Smoky Mountains

We all scream for ice cream — especially on a beautiful day when the sun is shining in the Smokies! Luckily, the Smoky Mountains are home to a variety of ice cream shops that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. To help you decide where to find your favorite frozen treat, we’ve put together a guide to the best ice cream shops in the Smoky Mountains.

If you’ve visited Gatlinburg, TN, the name “Wiley Oakley” may ring a bell. Perhaps you stayed in a cabin rental located off of Wiley Oakley Drive? Or maybe you spotted the plaque dedicated to Oakley at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center?

During the summer, there is no better place to spend your time than in the Smoky Mountains. From all the amazing things to do to the gorgeous weather, you’re guaranteed to have great vacation! If you’ve been searching for the perfect time to plan your trip, we can help! Here are 10 signs it’s time to take your summer vacation to the Smoky Mountains:

During May 2018, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced a big change. Steve Kloster, the chief ranger of the park, retired after serving 35 great years in the National Park Service. At Visit My Smokies, we’re taking the time to share with you more about Kloster’s story and the legacy he is leaving behind.

It’s no secret that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country! And it’s no surprise why either. With more than 850 miles of hiking trails, 2,900 miles of streams and a wide variety of wildlife, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Even though the park is so well known, it still has some secrets hidden away that not many people know. Check out these shocking secrets of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

Seeing wildlife is one of the best parts about visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is one of the many reasons so many people choose to vacation in the mountains. About 1,600 black bears call the Smoky Mountains home! Spotting a black bear during your visit to the National Park is exciting, so we want to make sure you know the best ways to keep both you and the bears safe. Here are the most important Smoky Mountain black bear safety tips you need to know:

Gorgeous wildflowers, cascading waterfalls, wildlife — you’ll have the opportunity to see all of these things and more when you go hiking in the Smoky Mountains during the summer. Summer is one of the most popular times to explore the Smoky Mountains! You’ll have more than 850 miles of trails to explore, ranging in level of difficulty from easy to difficult. To help you decide where you want to hike, we’ve come up with the 8 best Smoky Mountain trails to hike in the summer:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 900 miles of beautiful trails, and Garan Moore has hiked all of them! On April 21, 2018, Garan became the first person with autism to accomplish this incredible feat. Local news station WBIR caught up with Garan and his mother, Theresa, to learn about their amazing story. You can see the full interview with the Moores below:

Everyone who is familiar with the Smoky Mountains has heard of Mount LeConte, which at 6,593 feet is the third highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located near the summit at 6,360 feet is LeConte Lodge, where visitors can relax and see stunning mountain views. What originated as a simple log structure in 1926 has become a place that 15,000 day hikers visit each year. This spring, the long-time manager of the lodge retires.

This morning, the National Park Service confirmed the existence of a growing sinkhole in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. According to a press release from park officials, the sinkhole is not dangerous but it will eventually rival the Grand Canyon in size. We have summarized the National Park Service’s official announcement below.

If you’re a history buff, you’ll love visiting the Smoky Mountains! There are numerous historical landmarks scattered throughout the Smokies for you to explore. To help you plan your trip, we’ve made a list of the top 7 historical places in the Smoky Mountains for you to visit while you’re here:

We are excited to announce that Visit My Smokies now has our very own podcast! Our Smoky Mountain podcast is your ticket to the latest and greatest information about the area. Not only does our podcast make it easy for you to stay up to date with what’s going on in the Smoky Mountains, but you will also get insider tips on all the best things to do when you visit!

The Smoky Mountains are known for incredible shows and live performances at some of the most popular theaters. But it’s not just live performances you can see during your vacation! When you visit the Smoky Mountains, you can catch some of the latest blockbuster movies you’ve been dying to see! If you want to spend your evening enjoying a film, check out one of these top movie theaters in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains:

Sometimes all you need is a peaceful getaway to the beautiful mountains to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you don’t have a lot of free time to spare for a vacation, a short trip to the Smoky Mountains is perfect for you! Take a weekend off to relax and enjoy all that the mountains have to offer. To make sure you make the most of your short time in the area, we’ve come up with a guide to the perfect weekend vacation in the Smoky Mountains.

Are you feeling lucky? The Smoky Mountains are filled with fun things to do that put your luck up to the test. From puzzles, to arcade games, to mystery quests, there are tons of exciting attractions for you to try that take both skill and luck. So grab your lucky charm and test your luck at these Smoky Mountain attractions: