From the Peaceful Side of the Smokies
Written by: Emily Huffstetler The Peaceful Side of the Smokies lies in Blount County, where the Appalachian foothills meet Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These mountains are part of the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee. European-American settlers came later, establishing communities whose cabins, churches and barns remain in places like Cades Cove. The same mountains…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Cades Cove is one of the Smokies’ most familiar landscapes, but its wetlands receive far less attention. Across the valley, water collects in several kinds of wetlands, including a seven-acre rush marsh, low-lying areas near Sparks Lane and the forested Gum Swamp.1,2 It may fill natural depressions, spread across the forest floor or…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler On a 1924 map of western Blount County, 26 quarry sites crowd the countryside around Friendsville. Together, they trace a belt of stone stretching roughly 16 miles from the former community of Morganton toward Louisville.1,2 Many of the buildings that once supported the industry are gone. Much of the stone also left Blount…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Across Maryville and Alcoa, new openings range from duckpin bowling and indoor golf to alcohol-free cocktails, a moonshine distillery filled with hot rods and a full-service day spa. Here are five recent additions, plus two more on the way. The Armory 496 Ellis Avenue, Maryville The Armory opened July 20 with 27,000 square…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Two Tennessee Civil War Trails markers stand about 10 miles apart in Blount County.1 One tells of a hidden cave used to shelter people seeking freedom and safety. The other marks a Confederate attack that sent fire through downtown Maryville. Together, the stops reflect the strong Union loyalty that put Blount County, like…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Townsend is all about slowing down. Look closer, and you’ll find the small stops many visitors miss, from a bakestand under a great oak tree to a neighborhood book box and faerie villages along the River Walk. Some are tucked along roadsides, others are hidden in plain sight, but all are…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Summer fun on the Peaceful Side doesn’t require a big vacation budget. Across Maryville, Alcoa and Townsend, visitors can cool off at local pools, explore museums, catch free concerts, watch drive-in movies, play indoor games, float the Little River and attend seasonal events for $25 or less. This guide is organized by base adult price, using the lowest realistic entry point for each activity. Taxes,…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler One of the fastest-growing airports in the nation is named for a man who died before commercial air travel reached East Tennessee. Charles McGhee Tyson was a Knoxville-raised World War I naval aviator who died in service in 1918. His name became part of East Tennessee’s aviation history because his parents, Brig.…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler 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…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler For most trips to the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, a car is the easiest way to get between Townsend, Maryville, Walland and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can visit without renting a car in some cases. Downtown Maryville has walkable areas, and parts of Townsend are easy to explore on foot…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler In Townsend, summer has a way of drawing people to the Little River. The river runs alongside the road, slips beneath the trees and winds toward Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For visitors and locals looking to cool off, tubing offers a direct way to experience one of the Peaceful Side’s defining features. Townsend has two…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Maryville shoppers have two farmers market options this season. Rural King’s Blount County Farm Days brings local crafters, homestead vendors, small-scale farmers, food vendors and makers to Rural King twice a month. Downtown, the Maryville Farmers’ Market operates Saturdays at Founders Square with a formal, producer-only structure. Rural King’s Blount County Farm…
