Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

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.

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.

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.

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.

From Professor Hacker's mining-train adventure to Crave's candy dreamland and blacklight space golf — six of the best mini golf courses in Pigeon Forge.

From the Gatlinburg SkyBridge and Kuwohi's summit tower to Laurel Falls and Cades Cove — ten of the most romantic places to propose in the Smoky Mountains.

The 1875 Harrisburg Covered Bridge and the modern Emerts Cove Covered Bridge are two of the Smokies' most photogenic stops. Here's the history and how to find each.

From Chesapeake's daily-fresh raw bar to Storming Crab's Cajun boil and Bubba Gump at The Island — six of the best seafood restaurants in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

Seven miles apart, two different trips — how Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge differ and how to choose the right base for your Smoky Mountain vacation.

The Tail of the Dragon packs 318 curves into 11 miles of US-129 at the TN–NC line. Here's what makes it legendary, plus safety and timing tips for driving it.

From Applewood Farmhouse to the Wild Plum Tea Room and Bennett's BBQ — six restaurants across Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville where locals actually eat.