Smoky Mountains

When you want to escape from the busyness of everyday life, there’s no better place to visit than the Smoky Mountains! For a relaxing getaway that puts you up close to the natural beauty of the Smokies, come camping. Campgrounds offer the perfect opportunity to unwind without any distractions. Here are 5 reasons Smoky Mountain campgrounds provide the best vacation:

While summer and fall are two of the most popular seasons to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the area has something to offer during all four seasons! Winter is a great time to visit the Smoky Mountains and see gorgeous views, like snow-capped mountains and frozen waterfalls, and be able to explore the park without huge crowds. For help planning your trip, we’ve gathered some useful tips for visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the winter.

This winter season, the only road to get to Cades Cove is closed to all traffic through Feb. 29 for repairs to Bote Mountain Tunnel. Although you can still hike to Cades Cove, it’s at least a 14-mile roundtrip hike to the Cades Cove Loop Road from any of the boundary trailheads. That’s why we’re giving you some alternatives to Cades Cove to visit this winter! Take the time to explore other beautiful areas in the park. Here are 6 places to explore in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park while Cades Cove is closed:

The Henry Whitehead Place is getting a facelift in 2020! This historic structure was built in 1881 and sits in the Cades Cove section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is just one of the historic buildings that has been or is being restored in the park. Learn more about the Henry Whitehead Place rehabilitation project:

If you’re a senior or are bringing a senior to the Smoky Mountains, you can still get out and explore the hiking trails too! There are plenty of easy options for Smoky Mountains hiking trails that people of all ages can do. You’ll be able to enjoy nature and a nice hike just like everyone else! Look at these top 4 Smoky Mountains hiking trails seniors can do:

The new year is bringing new attractions, restaurants, shops and more to the Smoky Mountain area! In 2019 we got Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Gatlinburg, Wildwood Grove and the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. You can expect even more exciting additions in 2020! Here are 9 new Smoky Mountain attractions to visit in 2020.

Another successful year in the Smoky Mountains is coming to a close. We had so many exciting things happen this year! From new restaurants and attractions to awards and recognitions, the Smokies got it all in 2019. While we gear up to start another year full of fun, it’s a good time to reflect on some things that happened in the past 12 months. Check out these 6 things you forgot happened in the Smoky Mountains in 2019:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is on pace to set another record-breaking number of visitors for 2019! It’s no surprise our beautiful park continues to draw in more visitors year after year. Read on to learn more about this year’s visitors and why you should plan a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2019!

As the year draws to a close, it’s time to squeeze in one more visit to the Smoky Mountains! The end of the year is one of the best times to visit the Smokies, with holiday events, gorgeous mountain views, and plenty of fun. To help you plan your trip, we’ve put together a list of 5 things to do in the Smoky Mountains before the year ends.

If you’ve never been to the Smoky Mountains in winter, you should plan your winter trip now! The Smokies are beautiful any time of the year, but there’s nothing like seeing them covered in frost and snow. The chill in the air will make you wish for a warm drink, and there’s nothing quite like it! Look at our top 6 tips for visiting the Smoky Mountains in winter:

One of the most exciting parts about visiting the Smoky Mountains is getting the chance to see some wildlife, especially black bears. If you’re hoping to spot a black bear when you visit the Smokies, there are a few places you should go. To help you out, we’ve made a list of 4 of the best places to spot bears in the Smoky Mountains.

One of the amazing things about the Smoky Mountains is the history you’ll find there. So many structures and areas are preserved so visitors can see what life was like when pioneers first came to this area. A popular activity in the Smokies is hiking, so why not combine the two? Check out these 5 hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains that uncover history:

One of the best spots to begin your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is at a visitor center! The visitor center will have all the information you need for a great time in the park. You can pick up a park map, ask a park ranger any questions you have, and even purchase guides and books to the park. To help you learn more, we’ve put together a complete guide to the Smoky Mountain visitor centers.

The Great Smoky Mountains are home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States. Featuring majestic peaks and picturesque valleys, the Smokies are especially stunning during the autumn months, when the mountains come alive with vivid orange, red, and yellow leaves. Unfortunately, visitors to East Tennessee who suffer from colorblindness have never had the chance to experience the full splendor of the Smoky Mountains. A project from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development aims to change this.

A couple getting married in Gatlinburg had an unexpected addition to their wedding photos: a black bear! Sarina Thompson and Cory Brewer were posing for wedding photos at an outdoor venue when the black bear stumbled into the shot. The photos of the happy couple and the bear ended up going viral, and if you haven’t seen them yet you can check them out below!