulip Tower, and the SkyDeck — everything to know before visiting Gatlinburg SkyPark.

From Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen's fresh-pulled taffy to Aunt Mahalia's handcrafted chocolates — six of the best candy stores in Gatlinburg, some open since the 1930s.

The Peddler's cut-your-own steaks, Cherokee Grill's mountain lodge, Alamo's oak-fire grill, and more — five of the best steakhouses in Gatlinburg, TN.

Five of the best Gatlinburg breakfast spots — Pancake Pantry since 1960, Crockett's, Log Cabin Pancake House, Flapjack's, and The Donut Friar open at 5 AM.

lack bear sightings near Gatlinburg cabins do happen. Here's what to expect, the BearWise basics, and how to keep your family — and the bears — safe.

Patriot Park, the historic Old Mill, free Stampede show horses, the Riverwalk Greenway, and the national park — eight of the best free things to do in Pigeon Forge.