Visit Cades Cove

Cades Cove is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can explore a variety of historical sites, enjoy the majestic mountain beauty, and find the thrill of spotting life in the wild. Whether you want to visit the grist mill or hope to run across a family of…

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Smoky Mountain Coffee Houses

Almost every vacation, no matter how relaxing or well planned, needs the occasional pick-me-up. There is no easier and more delicious energy boost in the world than an expertly made coffee. When we travel, it is easy to find coffee from the nationally marketed chains, but one of the joys of experiencing new locations is…

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Search for Veterans Buried in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

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…

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Terminal 1346: Smoky Mountain Staycation

TERMINAL 1346: SMOKY MOUNTAIN STAYCATION We found an East Tennessee jewel for your Smoky Mountain Staycation. Terminal 1346 is an Airbnb property that offers a unique and unexpected place to stay in Maryville, TN. In 2016, the Smith family purchased a six-acre plot of land that housed an old airplane hangar and a World War II…

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Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing

Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing is an ideal way to spend an afternoon with over 2100 miles of rivers and streams running through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and year-round open waters. We welcome everyone to come and enjoy the solitude and peace of a little fishing on the river. What You Need to Know…

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Gourmet S'more Ideas

For anyone who has ever been camping as a child, I would dare to assume one of your favorite activities was roasting marshmallows. If you were really lucky, you turned that roasted yumminess into a classic childhood favorite, the s’more. We sat around the firepit during a recent trip to Dancing Bear Lodge and experimented with…

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Blount County COVID-19 Information

Our nation is in a unique time in history, as we watch the COVID-19 pandemic unfold. With all of the change, Blount County wants to make sure as we learn a new normal, we keep everyone safe and healthy. The Great Smoky Mountains gives our county and travel industry a responsible way to stay active…

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Springtime in the Smokies Photography Workshop

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…

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Celebrating 50 Years at Tremont

The Institute at Tremont, in the Great Smoky Mountains, has been serving the Walker Valley community for 50 years. It all started in 1969 when a group of local leaders and educators came together to turn a group of old Job Corps buildings, slated for demolition, into a residential environmental learning center. The idea was…

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The Smoky Mountains are Harley-Davidson Paradise

Would a ride through the Tail of the Dragon, with its 318 consecutive banked curves in 11 miles, get your blood pumping?  Or maybe a trip on the Cherohala Skyway, a road featured as one of Discovery Channel’s Top 10 Motorcycle Rides in North America, is more your style. Why not plan the ultimate ride…

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Smoky Mountain Glamping: Sleep Under the Stars

Not all those who cherish the serenity of nature enjoy the ritual of traditional camping; packing up everything they own, finding the perfect spot, pitching a tent, unloading supplies, sleeping on the hard ground, and sharing restroom facilities with strangers. For those individuals, we have the perfect compromise—a relatively new concept called glamping. Smoky Mountain…

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Smoky Mountain Spelunking at Tuckaleechee Caverns

If you are looking for a break from the warm summer weather while vacationing in the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, let us recommend a trip to Tuckaleechee Caverns in Townsend, TN. It is true the gorgeous mountain trees will give you ample shade during your hikes, and the refreshing river water will cool your…

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