Smoky Mountains

For one special East Tennessee woman, having the chance to meet Dolly Parton means more than simply ‘getting to meet a celebrity.’ For Carolyn Basler, Dolly Parton is playing a huge part in her recovery process--and they’ve never met.

We are excited to report that 5,000 polar bears will be introduced into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park beginning in 2016! The National Park Service issued a press release this morning detailing a five-year plan to transplant polar bears from the Arctic Circle to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.

The Smoky Mountains are full of great attractions throughout Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. However, for those of you wanting to branch out past the norm, we have the top 7 free things to do in the Smoky Mountains National Park.

Whether you’re visiting for the beautiful fall colors or to enjoy the cooler temperatures, fall in the Smoky Mountains is one of the most popular times to vacation in East Tennessee. We decided to take an inside look at the fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so you can experience the beauty of the Smokies right from your home.

Early in the morning on Wednesday, February 26, 2015, a minor earthquake shook up the Smoky Mountains.

Night hiking in the Smoky Mountains is an extraordinary experience. Not only do guests have a greater chance of seeing wildlife, but they also give you a whole new perspective on the Great Smoky Mountains.

Friends of the Smokies just released their 2015 Classic Hikes of the Smokies Schedule and we have all the details!

Every year, the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont hosts Monarch butterfly tagging events at Cades Cove, to collect, catalog and tag butterflies. By tagging butterflies, they are able to track their migration path and track the length of time they spend in the area before migrating from the cooler weather to the sunshine.

Big Smoky Mountain News Just Announced!

Spending the day hiking in the Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the few activities that families and guests can enjoy all year long. However, as the seasons change, so do the hiking tips that visitors need to follow, especially in the winter.

2014 has been an amazing year in the Smoky Mountain area and we are so excited to see all of the exciting things that 2015 has in store! We’re put together a few of our favorite moments in 2015 and we are excited to share them with you. So, take a look at a few of our most popular moments in our Smoky Mountain year in review countdown:

Wears Valley in the Smoky Mountains is one of the best kept secrets in all of East Tennessee. It’s a popular vacation destination for visitors, but also a great place for locals to spend time, too. At Visit My Smokies, we decided to share some of the best hidden gems in Wears Valley, and a few of the secret spots you probably haven’t visited. You don’t want to miss this, so take a look at the video below for an inside look at Wears Valley:

As many of you already know, there have been a few trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that have undergone restorations. Recently, the National Park officials announced that there would be a huge restoration project taking place on one of the most popular trails in the park.