On Memorial Day, 1960, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed the graduating class of Knoxville College:
“We’re on the threshold of the most constructive period in history with regard to race relations. I’m convinced that segregation is on its death bed and the only thing uncertain is the day it will be buried.”
Speaking to thousands in attendance, he urged peaceful protest as the path to racial equality. “The temptation, for those of us who have been trampled on, is to enter the new age with hate and revenge in mind. If we do that, the new order will be nothing more than a duplication of the old,” Dr. King said.
At just 31 years old, the co-pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church was emerging as one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement. Three years later, he would deliver his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Tragically, Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis while preparing to lead a march in support of striking sanitation workers. Yet, his legacy prevails—and members of the Blount County MLK Celebration Planning Committee invite the community to join in celebrating it.
The committee has three observances planned for the 2025 MLK Day holiday and preceding weekend (Jan. 17-20), with the theme “Realizing the Dream Through Service and the Arts”.
Kicking things off, the annual MLK Day Business Luncheon will take place at noon, Jan. 17, at the Airport Hilton. Denise J. Dean, executive director of the East Tennessee Freedom Schools (ETFS), will be the keynote speaker. The deadline to reserve seats is Jan. 13.
Elder Bobby Fields, Jr., pastor at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Loudon, will lead a community worship service at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church (537 N. Hall Road, Alcoa) on Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. The Overflow will provide the music.
All are encouraged to participate in the annual MLK Day March, led by Grand Marshal Larry Ervin, former director of the MLK Celebration Mass Choir. The march will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Community Center in Alcoa and conclude at the Maryville College Clayton Center for the Arts (CCA), where an afternoon celebration will follow.
Engaging local youth, the event will feature performances by the Alcoa High School Concert Choir and the William Blount High School Theatre program. The program cover will showcase a mixed-media portrait of Dr. King, created by 9th-grade Maryville Junior High School student, Ella McNulty, who won the 2025 Blount County MLK Celebration Art/Design Contest.
Marc Burnett, an Alcoa native and commissioner with the Tennessee Arts Commission, will unveil a new painting, which he will donate to the MLK Center in Alcoa. Attendees can also explore his exhibit, “REMNANTS”.
Additionally, five local nonprofit organizations—All Are Worthy, Hall-Oldfield-Maryville Empowerment Inc. (H.O.M.E. Inc.), Safe Families for Children, the Welcome Table and the MLK Center—will be present to share information about service opportunities.
Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and passionate storyteller of the Greater Smokies region.
It’s not too late to make Father’s Day plans on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. Whether you’re building a full weekend around Dad or choosing one special outing, here are two itineraries to inspire you.
Townsend Father’s Day Itinerary
A Father’s Day weekend in Townsend can be as simple as a morning hike, lunch in town and a relaxed afternoon activity. You can stay overnight or make it a day trip.
Start the day with a hike. For something short, take the 0.8-mile roundtrip trail to Look Rock Tower off the Foothills Parkway. It leads to panoramic mountain views.
For a longer hike, try Middle Prong Trail. Indian Flats Falls is about 8.3 miles round trip, but the trail works well with a shorter turnaround point. Lynn Camp Prong Cascades is about 0.7 miles from the trailhead, making it an easier option before lunch in Townsend.
There are several restaurants in town to choose from. Peaceful Side Social has outdoor seating and a menu with options for the whole family.
Cades Cove Golf is just down the road. The new miniature golf course brings the feel of a traditional course to a smaller scale, with mountain views and a different challenge at each hole. It opens at noon on Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Photo courtesy of Cades Cove Golf.
If you’re staying at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, the annual Father’s Day weekend cornhole tournament runs Saturday, June 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. You can book it as an add-on when you reserve your stay.
Later in the day, stop by Company Distilling. For Father’s Day weekend, the Townsend location is offering etched bottles of Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Maple Wood, plus a buy-one, get-one-half-off special on that product, excluding cask strength.
You can also reserve the Fill Your Own Bottle experience. Guests take part in a premium guided tasting, then fill, cork, seal and sign their own 750ml bottle from the barrel. The current release is an 8-Year Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon. The experience costs $139.99 per person and lasts about 60 to 90 minutes. It’s open to guests 21 and older with valid ID.
Stick around for live music. The Grassroots Gringos are performing on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. If you’re visiting with kids or anyone under 21, Townsend Abbey is another option for dinner and live music. Perry Bonck performs Saturday from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
If you’re staying overnight, let Sunday move slower. Grab brunch or an early lunch at Townsend Abbey, which is open for Father’s Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. If the Fill Your Own Bottle experience at Company Distilling or a round at Cades Cove Golf didn’t fit into the day before, both can work as Sunday options before heading home. You could also take a walk along the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum by the Little River.
Maryville Father’s Day Itinerary
Photo courtesy of Creative Spark Studio.
In Maryville, Father’s Day weekend can include a hands-on activity, live music, brunch and a new indoor golf experience at Greenway Village.
Creative Spark Studio offers Blacksmithing Basics with Bryan on Saturday, June 20. Classes run from 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Book in advance to make a marshmallow roaster with Dad. The class is recommended for ages 18 and older, or 16 and older with a guardian.
After class, stay out for dinner or live music. Cats Away performs at Peaceful Side Brewery on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. For a later night, Two Doors Down has a Throwback party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Maryville has several Father’s Day brunch options. Daisy’s Non-alcoholic Bar and Bottle Shop is hosting theirs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The all-ages event includes games and a pool table. Dads get their first drink free.
Raven Steakhouse is also hosting Father’s Day brunch. The special menu includes shrimp and grits, biscuits and sausage gravy, smoked salmon, beef tenderloin, pancakes, pastries and more. Brunch is $55 and requires advance reservation.
Photo courtesy of The FoxHole Golf Club.
End the weekend at The FoxHole Golf Club in Greenway Village. The new indoor golf club uses Trackman-powered simulators, giving players a high-tech place to practice, play world-class courses and track their stats. Book tee times through the website. Children must be 13 and older.
Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and storyteller of the Greater Smokies region. She holds a Master of Science in Conservation Education from Mississippi State University.
Photo courtesy of University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Special Collections.
Written by: Emily Huffstetler
In 1900, a Pennsylvanian man named J.W. Fisher found himself in a predicament. The tannery he recently started in Blount County had taken off, producing up to 400 hides a day, and his local tanbark providers couldn’t meet the demand.
Meanwhile, in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, a businessman named Colonel W.B. Townsend was experiencing growing pains of his own. Now that almost all the timber in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains had been logged, Townsend was looking to relocate his logging enterprise.
Seeing an opportunity to secure a reliable tanbark provider, Fisher invited Townsend to the Great Smoky Mountains. In 1901, W.B. Townsend—along with Pennsylvanian investors Asbury Lee, William McCormick, William Wrigley and Joe Dickey—purchased nearly 100,000 acres of timberland along the Little River and its tributaries. They chartered the Little River Lumber Company and then the Little River Railroad, to haul the logs.
Fully committed to his business venture, W.B. Townsend moved his family to Blount County. And in 1903, the community of Tuckaleechee—a Cherokee name loosely translating to “peaceful valley”—was named in his honor.
Photo courtesy of University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Special Collections.
Over the course of 38 years, Townsend’s company built 150 miles of railroads and sawed 560 million board feet of timber—enough to reach California and back, if laid end-to-end. Environmentally and economically, the Little River Lumber Company and Little River Railroad reshaped the Peaceful Side of the Smokies.
“We’re learning more and more about [W.B. Townsend and the investors],” said Neal Stone, President of The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company nonprofit. They apparently had a 16-story office building in Pittsburgh, suggesting affiliation with a larger company. W.B. Townsend had also been logging in West Virginia and Kentucky, and he owned a railroad, coal mine and clay tile company in Kentucky.
Perhaps, then, it would come as no surprise that Townsend monetized nearly every aspect of his East Tennessee logging community. Workers and their families rented on-site prefab homes from the company, and they were paid in “doogaloo,” redeemable only at the company stores.
“It was a very monopolistic situation,” Stone said.
W.B. Townsend also transformed a hunting camp, Elkmont, into a tourist destination for wealthy East Tennesseans. Since the trains already had flat cars to restrain their loads, the company decided to add side rails and charge people a small fee to ride from Knoxville to Townsend.
When that did well, they built the Elkmont Observation Car, which had 16 benches capable of seating two people each, for a total capacity of 32 people. Regular passenger cars were used as well.
Photo courtesy of University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Special Collections.
In 1910, W.B. Townsend decided to subdivide the property. He sold 50 acres to the Appalachian Club, a group of wealthy businessmen from Knoxville. Members paid the Elkmont Construction and Supply Company, also owned by Townsend, to build a clubhouse and cottages.
“They’d live there all summer, and the husbands would come there on the weekends,” Stone said. For those who could afford it, the mountain retreat was an idyllic escape from the heat.
A couple years later, three brothers from Knoxville bought 65 acres and opened the Wonderland Hotel. The brothers ended up selling the hotel to rivals of the Appalachian Club looking to form a club of their own.
Members of the two clubs refused to interact with each other on the train ride to their respective properties. But they did eventually find a common interest: protecting their land.
“The irony is that the lumber company’s clearcutting led to the preservation of the park,” Stone said. At the time, the process for lumbering was clearcutting, an extreme method that stripped the virgin landscape bare. The tourists wanted to put an end to this.
The national park movement was still relatively new. Yellowstone, the first national park, was only established in 1872. Creating a park would prove especially complicated because people had been living on the land for generations.
Nevertheless, the club members and environmentalists persisted. In 1926, Congress approved the authorization of the park, and Tennessee and North Carolina started raising money to purchase nearly half a million acres from private owners.
The outlook was grim for most residents. The Tennessee state government was only willing to pay about half of what their properties were worth. When the owners resisted, the state invoked the right of eminent domain. Over 5,000 people had no choice but to leave their homes. Meanwhile, the influential Wonderland and Appalachian Club negotiated a rental agreement that would extend into the early 90s.
The Little River Lumber Company sold 76,507 acres for the park, on the stipulation that they could keep logging for the next 15 years. In 1939, the last logs came out of the mountains.
“There are three locomotives left in the world that we know worked for the Little River Railroad Company,” Stone said.
“Number 110 lasted the entire lifetime of the railroad…It has been fully restored and runs today in Michigan pulling passengers.” It’s the smallest standard gauge Pacific steam locomotive ever built in the United States.
“Number 126 was another technological advancement. It was what they called a Mallet type, and it had eight driving wheels…It was a rod type engine, but it was hinged in the middle, so it could go around tighter curves,” Stone said.
That locomotive didn’t stay with the Little River Railroad long due to technical issues. It went back to the manufacturer and was sold out West, where it derailed and was abandoned for years. About three years ago, it was returned to full active service pulling excursion trains on the west coast.
The last surviving locomotive, Shay 2147, eventually made its way back home.
Shay 2147 was only used for about three or four years as the Little River Railroad was winding down. It pulled the last train across the Little Tennessee River (now part of Tellico Lake) near Chilhowee while workers disassembled the tracks and bridge.
The locomotive changed hands several times after that, travelling across the country, before it was put up for sale for $8,000 for parts. After local train enthusiasts banded together, the Towsend Chamber of Commerce decided to purchase it as a monument for a future park.
At least, that was the plan.
“Well, when word got out about the Shay, there was this huge groundswell of public support,” Stone said.
“You heard stuff like, ‘My daddy used to do that; my grandaddy used to do that; I drove that; I got to be an engineer for that.’ We still had people around back then that worked for the company, and people were coming up with pictures and artifacts,” Stone said.
In November 1982, several community members came together and formed the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company nonprofit corporation. They converted the former Walland Depot, donated by Joe Henry Everett on behalf of her late husband, into a museum.
Photo courtesy of the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum.
“The Shay arrived on Thanksgiving weekend 1982, and we’ve been growing ever since,” Stone said.
“Earlier, we received grant [funding] to build a gift shop that resembles the Elkmont post office. And our main restoration shop conference room is designed to look like the Elkmont train engine house,” Stone said. In other exciting news, the nonprofit recently received a grant from the Tennessee State Museum to put a new roof on the depot and water tower.
A variety of artifacts have turned up over the years—most recently, a mint condition box of crayons that would’ve been used to mark the wood 80 to 90 years ago. Everything is on rotation at the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum, which is open to the public from April through November. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.
The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum annual Railroad Days Heritage Festival is coming up on Sept. 28 and 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can ride the hand pump car, check out the reproduction Elkmont Observation Car and see special exhibits and artifacts. There will be local food vendors and craftsmen, as well as live music.
Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and passionate storyteller of the Greater Smokies region.
Walland is a small, unincorporated community tucked into Miller’s Cove, a peaceful valley in the northwestern foothills of the Smokies. Today, around 463 people call this quiet corner of Blount County home. But its story stretches back long before modern roads and homes appeared.
In 1567, Spanish explorer Juan Pardo and his expedition crossed the Little River at present-day Walland, searching for a route to a silver-mining town in Mexico. At that time, Spaniards believed that the Appalachian Mountains connected all the way to central Mexico.
For generations, the Overhill Cherokee used the cove as hunting grounds. By the time European settlers arrived in the 1780s, Cherokee presence and influence in the area were well established. As settlers moved in, they built small forts in response to Cherokee resistance, gradually driving them from the land.
As European settlement increased, land claims began to formalize. The earliest recorded land grant in the area was given to John Rhea for 940 acres in 1794. It referred to the region as Murphy’s Cove. Before long, the name changed to Miller’s Cove, likely in honor of brothers Alexander and Andrew Miller, who built several cabins during the early 1800s.
Around the same time, Swiss immigrant John Hess built a grist mill on the cove’s western end, while the Martin family established another mill to the east.
As more pioneers settled in the area, Miller’s Cove Baptist Church was established in 1810. It became Blount County’s first Baptist church and remains one of its oldest congregations today. A Methodist church followed in 1830.
With a growing community came industry. In 1845, George Amerine established an iron forge along Hess Creek. By the mid-1850s, it was producing as much as 15 tons of bar iron each year, making it the largest forge in the county. However, with the outbreak of the Civil War, production came to a halt, and the forge was abandoned.
While Tennessee sided with the Confederacy, Blount County remained largely pro-Union. In Walland, an estimated 1,500 people gathered for a Union rally, where they made an American flag and raised it on a tall flagpole.
As the story goes, when a Confederate cavalry passed through, some soldiers raised their rifles. But their lieutenant stopped them, reminding the troops that it was the flag under which they had been born. In a surprising moment of respect, the troops peacefully circled the flag, saluted it and rode on.
After the war, industry resumed in Miller’s Cove. John Waters built the first grist and sawmill and opened a post office, which operated from 1884 to 1912.
In August 1886, photographer William Cox Cochran captured dozens of photographs of people and landmarks in East Tennessee, including Walland. His images depict the timeless Little River, along with serene clearings and humble cabins.
In 1901, the first railroad reached Walland, connecting the community to Maryville. Around the same time, the Schlosser Leather Company was chartered, with its tannery opening in 1902. The name Walland combines Walton and England, two key figures in the leather company’s formation.
At its peak, the plant processed an average of 300 to 400 hides each day, consuming roughly 250 carloads of tanbark annually. By 1909, the company had its own power plant. However, this plant burned down in 1931 and was never rebuilt. Following the fire, Chilhowee Inn, built and operated by the company, passed to private ownership. Today, it continues to welcome visitors as a bed and breakfast.
Walland’s first high school opened in 1922 and became a four-year school in 1926. While other schools in the county were open just six months of the year, the Schlosser Leather Company funded salaries for an extra three months of instruction. The high school closed in the mid-70s.
Walland is perhaps best known today for Blackberry Farm, which Kreis and Sandy Beall opened to the public in 1976 as a six-room country inn. Over the years, it has grown into one of the world’s most celebrated small luxury resorts. Set on 2,400 acres, Blackberry Farm offers 68 guest accommodations, world-class dining and a range of curated experiences that draw visitors from around the globe.
Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and passionate storyteller of the Greater Smokies region.
Southern Appalachian cuisine is a blend of British, German and Italian immigrant traditions, along with Cherokee and African American influences—at least, that’s what Google says. Ask a local, and they’ll tell you it’s about clearing your plate, going back for seconds (or thirds), and still heading home with leftovers—especially if Mamaw’s cooking.
Shaped by rugged mountains and harsh winters, Southern Appalachians have long mastered the art of making the most of what’s available. For generations, foraging for ingredients like ramps, blackberries and black walnuts, along with canning, pickling and preserving, has been a way of life. Today, restaurants on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies carry on these traditions with their own modern twist.
Well, what are you waiting for? We’ve saved you a seat.
Southern Appalachian Staples
Before diving into the best places to try these dishes, here’s a breakdown of some key ingredients and meals that define Southern Appalachian cuisine:
Benton’s Bacon & Country Ham: World-famous ham slow cured in East Tennessee using salt, brown sugar and sodium nitrite.
Biscuits and Gravy: Not to be confused with the British cookie. Soft, flaky bread rolls served for breakfast.
Blackberries: In season from July to October. Enjoyed as-is, or in jams and cobblers.
Black-eyed Peas: Bean introduced to the region by West African enslaved people in the 17th century. Said to bring good luck in the New Year.
Cobbler: Dessert consisting of a fruit poured into a large baking dish and covered with a batter or biscuit.
Collards: Hardy greens that can survive the winter and summer. Like black-eyed peas, said to bring good luck in the New Year.
Fried Green Tomatoes and Fried Okra: Southern summertime delight. Maybe not what the doctor had in mind when they said to eat your vegetables.
Pimento Cheese: A.K.A. “Southern Caviar”. A blend of shredded cheddar cheese, pimentos, mayo and spices, typically served with crackers or as a sandwich.
Pinto Beans and Cornbread: Budget-friendly and hearty meal.
Ramps: Wild onion in season from mid-March to early April. Eaten raw or cooked.
Wild Mushrooms: Oyster mushrooms, Chicken of the Woods and morels are some of the most common.
Wild Nuts: Black walnuts, pecans and American Chestnuts are some of the most common.
Confit Rabbit Pasta – Confit rabbit leg, roasted ham hock meat, Benton’s bacon, preserved lemon, local oyster mushrooms, braised onions, smoked chicken velouté, baby kale and Italian apron pasta.
Veal Picatta & Pasta – Crispy veal sweetbreads, Benton’s bacon, preserved lemon, crispy capers, local oyster mushrooms and Italian apron pasta.
Green Goddess Salad – Artisan lettuce, cucumber, heirloom tomatoes, shaved radish, pickled red onion, cornbread croutons and spring herb dressing.
Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and passionate storyteller of the Greater Smokies region.
Located just outside Maryville, TN, is a local sight that many visitors pass right by, without even realizing what they’ve missed. Nestled into the heart of the peaceful side of the Smokies is the Blue Goose Vineyard and Winery, a family-owned business that produces some of the best wine in the state. The winery operates under the Appalachian spirit of farm-to-table – everything needed to create, store, package, and sell the wine is located right on the family vineyard, which has been in the family for five generations. Here’s why any wine lover should stop at the Blue Goose when visiting Maryville.
Have a Chic Date at the Rustic Farm Winery
The tasting room of the winery is located in the classic barn that was transformed from a working barn to a chic gathering space. Relax in the beautiful area while you sip, check out the gift shop, look at art from local artists, and more. The wine is a traditional Appalachian muscadine, which is sweet but not overly so. Whether your palette is very dry or more familiar with dessert wines, you’ll love Blue Goose. The property is also home to livestock and crops – it is a real working farm in every sense of the phrase. You’ll be able to see some of the livestock and farm life as you visit, which makes it a unique adventure if you’ve never had the chance to see a farm up close before. The winery is open to visitors Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 11AM to 6PM, and Friday from 11AM to 7PM.
Bring a Bottle of Blue Goose Home
A bottle of locally made wine is the perfect gift to bring home to family or friends, or for your own souvenir. Grab a bottle to take with you back to your cabin rental, hotel, or RV while you stay with us here in the Maryville area, and enjoy your night like the locals do. The wine selection is quite varied, so you can try a little of everything, or stick to your favorites. The property is also used for local events frequently. The winery can be rented out for a wedding, a community event, and more. In recent years, the community held an eclipse-viewing event here, and many of the locals came by to get a good look at this celestial wonder – and sip some local wine, of course!
Make This Local Gem a Must on Your Vacation Itinerary
Find out more about Blue Goose or take a look at their wine menu online. The winery is a fantastic way to have a relaxing afternoon before you head into the city for dinner reservations, or as a way to wind down after a day of fun.
With cooler temperatures and the emergence of vibrant red and orange hues, fall is upon us, which means camping season is here. Bundle up! These are the top places to camp in the Peaceful Side of the Smokies.
It’s no surprise the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds named this RV park its National Small Park of the Year in 2013 and 2019. They offer easy in, easy out pull-through campsites on concrete pads and patios, protected by 24/7 security. Their full hook up sites include water, sewer, major cable, Wi-Fi and 30/50 AMPs. And with a dog park, workout room, splash pad, basketball court and corn hole, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.
With recreational activities abounding, including an outdoor cinema, a playground, a basketball court, wagon rides, a pool, bike and tube rentals, tie-dyed t-shirts and more, Townsend Great Smokies KOA is a great family vacation destination. Rough it in a tent, park an RV and plug into 50 AMPs, or book a cabin. Deluxe cabins feature private bedroom(s), bathroom, patio with a grill, and full linens. You can even stay right on the Little River.
Little River Campground is a great place to make memories with your family. Go tubing in the Little River, swim in the pool, or play in the game room. There are arts/crafts to do on Fridays, including souvenir t-shirt decorating, and there are hayrides on Saturdays. The campsite has 30/50 AMPs, Wi-Fi and Direct TV.
If you’re down for an adventure, consider camping at Twin Valley B&B Horse Ranch. They offer horseback trail riding and miniature horse hiking, and you can swim and fish in a spring fed pond on your own time. Lodge in a fully furnished cabin, or backwoods “rough it” in a one-room, four-sided primitive shelter. To make things easy, they can even pick you up and drop you off at the airport.
Perhaps, you aren’t about the razzle dazzle of most campgrounds. Riverstone Campground offers a more rustic experience. It has shaded and riverfront campsites, which come with a fire pit a picnic table and a nearby bathhouse, It also has places to park your RV. Tent sites start as low as $25 a night, with discounts available for extended stay.
If you like glamping, you’ll like Little Arrow. You can bring your tent or RV, or you can stay in a heated platform tent, Airstream trailer, cabin or tiny home. The resort has a full calendar of activities for everyone in the family to enjoy, as well as a Spa, community garden, pool/hot tub, cabana, dog park, food truck area and gift shop.
If glamping is still too rustic for you, Dancing Bear Lodge provides the “in nature” experience, without the hassle. Dancing Bear is a full-service Lodge with hotel-like amenities, like daily housekeeping and complimentary snacks. Their cabins and cottages have access to two miles of hiking trails, so you’ll never be too far away from outdoor exploration.
If you’re looking for the full Smokies experience, Mountaineer Campground is just a half mile from the entrance to the national park. There are a variety of sites to choose from, including ones right on the trout stocked river, with 30/50 amp service. If glamping’s more your speed, there are also cabins with kitchen and bath. In your downtime, enjoy the wildlife photo gallery, playground, pool, pavilion, cable TV and Wi-Fi.
Whispering River Resort has more direct river access than any other resort or campground in the area—and it’s yours to enjoy. Go kayaking, enjoy the swimming beach or simply walk the trails. Then, kick back at the bonfire area or pool. Tent and 30/50 AMP RV sites, as well as cabins, are available. There’s even a meeting room and an event center.
This family-owned and operated campground has a mix of cabins and campsites—including ones right on the river. Take a splash in the pool, or let your kids get their wiggles out on the playground. Wind down with complementary cable and Wi-Fi. With 24/7 laundry, bathhouses and 30/50 AMPs, this Lazy Daze has all the essentials.
For some fun camping ideas, check out the blog posts below:
Are you ready to reconnect and relax on your family vacation? If you’re looking to get away from theme parks and crowds- we have the family vacation for you. Float down the Little River, stand in awe of an underground waterfall, learn about East Tennessee history and nature, and maybe spot a bear or two- here on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies.
The Institute at Tremont
The mission behind the Institute at Tremont is to offer hands-on outdoor discovery experiences accessible to everyone. They have succeeded and flourished with programs for everyone from young children to adults and educators to the curious public. Check out all of the kid-friendly activities they plan yearly.
Summer Camps
Leave the planning to the Tremont Institute and experience the Great Smoky Mountains in a structured and educational environment. Camps start as young as age four through high-school ages, along with family and adult camps, with themes like discovery camps, science camps, and backpacking camps. They even host a Firefly camp that allows a parent or grandparent to accompany children four to nine for a one, two, or three-night adventure.
Citizen Science Programs
Tremont offers volunteer programs throughout the year like monarch tagging, bird-banding, salamander monitoring, phenology tracking, and otter spotting. These programs allow the public to gather hands-on experience with actual scientific research.
Spending the Day at Tremont
Tremont Institute is located inside the Townsend entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Cades Cove. Visitors are welcome to hike the trails in the area any time the park is open. Please stop by the Tremont Visitor’s Center at 9275 Tremont Road for helpful information about the valley, and check out our selection of Smokies and Tremont merchandise. Proceeds from purchases in the gift store support Tremont’s mission to connect more people with nature.
For more information on the wealth of programs, camps, and volunteer opportunities, check out the Institute at Tremont’s website.
Tubing on the Little River
Add a lazy little adventure to your family vacation by tubing down the Little River. Beat the summer heat and create memories your kids will never forget as you spend an epic day letting mother nature guide you through her gorgeous waterways. The Peaceful Side offers several tubing businesses that provide various packages, including drop-off and pick-up. Click on the links below to learn more about kid-friendly activities at each location.
This trail is one of the most popular in the national park and is excellent for younger children because of its paved path to the waterfall. The hike is only 2.5 miles up and back and has an 80-foot high Laurel Falls named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub that blooms along the trail and near the falls in May. There is a small pool at the bottom of the falls, so remember to watch your adventurous kids.
Schoolhouse Gap Trails
This 3.8-mile trail is a gentle climb that runs along a creek and is a visual feast for wildflower lovers. The stream is a perfect way for the kids to cool down as parents catch glimpses of the mountain peaks through the forest of trees.
The Trail to Abrams Falls
Abram Falls Trail starts in Cades Cove and covers 5.2 miles by the time you make the trip. The trail takes you across several footbridges until you reach the falls that drop 20 feet down a rocky slope. Listed as a moderate hike, this is perfect for older children but easy enough for parents to backpack the family’s youngest members.
Townsend River Walk and Arboretum
Because of the hard work of the Tuckaleechee Garden Club, this 1/2 mile nature trail is well-maintained, highlighting flowers, trees, and the Little River. Join us for free, guided tours on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, and Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Maryville-Alcoa Greenway
This greenway runs close to the city and winds its way through schools, shopping centers, parks, and places to stop for a picnic. There are plenty of places to take a break from the trail, perfect for when your kids need something new to keep them occupied. The trail passes through vast expanses of greenery and over several tiny hills, which are sure to delight the younger members of your family as you walk along. It’s the perfect hike for those who want to enjoy a nice walk without having to be out in the woods.
Tuckaleechee Caverns
Voted the highest-ranking cave or cavern in the Eastern United States, Tuckaleechee Caverns is a great all-weather option for your Smoky Mountain Vacation. The cave is open from March to November and will give your family a great escape from the summer heat or one of those pesky pop-up thunderstorms for which East Tennessee is known. It will provide you with a break from the weather and give you a unique glimpse beneath the mountains and into a national treasure.
tuckaleechee caverns
Cades Cove
Consider adding Cades Cove to your kid-friendly activities in the Great Smoky Mountains. Cades Cove offers a visual historical experience of the Peaceful Side, allowing exploration of churches and cabin sites of Appalachain life dating back to the European settlers when the Cherokee were inhabiting the area. You can also bring along your bikes or drive around the loop, stopping to check everything out along the way. If you get lucky, you may see the park’s treasured black bears. But if you do, remember to keep your distance and admire their majesty from afar.
For other kid-friendly activities on the Peaceful Side, check out the blog posts below:
With the school year wrapping up, now’s the perfect time to sign up for summer camp on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. From hiking and swimming to crafting and dancing, there’s an adventure waiting for every kid and teen.
Blount County Parks & Rec hosts day camps that are all about getting active, ranging from sports training to outdoor games.
“Just Get Outdoors” Nature Adventure Camp (Ages 8–12): A fun, outdoor camp where kids explore stream and forest ecology through hands-on lessons in plant and animal biology, animal tracking and nature crafts in a positive, engaging environment.
May 27–30, 2025
Camp Chickababa (Children with disabilities, Ages 6+): Specially adapted for campers with disabilities, this inclusive camp offers therapeutic and fun activities—like arts & crafts, music, and indoor/outdoor games.
Week 1: June 23–27, 2025
Week 2: June 30–July 4, 2025
East Tennessee Quarterback and Receiver School (Rising 6th–8th grade): This camp focuses on developing passing and receiving skills through drills and techniques designed to enhance Quarterback and Receiver play.
June 9–11, 2025
East Tennessee Football School for Offensive and Defensive Linemen (Rising 6th-8th grade): This camp provides position-specific instruction for offensive and defensive linemen, focusing on drills and techniques to build essential skills.
June 9–11, 2025
Future Stars Football Skills Camp (Rising 2nd–5th grade): This camp provides fundamental instruction for all offensive and defensive football positions, helping campers build skills and gain a deeper understanding of their preferred roles through targeted drills and activities.
June 16–18, 2025
Girls Volleyball Camp (Rising 5th–9th grade): Designed for beginner to intermediate players, this camp helps improve volleyball skills and overall court performance while preparing students for school tryouts.
May 27–29, 2025
Marsh Madness Basketball Camp (Ages 8–12): This camp teaches campers fundamental basketball skills and position-specific techniques to help them grow in the game.
June 23–26, 2025
“Camp Move” by Stretch-N-Grow (Ages 3–10): This weekday summer camp offers a variety of enrichment activities including Stretch-N-Grow programs, STEM, crafts, games, relays, obstacle courses, and afternoon water play or swimming.
Week 1: June 2–6, 2025 Week 2: June 9–13, 2025 Week 3: June 16–20, 2025 Week 4: June 23–27, 2025 Week 5: July 7–11, 2025 Week 6: July 14–18, 2025 Week 7: July 21–25, 2025 Week 8: July 28– August 1, 2025
MLK Youth Summer Day Camp (Ages 5–12): This camp offers a variety of activities including a literacy program, computer lab, swimming, field trips, outdoor games, arts & crafts and more, with breakfast and lunch provided.
May 27–June 27, 2025
Soccer Camp (Ages 5–13): This camp offers technical and tactical instruction focused on enhancing individual ball control and skill development.
June 2–5, 2025
Softball Camp (Rising 3rd–8th grade): This camp focuses on the fundamentals of throwing, fielding, hitting, base running and sliding.
June 2– 4, 2025
Sports and More Kids’ Camp (Ages 5–14): This camp offers sports stations for campers of all skill levels to experience a variety of activities, focusing on teamwork, individual achievement and sportsmanship in a fun, positive environment.
Week 1: June 3– 6, 2025 Week 2: June 10– 13, 2025
Track and Field Camp (Ages 6–12): This camp provides instruction on track and field competition, focusing on drills and techniques to develop speed, running form, field event skills (shot put, discus, long jump, high jump and triple jump), and strategies for both sprinters and distance runners.
July 7–9, 2025
Performing Arts Camp (Ages 8–13): This camp is perfect for young performing artists, offering skills in theater, dance, music, prop making/design and more, taught by professionals in each area.
June 16–20, 2025
Wrestling Camp (Ages 6–14): This camp teaches proper wrestling positions—top, bottom, and neutral—along with techniques like pinning and combinations, and includes drills and a takedown tournament/live wrestling session.
June 9–12, 2025
Beach Week Boogie Battles by Stretch-N-Grow (Ages 3–8): This fun-filled camp features beach-themed dancing, relays, races, crafts, STEM activities and more, ending with a Foam Party Finale.
June 23–25, 2025
The Wild West with Water Battles by Stretch-N-Grow (Ages 3–8): This Wild West-themed camp features daily water battles, rodeo games, sack races, wet obstacle courses, crafts, STEM activities and more.
May 27–30, 2025
Fitness Stars Field Days by Stretch-N-Grow (Ages 3–8): This camp brings classic outdoor fun with competitions, sports, relays, games, crafts, STEM activities and more, topped off with a Foam Party Finale.
July 7–9, 2025
Give It a Tri – Youth Sprint Triathlon Camp (Ages 8–14): This camp introduces youth to the world of multisport, offering daily instruction in swimming, biking and running, and culminating in a mini sprint mock triathlon led by USATriathlon Certified Coach Kat Uchman.
Photo courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.
The Tremont Institute offers overnight summer camps in the Smokies. These all-inclusive experiences are designed to connect campers with nature and new friends from across the country.
While they tend to fill up quickly, there are a few camps that are still open for registration.
Firefly Camp (Ages 4–8, with accompanying adults): This flexible one-, two- or three-night family camp in Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers games, nature exploration, stream wading, campfire fun and firefly watching—giving you and your child a fun, gentle introduction to the summer camp experience.
July 1–4, 2025
Teen High Adventure (Ages 13–17): This 10-day, 9-night backcountry adventure invites teens to explore the Smokies through seven days of backpacking, learning outdoor living skills, gaining confidence and connecting with nature—ending with a well-earned hot shower and a day of paddling.
July 14–24, 2025
Great Smokies Experience (Rising HS juniors, seniors and recent grads): This immersive 11-day college program blends outdoor adventure with environmental study, allowing students to earn college credit while exploring the Smokies through hikes, canoeing, species surveys and hands-on learning.
Creative Spark Studio, located in Maryville, is offering a variety of four-day art camps for ages six and up.
All Things Paper (Ages 8–15): In this four-day art camp, young artists of all skill levels will explore papermaking, bookbinding and sculpture, culminating in an art show.
May 27– 30, 2025
T-shirt lap quilt (Ages 8–15): In this four-day camp, young creators of all skill levels will learn machine and hand sewing techniques to craft their own t-shirt lap quilt, ending in an art show.
May 27– 30, 2025
Tropical Oasis (Ages 6–12): In this four-day camp, budding artists of all skill levels will explore painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media, celebrating with a final art show.
June 3– 6, 2025
Fantastical Universe (Ages 6–12): In this four-day camp, young artists will explore the wonders of the universe through painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media, wrapping up with an art show.
June 10–13, 2025
Drawing and Illustration (Ages 8–15): In this four-day camp, young artists will focus on drawing and illustrating 3D images while exploring other creative mediums like painting and collage, concluding with an art show.
Van Metre School of Dance, located in Maryville, will host three dance camps and provide private classes.
Fairytale Camp (Ages 4–7): This camp offers lessons in ballet, jazz, modern and choreography for an exciting and magical summer experience.
June 9–13, 2025
Intermediate Camp (Ages 7+): This camp offers a variety of technique, conditioning and performance classes, including ballet, pre-pointe, modern, jazz and hip-hop.
June 9–13, 2025
Summer Intensive (Ages 12+): This camp offers a variety of technique, conditioning and performance classes, including ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop; pointe required.
Broadway Center of the Arts has four intensive musical theatre camps planned. Two are still open for registration.
Camp Pure Imagination (Rising 9th grade–2025 HS grads): This 5-day performing camp offers a week full of theatrical fun and learning, culminating in a performance.
June 16–20, 2025
Camp The Lion King KIDS (Rising 2nd–8th grade): This 5-day performing camp featuring The Lion King KIDS offers a week full of theatrical fun and learning, culminating in a performance.
Camp Wesley Woods, located in Townsend, is a faith-based retreat center focused on spiritual development and outdoor education. They offer a variety of sleepaway camps throughout the summer.
Discovery Half-Week (2nd–4th grade): This first overnight camp experience is designed for young campers to try new activities, make friends and become part of the camp community with fun activities like swimming, archery, campfires and exploring the creek.
June 30–July 2, 2025
Basecamp (4th–10th grade): This camp offers campers the opportunity to unplug, make new friends and try new activities like swimming, archery, pottery and fishing, while growing in their relationship with God and enjoying special events throughout the week.
Week 1: June 1– 6, 2025
Week 2: June 22–27, 2025
Week 3: July 20–25, 2025
Adventure Glamping (6th–10th grade): This camp offers campers the chance to stay in air-conditioned accommodations while participating in adventurous activities like caving, paddling, climbing and hiking, all while exploring East Tennessee and deepening their relationship with God.
Week 1: June 1– 6, 2025
Week 2: June 8–20, 2025
Week 3: July 6–18, 2025
Week 4: July 20–25, 2025
Leader-in-Training (Rising 10th grade): This program offers campers the chance to develop servant leadership skills through hands-on experience, while gaining new skills in camp operations, having fun and making new friends.
June 22–27, 2025
Gym Counts
Gym Counts, located in Maryville, offers full and half-day gymnastics camps for ages 5–13.
The camps will feature a mix of indoor and outdoor games, arts and crafts, and gym-based activities such as gymnastics, parkour, ninja warrior courses and trampoline instruction.
We’ve finally made it to that much-awaited time of year when the weather cools down and the fall foliage hits its climactic changes. Peak leaf peeping season is in full effect. The Smoky Mountains are bursting into wondrous red, orange and yellow hues – a must-see for locals and visitors alike.
Fall color changes begin as early as mid-September at higher elevations, maintaining their beauty through mid-November. In the Smokies, you can expect peak fall foliage to occur in late October.
The Smoky Mountains’ long colorful season exists because of the different weather patterns found in the region’s various altitudes. Things cool down much more quickly at higher elevations, causing the leaves to transform earlier, like at Clingman’s Dome. Meanwhile, places at lower el
Fall is one of the park’s busiest times of the year, so we suggest making a game plan ahead of time. Here are several family-friendly trails we recommend hiking.
Laurel Falls Trail, which is a 2.3-mile round-trip hike that begins at a parking lot near the top of Fighting Creek Gap.
Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smokies, and it’s accessible via a ½-mile-long paved trail. It is a reasonably steep climb, but the panoramic views at the top that extend nearly 100 miles are worth the effort.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail is located in Cades Cove and is only mildly challenging, so it should be acceptable for all family members. Because it is a very popular trail, you should park in the campground and make the short walk to the trailhead.
If a country drive is more your speed, enjoy the changing foliage from your car by cruising the Cades Cove Loop, the Foothills Parkway or Balsam Mountain Road.evations, like Cades Cove, take a bit longer to kick into gear. For a unique peek into fall in the Smoky Mountains, check out this video by our good friends at Visit My Smokies.
Planning Your Leaf Peeping Adventure
Fall is one of the park’s busiest times of the year, so we suggest making a game plan ahead of time. Here are several family-friendly trails we recommend hiking.
Laurel Falls Trail, which is a 2.3-mile round-trip hike that begins at a parking lot near the top of Fighting Creek Gap.
Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smokies, and it’s accessible via a ½-mile-long paved trail. It is a reasonably steep climb, but the panoramic views at the top that extend nearly 100 miles are worth the effort.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail is located in Cades Cove and is only mildly challenging, so it should be acceptable for all family members. Because it is a very popular trail, you should park in the campground and make the short walk to the trailhead.
If a country drive is more your speed, enjoy the changing foliage from your car by cruising the Cades Cove Loop, the Foothills Parkway or Balsam Mountain Road.
Leaf Peeping Cheat Sheet
We’ve put together a cheat sheet to help you identify leaves by their fall colors. Once you’ve narrowed down the possibilities, you can reference this leaf identification guide created by the UT Institute of Agriculture to distinguish between them by shape.
American Beech: yellow
Birch: bright yellow
Black Cherry: yellow
Black Maple: glowing yellow
Dogwood: deep red
Hickory: golden bronze
Mountain Ash: yellow
Oak: red, brown, or russet
Red Maple: bright scarlet or orange
Shining Sumac: red
Sourwood: brick red
Sugar Maple: orange-red
Tulip Poplar: golden yellow
Leaf peeping season only comes once a year, so be sure not to miss it! Plan your trip to the Peaceful Side of the Smokies today!
For More Fall Fun in the Smokies, Check Out These Links:
In the Smokies region, history is all around you. Some might think that this history mostly just involves all the historic buildings in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and nearby, but there’s also an important musical legacy available to all who are curious, and there are two experts in Townsend with tons of knowledge on the subject. Connie and Mike Clemmer own the Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop and keep an Appalachian musical tradition alive around the world with their handmade dulcimers. Decades of Knowledge Mike first began building dulcimers as a hobby in 1976, and eventually he and Connie opened up their shop. Each dulcimer takes weeks to build, using local woods like walnut, sassafras, butternut, cherry, or wormy chestnut, and customers can custom-order their own dulcimer with the soundhole pattern design that suits them. Plenty of Innovation Mike invented an instrument called the Ban-Jammer, his own banjo-dulcimer hybrid. Known for its distinct sound, ease of playability, and high-quality construction, the Ban-Jammer is tons of fun for musicians looking for an authentic Eastern Tennessee sound. Mike also created, upon request, a dulcimer called the “Baby Grand,” an extra-large dulcimer with a deep and resonant sound. Besides both hammered and mountain dulcimers, the shop also offers banjos, guitars, harps, psaltries, lap harps, bohdrans, and even some steel drums and djembes, as well as a huge selection of books and CDs relevant to the Appalachian music scene. Music for Everyone Mike famously says, “If you can count to twelve without taking off your shoes, you can play a dulcimer.” That may be true, but musicians still need an audience! At Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop, Mike and Connie host free concerts on the “Pickin’ Porch” every Saturday evening, May through September, and all are welcome to bring their camping chairs, relax and enjoy the music and the scenery of the shop’s woodsy location. Mike and Connie also release their own CDs of mountain music. They actually have a book and CD combo, called Simple Faith & Homestead, that includes 2 CDs and tablature, so that listeners can actually learn to play the songs, whether in time along with the CDs, or on their own. Fans of the music can also check out the resources they’ve gathered online, especially hours of free videos of their Saturday evening concerts, and clips from Tennessee Home and Farm, Tennessee Crossroads, a PBS special, and other clips that include tours of the shop or interesting facts about dulcimers and Appalachian music. Come on Down and Visit Mike and Connie invite everyone to visit them and learn more about the dulcimer and dulcimer music. The shop is open from 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Saturday, at 7645 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend. More information, including an online shop (yes, they ship instruments!) is availableon their website. Check them out, and whether you’re new to Appalachian music or an expert, you’re guaranteed to learn something before you leave!
If you are coming to the Townsend, TN area for a vacation, a trip into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a must. And if you really want to learn all about the history of the region, then the best place to do so is by taking a tour of Cades Cove.
A First-Hand View of Cades Cove
If you are looking for a first-hand experience of what it must have been like to live here “back in the day,” then you have only to go inside the park and visit Cades Cove. From long walks through the grassy valleys, hikes in the mountains, a chance to see some of the local wildlife, or a walk through the historic buildings, this is the place to be. You and your family can get a taste of what it was like to live here in the early days. The Cades Cove Loop Road typically takes around 3 to 4 hours to drive, but if you go this fast, you might miss out on a lot. Most of those who come here tend to be here all day since there is so much to see and do.
Things You Might Not Know About Cades Cove
Many of the buildings on display here in Cades Cove have been moved here from elsewhere or were built here after the park opened. For example, the Gregg-Cable House was built out on Forge Creek Road in 1879 by Leason Gregg. Many of the buildings around the John P. Cable Mill have been moved from their original location. Did you know that the Cades Cove area is the most popular spot in the entire park, bringing in 2 million visitors every year? They come for the hiking trails, the biking opportunities, the spectacular scenery, and the deep history the area has to share with everyone who visits here.
Just Like It Used to Look
Perhaps the one thing that makes Cades Cove the perfect place to learn about the history of the area is the number of historic buildings and structures you get to see as you drive or walk along the route. There are churches, barns, a working grist mill that just got a new waterwheel, plenty of log houses, and many others to see. Make sure you pick up one of the Tour Guide Booklets at the entrance to the loop. The guide can provide you with a vast amount of information on the various buildings, the park, and the history of the entire region. Be sure you stop by the Cades Cove Visitors Center to learn about the many Park Ranger-led tours scheduled for the day you plan to be here. Between the knowledgeable and friendly staff in the visitors’ center and your tour guide, you can learn all about the history of Cades Cove, the park, and the surrounding area. When you are all done for the day, be sure you stop back in at the visitors’ center and pick out a few souvenirs to take home with you. No matter what else you do, be sure you take lots of pictures so you can show the folks back home how beautiful the Peaceful Side of the Smokies truly is!
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