Planning a Family Trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you are looking for a budget-friendly vacation with plenty of family fun, set your sights on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year. It is the most visited national park in the country which means more than nine million people stop by each year. There is plenty to do in the park to…

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5 Tips for Planning the Perfect Smoky Mountains Vacation

If you are craving a little time to commune with nature, there is no better place to scratch the itch than the Smoky Mountains. East Tennessee is a popular mountain destination because of the sheer beauty of the area. You can stay in a rustic cabin staring out across the peaks. It is the perfect…

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Celebrate Appalachian History at the Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timers Day

Spring is in the air, and that means it must be time for the Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timers Day! This free two-day event celebrates the rich history of the Appalachian way of life. You will find plenty of Bluegrass music, handmade crafts, and delectable food choices. Bring a chair or a blanket for…

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The Best Spring Trails in the Smoky Mountains

Springtime in the Smokies offers locals and visitors alike a majestic view not only of the mountains but of the hundreds of different colored wildflowers that bloom starting in spring and staying in bloom into the summer months. This time of year, not only are the millions of flowers a sight to behold, but you…

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Quilts Often Tell a Story: Learn More About this Appalachian Craft Tradition

It has long been said that every picture tells a story, but here in the Smoky Mountains, this truth dates far back before the first camera took a photograph. It dates to the days when the hardy women who lived here began making quilts. While they weren’t the first ones to make quilts, they turned…

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Visiting on a Tuesday? Join Us Tuesdays at 2 and Learn More About Our Amazing Appalachian Heritage

Looking for something fun and educational to do when visiting Townsend, TN on a Tuesday? Don’t be fooled into thinking there can’t be anything going on just because it’s the second day of the week. Instead, take a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and enjoy their “Tuesdays @ 2 informal “coffee talk”…

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

Springtime on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies means a riot of color and crisp mountain air as the over 1,500 varieties of local flowering fauna burst into bloom. Many believe spring to be the best time of year to visit Smoky Mountain National Park and the surrounding areas. It’s also the perfect place for…

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Celebrate St. Patty's Day with a Visit to One of Our Local Breweries

What could be better than celebrating St. Patty’s Day than sharing a pint or two at your favorite watering hole. A trip to Ireland and Guinness on tap? Well, that might be fantastic, but on a more realistic note, why not try some of the craft beers made right here on the “Peaceful Side of…

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Top 5 Things To Do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Spring

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park…just its name alone inspires all kinds of visions and thoughts. There are, of course, the mountains, but there are also the 100+ waterfalls, the miles of trails, the scenic drives, the historic buildings and settlement areas, the wildlife…there is so much to see and do! Naturally, that is why…

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

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…

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

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…

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Stargazing in the Peaceful Side of the Smokies

Whether you are a casual stargazer, an amateur, or a professional astronomer, the one thing you need more than anything else is a clear sky and minimal light pollution. Living in a big town or city makes it almost impossible to see the stars, let alone truly enjoy them. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park…

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