Category: Smoky Mountains

Plan a Quick Weekend Getaway to the Peaceful Side of the Smokies with These Tips

Posted on March 6, 2019 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains

Perhaps you know that the Smokies is a hugely popular travel destination. More than nine million visitors pass through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year alone, and that means it has a lot to offer. Yet, it also means there are areas more prone to crowds than others, and if you are eager to enjoy a laid-back and tranquil weekend getaway, you may want to explore the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies”.

Where is the Peaceful Side of the Smokies?

West of the wildly popular Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas are towns like Townsend and Maryville. Just as appealing, they are often seen as the Peaceful Side of the Smokies.
In fact, Townsend has that as the town’s slogan, and it fits nicely. This town, noted as a gateway to the incredibly historic, beautiful and famous Cades Cove area inside of the national park, is idyllic and laid-back. Full of local-owned eateries and shops, it is a unique alternative to the other options in the area.

Planning a Weekend Visit

So, what should you do to ensure you enjoy a good experience? Apart from planning to focus on the Townsend and Maryville side of things, we recommend the following:

  1. Take a look at the local Calendar of Events – This will show you the many wonderful activities available to you, such as food or beverage fests, local markets and more
  2. Consider a cabin – The area is full of appealing accommodations, but one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the Peaceful Side of the Smokies is from the peace, solitude and privacy of a home-like cabin full of comforts
  3. Eat local – While you may feel tempted to head to larger and more populated areas because they boast so many restaurants, don’t forget that one of the best ways to experience anywhere you visit is by living like a local. That means going to the little “hole in the wall” spots or the places with lots of cars in the parking lot. Ask around, most locals are happy to tell you where the best BBQ, breakfast, and other foods are found
  4. Visit the park – If you are in the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, you are at a main entrance to one of the most coveted area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – don’t miss your chance for an early morning drive, sunset viewing or even a day of hiking
  5. Toss the agenda – Driving some of the local back or country roads and doing a bit of simple exploration is one great way to make the most of your time in the Smokies
  6. Walk the towns – You will be surprised at the fun you can have right in the heart of towns like Maryville and Townsend
  7. Try local attractions – Townsend is home to sites like Little River Railroad and Lumber Co. Museum, while Maryville has historic buildings to enjoy.

Planning a Summer Wedding? The Smokies Make the Perfect Backdrop

Posted on March 29, 2019 by - Blog, Events, Smoky Mountains

If you are looking for the perfect place to have your outdoor wedding, look no further than the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. Along with outdoor weddings in Smoky Mountains National Park, there are dozens of both indoor and outdoor locations in the area, even places you can have a themed wedding. You will also find plenty of places for your guests to stay in the area, a wealth of great restaurants that can help with your rehearsal and reception dinners.

Summer Wedding Options in the Smokies Abound

Once you decide to have a Smoky Mountain wedding, the next step is choosing your location. Do you want to be up in the mountains on a picturesque meadow, with more the Smokies in the background? How about a creekside wedding or perhaps on the porch of a log cabin with the mountains behind you for the photographs? Find all this and more in towns likes Pigeon Forge, Townsend, and Maryville.
If you are thinking about a themed wedding, Pigeon Forge is the place to go. You can get married on the “Titanic,” or in a hot air balloon. Perhaps a western-themed wedding is more what you have in mind. At Waldens Creek Stables in nearby Sevierville offers a complete western package that includes plenty of cowboys.
One of the most popular wedding venues near Pigeon Forge is Angel’s View Wedding Chapel. They offer customizable wedding packages, an on-site spa, horse-drawn carriages and of course a spectacular view of the Smokies. After the wedding, you can have your reception here and then let the guests enjoy the rest of the night while you slip away to your honeymoon cabin.

Marriage is an Adventure

Getting married to the love of your life marks the beginning of a new adventure in your lives together. Why not start with a little outdoor fun and adventure. There is so much to do here while you are on your honeymoon, besides hide out in your cabin. There are several great hiking trails to follow, horseback riding, ATV rides, whitewater rafting, and so much more. All of these offer a wonderful way to start your grand adventure off together.

There Are Rules Inside the Park

If you plan to get married inside Smoky Mountains National Park, you will need to contact the National Park Service and obtain a permit. The only other minor complication is that you must obtain a Tennessee marriage license. The requirements are minimal as you do not need to complete a blood test and there isn’t a waiting period. You can use your license on the same day you obtain it, and the license remains valid for 30 days.
If you are seriously considering a Smoky Mountain wedding on the Peaceful Side, be sure to book your venue and accommodations early. Due to the popularity of the many exquisite wedding locations here, everything tends to book quickly, especially during the most popular times of the year. Whether you have your own photographers or hire one of the many superb professional photographers in the area, with the Smoky Mountains in the background, your wedding is sure to be one to remember.
 

Ready for Some Fresh Air and Family Fun? Go Snow Tubing in the Smokies

Posted on December 21, 2018 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains

Winter is coming and along with it, plenty of snow and cold weather. What goes great with lots of snow and fresh air better than going snow tubing? Not much, at least not when you visit the Smoky Mountains in the winter. This leads us to the next question, “Where can you go snow tubing in the Smokies?”

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in winter

Most people who come to this area come to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just because it is winter here in this part of the nation doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. In fact, there are many spots you can go tubing in the park. One of the most popular seems to be Clingmans Dome. The “Dome” attracts snow lovers of all ages who bring their sleds and tubes here every winter.
The Dome is very popular with the locals and once the snow sets in there tends to be plenty of tubing around all winter long. One thing to keep in mind is that just because an area looks like it might be perfect for tubing, there are potentially any number of obstacles buried in the snow, just waiting to grab your inner tube and cause a nasty accident that could result in serious injuries. Make sure you walk the area first or use an area that is well-known to be safe.

Tubing in the Smokies at Ober Gatlinburg

If you don’t feel comfortable with trying to find a safe place in the park to go tubing, that’s okay. Many of the locals agree that going to Ober Gatlinburg in the winter is the perfect alternative. Tubing here is one of the most popular winter activities with both locals and tourists alike.
Each session lasts for 90 minutes, which gives your entire family plenty of time to enjoy tubing down the snow packed hill without ever having to climb back to the top of the mountain. Once you get to the bottom of the slide, you grab your tube and ride the “Magic Carpet,” which is an escalator that will take you all the way back to the top so that you can slide all the way down again.
The slides are 400 feet long and to make sure everyone gets their turn, ten lanes are going at all times. Ober Gatlinburg is open from mid-November to the 1st of April each year with sessions typically starting at 9 a.m. and running every two hours until 7 p.m. Do keep in mind that some sessions may be canceled and that certain times of the day may be busier than others. This ride is safe for everyone over the age of three as little ones can ride with an adult.
These are just some of the ways to take your family tubing in the Smokies. You can buy your tickets online for Ober Gatlinburg or wait until you arrive. You can also purchase advance tickets in the Tramway Mall or at the office. Be sure to come prepared for fun and bring the whole family with you. Make sure you bring your winter weather gear with you; it can get pretty chilly out there flying across the snow!
 

Romantic Sunsets are Spectacular from Clingmans Dome

Posted on August 20, 2018 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains

One of the most beautiful sights to see in the Smoky Mountains is a sunset. The mountain peaks take on a rosy glow, and overhead you can see the hint of stars starting to peek through. The foothills below the peaks fall asleep, and all around, the magical night view starts to take over. It’s a stunning natural phenomenon that happens every single night, and as residents of Blount County, we’re lucky enough to see it regularly. One of the best places for visitors to get the best look at this amazing sight is Clingmans Dome.
Find the Observation Tower at the Highest Point in the National Park
Located at 6,643 feet, the observation tower at the top of Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Up here, you can get full views of the mountains from every direction, with nothing at all in the way of the amazing sights. No buildings, no crowds, no billboards – just the gorgeous sight of the mountains stretching out around you. It takes just half a mile to walk the trail, and although it’s steep, it is paved and you can easily follow the path with no troubles. Be aware that pets and bikes are not allowed on the path up to the observation deck. The trail is also too steep for wheelchair accessibility.
Didn’t Make It In Time for Sunset? Don’t Worry
If you start the seven-mile drive to the path that takes you to the observation deck and the sun is already setting, don’t worry – you can still have that romantic moment with a great view. The road has many pull-offs with great views of their own, and you can easily enjoy the sunset from there!
Be Prepared for That Sunset Kiss
On very clear days, the view from Clingmans Dome extends more than 100 miles in all directions – and even on foggy days, you’ll still be able to see out at least 20 miles in every direction. When the sun casts its beautiful pink and purple sunset shadow on the peaks, get ready for that romantic moment with your loved one. There’s nothing like sharing the beauty of nature together in a way that most people never get to.
Getting to Clingmans Dome
In order to get to Clingmans Dome, you’ll need to turn off Newfound Gap Road about 0.1 miles south of Newfound Gap. Follow this road, which is Clingmans Dome Road, seven miles, and the road will end in a parking lot. From the parking lot, follow the paved path along the half-mile walk, and you’ll be at the observation tower. While the observation tower is always open, the road to the dome is closed in the winter and when the weather conditions could be dangerous.

Search for Veterans Buried in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Posted on July 13, 2020 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains

When Joe Emert agreed to a speaking engagement at Blount County’s Tennessee Veterans Business Association, he probably didn’t realize the amount of change it would create in the community. After finishing his lecture on Sam Houston’s youth in Maryville, Mary Childress, president of the Veteran Heritage Site Foundation, inquired if a list of all veterans buried in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park existed. Emert’s search came up empty, which ultimately lead to a project that has currently identified 163 veterans buried in the park, spanning both Tennessee and North Carolina sides.

Putting Together the Team

After initial discussions, GSMNP Spokeswoman Dana Soehn connected Emert to Frank March, co-author of A Field Guide to Cemeteries of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. March then introduced him to the key folks who would lead the effort in the identification. Sheila Evans of the Daughter of the American Revolution in Cocke County, Tennessee, and Don Casada with Friends of Bryson City Cemetary in Swaine County, North Carolina, pulled their resources together to get this project started.

Finding Our Veterans

Before becoming a national park, many small communities lived and died throughout the property. Cemeteries on the property are the resting place for veterans spanning the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the Vietnam War. Many grave markers are nothing more than fieldstone in the older cemeteries, leaving behind no engravings or ways to identify the dead. Even with careful research and the assistance of local sources and organizations, the team realizes they’ve missed veterans.
Of the one hundred sixty-three veterans buried in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the team has identified one hundred and three buried in Tennessee: twenty-six in Blount County; thirty-eight in Sevier County; and thirty-nine in Cocke County. There are sixty known veterans buried in North Carolina: forty-nine in Swain County and eleven in Haywood County.

Database Development

The team is currently working to develop a publicly available interactive database of all the veterans buried in the national park. They hope to include biographical data, cemeteries locations, and the wars and unit records where they served. Listed separately will be cenotaphs (headstones in a location with no buried body) and cremated veterans whose ashes have been registered and scattered in the park. They will also include bodies that were initially buried in the park and later moved to a new location before the Fontana Lake flooding.

How You Can Help

“Our goal is to honor and protect the valor of those who served and not let their memory be erased because of where they are buried,” Emert said in a release. “We are putting this initial list out for review by the public to ensure we are not missing any veteran who is buried in the national park.”
The list can be viewed on the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center website and on the Friends of the Bryson City Cemetery website. The group asks anyone with information on a veteran buried or whose remains are scattered in the GSMNP to contact Don Casada at [email protected].
 
If you are interested in learning more about Smoky Mountains history, check out these blog posts:

Learn About the History of the Region with a Tour of Cades Cove

Learn About the Peaceful Side’s Native American Heritage

Smoky Mountain Lights: A Peaceful Side Christmas Experience

Posted on December 8, 2022 by - Activities, Blog, Smoky Mountains, Townsend

Smoky Mountain Lights Sign

It is Christmastime in the Smokies, and this year, the Peaceful Side has a new holiday experience for the whole family. Smoky Mountain Lights is a drive-thru light show located at the Townsend Visitor Center. This Christmas light display embraces all things Smoky Mountain so that you can expect bears and camping and bigfoot; oh my! It will also feature some of your Peaceful Side favorites, like the old mill, the Jeep Outpost, and the hot air balloon festival.

Smoky Mountain Lights Christmas Village

Christmas Village

Along with the Smoky Mountain Light show, you can also visit and explore the Christmas Village next door. Guests can find unique gifts in the local vendor booths, enjoy hot chocolate and kettle corn, or grab some grub at one of our food trucks. While you are rediscovering that old fashion Christmas in the Smokies, remember to take family pictures in front of the giant Christmas tree.

Smoky Mountain Lights Visit with Santa

Photos with Santa

What Christmas would be complete without a visit with Santa Clause? Each weekend throughout the holidays, Santa will be available for pictures. To ensure he received a warm Peaceful Side welcome, our own Tennessee native chainsaw artist, Bubba Daniel, has carved Santa a distinctive Smoky Mountain throne to keep him comfortable. 

Christmas Light Bigfoot

Event Details

  • Smoky Mountain Lights is open from November 25, 2022, to January 1, 2023. Visitor hours begin at 5:00 pm and closes at 10:00 pm.
  • Located at the Townsend Visitor Center, which is easily accessible for visitors traveling to the area, situated 30 minutes from the Tyson McGee airport, with direct access from the major interstates.
  • All ages are welcome, and entry is $25 per car.
Townsend Jeep Christmas Lights

As the inaugural event, Kim Mitchell, the director of tourism for the Blount Partnership, looks forward to sharing this light show with both residents and visitors to the area.

“Townsend is a beautiful winter destination with stunning scenery and plenty of activities. And with the light show, we want to offer a fun holiday event while sharing what the area has to offer this time of year,” said Mitchell. “The area is growing, and there are new places to visit while enjoying the Peaceful Side of the Smoky Mountains, like Company Distilling, Peaceful Side Social, and Towns End Coffee Co. While families experience the Smoky Mountain Lights, we recommend they check out the other great venues and attractions Townsend offers.”

Smoky Mountain Lights is an addition to the area that will encourage more visitors during the holiday travel season. Townsend is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National park. It offers a tranquil getaway to escape the holiday hustle with numerous options for family-friendly activities during the winter season. Townsend is the home of award-winning, sold-out festivals like Grains & Grits, the Hot Air Balloon Festival, the Bigfoot Festival, and the Scottish Festival, to name a few. We’re excited to have a Smoky Mountain Christmas event join the list of high-caliber entertainment celebrating the area’s heritage.

Visit smokymountain.org to learn more about planning your winter trip to the Peaceful Side of the Smokies.

Townsend Snowman Christmas Lights

 For more winter fun on the Peaceful Side, check out these past blog posts:

Snow in the Smokies

Smoky Mountain Coffee Houses

Smoky Mountain River Rat Tubing is a Great Way to Beat the Summer Heat

Posted on July 18, 2018 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains, Townsend

In the heat of the summer months, there’s no better way to cool off than river tubing in Townsend, at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountain National Park
The next question, though, is a little harder to answer. What are you going to do about the heat?
Give Tubing a Try!
Tubing? Yes, tubing! You might have heard of tubing, or you might not have. Either way, the team at River Rat Tubing will answer any questions you may have and get you ready to get out there and enjoy the Little River.
While you’re here, though, we can let you in on a little more info about tubing. Tubing is a great way to relax; you just get on your swimming gear, add a lifejacket if you’re a younger kid or not much of a swimmer, grab a tube, drop it in the river, lie on top, and relax as the Little River takes you around its bends and curves. It’s fun, it’s as adventurous as you’d like it to be, and it sure beats sitting inside and giving the air conditioning a workout.
You’ve Got a Choice of Routes
Everyone ages 2 and up is welcome to tube, and those 6 and up have a choice to make. River Rat Tubing has two tubing outposts: the first, for their “family float” route, is for anyone 2 or older, and includes scenic views, calmer rapids, private beaches, and even a rock jump. Cowabunga!
The second outpost, their “adventure float,” is for ages 6 and older, and includes rapids that will get your heart pumping, some refreshing swimming holes, and private cabanas at the outpost that are available to rent after you’ve finished taking on the river for the day. Pretty fancy for a river rat, don’t you think?
Not sure which route is right for you? No problem! Tubers 6 and older can take on both routes in a single day. River Rat Tubing allows you to keep tubing until it’s time for their last trip of the day, so just one ticket gets you plenty of time on the water!
The Whole Family Can Go (Even Fido!)
When people say, “whole family,” they usually mean just the people – and this can leave someone pretty special feeling left out. River Rat Tubing allows dogs to go tubing, too! Just bring your water-loving dog, get ‘em in a doggie life jacket, and set them up with you in the tube (if they’re small) or in their own tube (if they’re up to 60 pounds, because doggie toenails can pop tubes), and you’ll have the recipe for a great time, not to mention some amazing snapshots. Dogs tube for free, and tethers connecting dog tubes to “dog parent” tubes are available for rent.
Go Ahead, Make Your Summer Tubing Plans
River Rat Tubing is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 7 days a week, from 10 AM to 5 PM, and with shortened hours after Labor Day. If you can’t get enough of relaxing on the Little River, they’ve got you covered with the Smoky Mountain River Rat Season Pass, which includes unlimited tubing all summer long, as well as your choice of one of two river rafting adventures at their rafting outpost in Hartford, Tennessee. So make a splash – the season won’t last forever!

Smoky Mountains National Park is Open All Year; Experience the Exhilaration of Hiking in the Winter

Posted on December 14, 2018 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains

Whether a first-time visitor to the Smokies, or someone who has been returning for years, you already know it is a remarkably beautiful region. It is why millions of people head there every year, but you don’t have to limit your visits to the peak seasons. From late spring and into autumn, the region hosts many visitors who head out on the roads and trails to enjoy the stunning natural beauty that is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Yet, as winter arrives, the crowds thin and the park grows quieter than at any time of year. And that is precisely the reason to pay a visit during the winter months. Now, you might think it a bit unappealing to head into the woods if the snows are deep and the temperatures freezing, but you might be surprised at how amenable the parklands are to winter hikes.
The Advantages of Winter Hiking in the Smokies
Experts even point out that there are distinct advantages to choosing to hike in the winter. One such advantage is the absence of bugs! You won’t have to use any sort of repellents in the winter and can just enjoy the scenery.
Another advantage is that the leaves have fallen and opened up views and vistas that you cannot enjoy at any other time of the year. While the leaves may help to keep you cool and create a wonderful sort of scenery in the warmer seasons, with their disappearance in the winter, it changes the entire experience of hiking.
The temperatures are always cool and amenable to activity. You may even find you have to unzip or remove a layer as you make your way along the snow covered trails! And speaking of the snow cover, it is a wonderful way to begin learning about the native creatures of the forest. After all, they leave behind their footprints, quite clearly, in the snow and can help you to begin recognizing who has passed through the same trails you are hiking!
Of course, the peace and quiet of a winter’s hike in the Smokies is also an advantage. Though it is great that so many people like to get out into the woods and explore this stunning destination, it is awfully nice to feel like you have it almost entirely to yourself!
The Hikes to Consider
Not all trails are suited to novice or even somewhat experienced hikers in the winter months. We suggest the following three easy hikes for their amazing winter beauty and predictable conditions:

  • Laurel Falls – If it is very cold, the falls freeze and create an unforgettable sight. The 1.3 mile trail is paved, so no extra-slippery conditions, and you’ll definitely want to use the wooden footbridge to take a few unforgettable photos.
  • Porter’s Creek – Easily reached by car, it is gentle and brings you past Fern Branch Falls, usually frozen in the winter months. This is a four-mile loop.
  • Schoolhouse Gap – Set near famous Cades Cove, it is where you will find a lot of local wildlife and can enjoy the scenery on this relatively flat and easy hike.

Remember to always check conditions and ensure roads are open, dress properly, and bring a camera! Winter hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is something you’ll want to photograph in order to capture some amazing memories.

Snow in the Smokies

Posted on January 18, 2021 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains

river in the snow

Something is enchanting about watching the snowfall. It brings a sense of childlike joy and quietens the soul, especially in the South. Snow in the Smokies slows things down, allowing us to savor the beauty of stillness and regain the giddiness of snow days past. So, what can you do if it snows during your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains?

Snowy Cades Cove

Cades Cove is a Smoky Mountain favorite, so imagine how beautiful it looks in its winter snow attire. Check out this video from the cute couple from Yankees in the South Smoky Mountain Adventure Channel as they tour Cades Cove in the snow.

Frozen Waterfalls

Meigs Falls – Take Little River Road in the park, and at roughly 13 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center, you will find the pull-off area for year-round views of the falls. Don’t go fast because it is a “blink and you miss it” pull-off. You will be astonished at the volumes of ice build-up on these lovely falls.
The Sinks – This is another set of falls located along the Little River Road. You will hit this one around 12 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. It has an easier-to-find parking area. Though the falls are not as high as others, they are often stunning because the river’s entire volume flows through this area, building up loads of ice.
If you wish to hike, you can easily reach spots like Laurel Falls, situated at the northern end of the park, or Tom Branch Falls at the southern end. Both are reached by moderate hikes that are well worth the effort. In fact, Laurel Falls is popular all year long and is just a 1.3-mile paved trail with truly stunning scenery. Skilled hikers may head to Rainbow Falls, a 5.5-mile trail, or Alum Cave Bluff Trail that is the tallest peak in the park.
river in the snow

Tips for Hiking in the Snow

  1. Always check the weather and be prepared for it to change.
  2. Snow/ice spikes and trekking poles will help with traction and stability.
  3. Don’t be afraid to spend the extra money to get top quality winter gear. Waterproof and windproof gear can be lifesavers when the windchill at the higher elevations create dramatic temperature drops. 
  4. Layering is essential. Choose wet-wicking material and a light but warm coat, such as a down jacket. Be prepared to layer up or down depending on changing altitudes and surprise weather. Wool socks and appropriate hiking boots will keep your feet warm, and a toboggan will prevent body heat from escaping through your head.
  5. Extras. Pack extra socks and gloves in case the ones you are wearing get wet. Extra HotHands or hand warmers are great for putting in your sleeping back for overnight hikes. Remember, it is better to have a heavier pack, with everything you need, than finding yourself hurt or in danger.

Snowy bridge in Great Smoky Mountains
 
Before visiting the park in the winter, please call (865)436-1200 for road closures and weather information – extension 631 for updates on temporary road closures and extension 630 for the weather forecast. You can click here for a real-time weather update and follow road status updates on Twitter at https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps.
 

For more winter ideas in the Great Smoky Mountains, check out these posts:

Want to Warm Up from the Inside Out? These Distilleries Will Do Just That
Enjoy the Quiet and Visit the Smokies in the Off-Season for a Stress-Free Vacation

Spectacular Fall Drives in the Smokies

Posted on November 23, 2018 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains

Here in Blount County, we like to encourage “leaf peepers” to savor the amazing local scenery. After all, you can stay right in Townsend and see some of the most beautiful autumn colors. Just choose a country road and enjoy the stunning foliage as you wind your way through woodlands and fields.
However, anyone who pays a visit to the Smokies knows that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a motor-friendly park and its roadways were designed to optimize the scenic overlooks and stunning natural views. That is what makes it such a popular and wise choice as an autumn driving destination. Below, we have listed our favorite drives and emphasized those that put the spotlight on the fall colors. Keep in mind, though, that this is just a drop in the bucket in terms of the actual numbers of drives and explorations you can enjoy in the park and surrounding areas!

Cades Cove Loop Road

You cannot pay a visit to the park without making your way through this top attraction. An 11-mile loop road, it is a wonderful spot for taking in the scenery, catching glimpses of the area’s wildlife (including bears) and visiting the many historic churches and cabins along the way. Framed as it is by the mountains, it is also a robustly colorful spot during the autumn months, and there are many hiking trails that can allow you to get out into that beautiful landscape.

Newfound Gap Road

If you want one of the original scenic drives in the Smokies, this is it. It was cut in the late 1800s and allows you to pass through the mountains without having to climb to high altitudes. It is 33 miles from beginning to end, and you’ll want to pack a picnic and bring the camera. There are lots of panoramic and scenic views and if you are hearty and fit, you can hike up to Clingmans Dome (the highest peak in Tennessee) off this road.

Blue Ridge Parkway

This amazing route lets you experience the North Carolina side of the Smokies as the road follows the mountains and winds its way from Cherokee to Afton. It runs more than 400 miles, so it is not a day trip, but rather something to experience in chunks. During the autumn months, it is a place of stunning natural color and scenery and from it, you can reach Mt. Mitchell (the highest peak in the eastern U.S.), the Linville Gorge (the deepest gorge in the eastern U.S.) and many other attractions.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is another must and is a loop road that wanders through natural areas and historic sites.
There are so many spots to hit the roads and take in amazing views, but as we said at the beginning, the area around Townsend can also provide you with more than enough autumn color and gorgeous scenery, and the Maryville Greenway (a walking trail) is a place where the leaves surround you and where anyone can enjoy an autumn stroll.

Springtime in the Smokies Photography Workshop

Posted on March 14, 2020 by - Activities, Blog, Smoky Mountains

Photography Classes at Great Smoky Mountain Tremont Institute: Townsend, Tennessee

Life sure has thrown us some curveballs over the past couple of weeks. With the constant stream of worst-case scenarios finding their way into our newsfeed, sometimes you need to slow down and let the power of nature heal your soul. Join us at the Spring Photography Workshop at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and accomplish both. Unlike many photography workshops, their price includes meals, lodging, and instruction by one of the finest teams of photography instructors anywhere in the country. Celebrate the beauty of life while improving your nature photography skills this spring. Our instructors will teach you new methods, help you discover a new side of the Smoky Mountains. Capture the beauty of the mountains, while meandering through the forests looking for wildflowers, and streams.

Photography Workshop at Great Smoky Mountain Tremont Institute instructed by Bill Lea: Townsend, Tennessee

Photo by Bud Snihall

Smoky Mountain Photography Workshop Details

Who: Calling All Photographers
What: Spring Photography Workshop
Where: Tremont Institute, 9275 Tremont Rd., Townsend, TN 37882
When: April 24, 2020 – April 27, 2020. Plan to arrive on Friday between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm for Check-In. Dinner begins at 6:00 pm. Beginning at 3:00, there will be an optional early session for those who arrive early. After the weekend workshop, the program ends on Monday following an optional late morning presentation.
Cost: $708
Equipment Needed: Participants should bring their own cameras, but laptop computers (installed with Adobe Photoshop CS6) are available for $50 (payable to GSMIT). Requests for laptops must be made no later than two weeks before the start of the workshop.
How to Register: Anyone interested in participating in the workshop can click on the Spring Photography Workshop link above or call their office at 865-4498-6709.

Photography Workshop at Great Smoky Mountain Tremont Institute instructed by Bill Lea: Townsend, Tennessee

Photo by Susan Milinkovich

Instructors

Lead Instructor

Bill Lea is a nationally recognized nature photographer, most known for his artistic documentation of various deer and bear behavior in the Great Smoky Mountains and southern ecosystems. He has written several photography books, and over 7000 of his photos have appeared in a variety of publications, including Audobon calendars, BBC Wildlife,  Defenders of Wildlife, National Geographic, Nature Conservancy, and National Wildlife. His latest book, Cades Cove: Window to a Secret World, is in its fourth printing.

Assistant Photographers

Tom Vadnais 
Todd Moore – www.naturephotog.com
Jeff Miller – www.mountainlens.com
Susan Milinkovich – www.susanmilinkovich.com
Steve Zigler – www.stevezigler.com

Photography Workshop at Great Smoky Mountain Tremont Institute instructed by Bill Lea: Townsend, Tennessee

Photo by Susan Milinkovich

Photography Workshop Overview

Bill has taught this annual workshop since 1992, which emphasizes wildlife, landscape, and macro photography. His team of instructors helps tailor each program to meet individual interests and skill levels with plenty of one-on-one instruction. Field sessions and lectures will cover the use of light, composition, and equipment. The workshop includes lodging at the Tremont Institute and meals throughout the event.

Photography Workshop at Great Smoky Mountain Tremont Institute instructed by Bill Lea: Townsend, Tennessee: Val Westong

Photo by Val Weston

Note: Feature Photo by Jane Palmer

For more exciting ways to experience the Spring in the Smokies, start here:

Springtime in the Smoky Mountains

Posted on March 20, 2021 by - Blog, Smoky Mountains

It is officially springtime in the Smoky Mountains. Today, Saturday, March 20, at 5:37 A.M. EDT began the first day of spring and the vernal equinox. The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night”—aequus (equal) and nox (night). So on this first day of Spring 2021, it brings a nearly perfect balance of daytime and nighttime across the world. Equinoxes are the only two times a year that the Sun rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth.

Spring Has Sprung

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, many ancient sites mark the equinoxes (and solstices). One of the most famous ancient Spring equinox celebrations was at Chichen Itza in Mexico. The Mayans built a giant pyramid around the year A.D. 1000. The play of the Sun’s light on it signals the beginning of the seasons, and during the spring equinox, it looks like a majestic snake is slithering down the steps. Mayans called this day “the return of the Sun serpent.” 

Black snake in the Great Smoky Mountains

Photo by Randy Ratliff

Lodging

One of the best parts of visiting the Smokies during early spring (March to May), you will also get the benefits of fewer crowds and lower lodging rates. Reserve a glamping tent at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort or park your R.V. at Big Meadow Family Campground. Or if you aren’t really into camping, check into something a little cozier at Dancing Bear Lodge, Highland Manor Inn, or Tremont Lodge and Resort.

Spring Waterfall in the Smokies

Photo by Randy Ratliff

Springtime in the Smoky Mountains

Because of our great friend (and hidden gem) Randy Ratliff, whom I met in the Facebook group Hiking The Smokies, we have some gorgeous spring photos. It was so hard to decide which to feature; I’ve decided to cut back the words, add some springtime quotes and let the spring pictures show you the magic. Hiking The Smokies, an open group for those who love to hike in and around our beloved Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Burrow into the Smokies

Photo by Randy Ratliff

“But only a person in the depths of despair neglected to look beyond winter to the spring that inevitably followed, bringing back color and life and hope.”― Mary Balogh

fungi in the smoky mountains

Photo by Randy Ratliff

“Had I known that you would be my first glimpse of spring, I would’ve kissed every fallen petal of my hope along the way.” ― Sai Pradeep

spring blooms in the Smokies

Photo by Randy Ratliff

“In spring, the dead trees, roots, and animals come to life again exactly as they were, thus providing hundreds of thousands of examples, specimens, and proofs of the supreme resurrection.” ― Master Nursi

Amphibian frog toad Smokies

Photo by Randy Ratliff

“Animate or inanimate, all bodies under the sun give expression to their vitality. Especially on a fine day in spring!” ― Henry Miller

skunk in the great smoky mountains

Photo by Randy Ratliff

“Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it’s a rebirth of the spirit.” ― Toni Sorenson

daffodils in the smoky mountains

Photo by Randy Ratliff

“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.” – Henry Van Dyke

turkey in the great smoky mountains

Photo by Randy Ratliff

“The point is that the pleasures of spring are available to everybody, and cost nothing.” ― George Orwell

wildflowers in the smoky mountains

Photo by Randy Ratliff

For more fun Springtime in the Smoky Mountain options, check out these posts:

The Best Spring Trails in the Smoky Mountains

Enjoy These Spring Break Ideas in the Peaceful Side of the Smokies