From the Peaceful Side of the Smokies
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Fall has long been one of the defining seasons of the Southern Appalachians. From the trails and streams to local markets and restaurants, here are eight ways to experience it on the Peaceful Side. Fall color arrives gradually. Elevation stretches the season over several weeks, with leaves beginning to turn high…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler In just a few weeks, the summer heat will break, and East Tennessee will be ablaze with fall foliage. What better way to experience this spectacular transition than a camping trip? Since the Great Smoky Mountains is the nation’s most-visited national park, it’s a good idea to start planning early. Just…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler This year marks 100 years since President Calvin Coolidge signed legislation authorizing the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.1 By then, families had long lived in Cades Cove, logging crews worked around Tremont, Girl Scouts spent summers in Walker Valley and visitors came to the mountains to hike and swim. …
Peaceful Side Social will host its annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m., bringing regional craft beer, Bavarian festival fare and traditional Oktoberfest games to the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. This year’s festival expands its craft beer lineup with seasonal releases from Peaceful Side Brewery and guest taps…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Plein Air Smokies returns Sept. 19-26, with 20 featured artists painting throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding area. Hosted by Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, the fifth annual event celebrates plein air painting, the tradition of painting outdoors directly from the natural landscape. Visitors can watch artists…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler As the leaves turn, the Peaceful Side celebrates Appalachian heritage and the harvest season. September and October bring festivals to Townsend, along with corn mazes, pumpkin patches and hayrides around Blount County and nearby communities. Fall Festivals in Townsend The Townsend Fall Heritage Festival returns Sept. 25-26 at the Greater Smokies…
As a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, Blount County ranked eighth among Tennessee’s 95 counties in 2025 visitor expenditures at $644.2 million, a 5.5 percent increase from $610.9 million in 2025, outpacing the statewide growth of 2.7 percent, according to the Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties report issued by the Tennessee Department of…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Townsend offers several ways to experience the Smokies with more control over noise, crowds and the pace of the day. From scenic drives to short walks and local museums, these options may be a better fit for visitors seeking a lower-sensory experience. Explore the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum The Townsend…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler An early start can go a long way in the Smokies. Heading out before the busiest hours can mean less traffic and fewer people on popular trails. In summer, it also gives you more time outside before temperatures rise. For longer hikes, starting sooner leaves more daylight for the return trip…
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…
