As fall progresses, you will see a change in leaves starting at the highest elevation, and slowly working down the mountain. The yellow birch, American beech, mountain maple, hobblebush, and the pin cherry have already begun displaying a change in colors. Soon, fall colors will be appearing around the 4,000 feet marker. The most spectacular [...]
Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category
Fall Colors in the Great Smoky Mountains
Posted in Environment, Fall on November 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Scavenger Hike Adventures and Mountain Journal, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Posted in Environment, Fall, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking on October 20, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
If you’re planning on spending an exciting day in the Smoky Mountains, you need the Scavenger Hike Adventures and Mountain Journal. The Journal gives your clues on 14 easy, moderate, and extreme hikes to find over 200 hidden treasures within the park. There are hikes for the entire family, even some stroller accessible trails. For [...]
Why Leaves Change?
Posted in Environment on October 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The transformation of the Smoky Mountains in the fall is definitely a sight to see. But have you ever found yourself wondering what exactly it is that makes leaves change? Why is it that maple leaves turn bright red, and why other tree leaves turn yellow and orange? Here is a little information I [...]
Suggested Fall Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Posted in Environment, Fall, Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Hiking, Outdoor on October 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Here is a list of suggested hikes through the Smoky Mountain National Park that are great for seeing all the fall colors and for some great photographs! 1. Appalachian Trail: Park in the large parking area at Newfound Gap, and look for the trail signs. Follow the Appalachian Trail to Indian Gap (around Clingmans [...]
Tennessee Heritage Trail
Posted in Environment, Family Fun, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking on August 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Because Tennessee has such rich culture and heritage, several places in the mountains have been designated as part of the Tennessee Heritage Trail. The trail was created to both preserve and share Tennessee’s culture and is divided into 3 parts. The Arts & Crafts Trail will show visitors the various creations of Tennessee’s past, including [...]
Mt. LeConte Overnight Adventures at the Institution of Tremont
Posted in Environment, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking, Summer, Tremont on August 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
You have 5 more days to register for the Overnight Adventure (Aug. 15-17) on Mt. LeConte with the Institute of Tremont. You will stay in the LeConte lodge, which is the highest elevation lodge in the eastern U.S. Saturday night will be spent at Tremont, and then Sunday morning the climb up Mt. LeConte will [...]
Back Country Trails and Balds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Posted in Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, Environment, Free Things To Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking, Outdoor on July 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is beautiful and a great way to see the wonders of the Park. If you are a more experienced, adventurous hiker, the back country trails offer an in-depth backwoods experience. Here is a list of some of the trails throughout the park. Trail – Mileage – Difficulty [...]
Cataract Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Posted in Environment, Free Things To Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor, Photo Opportunity on July 23, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Cataract Falls is a small 40-foot waterfall near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. If you are at the Center and need to stretch your legs before continuing through the Park, this is a short and easy walk. To get there, head behind the Visitors Center toward the headquarters building parking lot. Don’t take the natural [...]
Douglas Lake
Posted in Environment, Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Outdoor, Uncategorized on June 21, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Douglas Lake, located outside Sevierville, has more to offer than you may expect. The Lake offers activities such as camping, swimming, and boating. For the fisherman in your family, Douglas Lake is perfect. It is ranked top 5 in the nation for Crappie and top 10 for Large Moth Bass. If fishing is not for [...]
Mills Park in Gatlinburg
Posted in Environment, Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Hiking, Outdoor, Sports, Uncategorized on June 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Want to make your family vacation as memorable and fun as possible? Mills Park, off of Mills Road, has a variety of amenities to help make your vacation one to remember. They have a playground area for the kids, football and softball fields, horseshoe pit, jogging trails, basketball court, a track, 9-hole disc golf course, [...]
Tremont’s Approach to Climate Change, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Posted in Environment, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tremont on June 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Our environment is going through a series of negative changes. These changes will continue to get worse if we do not educate the younger generations of small, important ways of helping out the environment. The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont helps to do this by connecting people to nature and educating children about climate and [...]
Water Conservation in the Smokies
Posted in Environment on May 30, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
This Summer is going to be hot and there is always the possibility of a drought. Here are some ways you can help conserve water: (1) Take brief showers and turn off the water in the shower when you don’t need it (for instance lathering up shampoo). Try to keep your showers to two [...]
Tarantulas in The Great Smoky Mountains
Posted in Environment, Outdoor, Safety, Wildlife on May 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
When you think of tarantulas, you most likely think of the big, furry, scary ones that you see on National Geographic or in movies. Most of these species of tarantulas live in the southwestern parts of the U.S. However, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park there is a species of tarantulas, most-commonly known as [...]
The Wetlands of The Smokies
Posted in Environment, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on May 8, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
When you think of a wetland, you may think Florida or the Outer Banks with swamps and beaver ponds. But the wetlands of the Appalachian Mountains that are spread throughout Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia are rare communities technically called non-alluvial wetlands. You may not even recognize them as wetlands as you hike through the [...]
The Little River
Posted in Environment, Free Things To Do, Hiking, Photo Opportunity on April 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Little River provides around 51 miles of incredible scenery in the Southeast. It begins in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and joins the Tennessee River and Fort Loudon Lake in Knox County. Portions of the river are used for whitewater rafting and tubing while other portions are much calmer for fly fishing and [...]
Tree City USA
Posted in Attractions, Environment, Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on December 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Tree City USA, sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in association with the Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, provides direction, technical assistance, and public attention for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of cities. For the past twenty-one years, Gatlinburg has been chosen as a Tree City USA, which [...]
Hummer Tours in Gatlinburg
Posted in Attractions, Environment, Family Fun, Gatlinburg, Outdoor on December 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
What a better way to get acquainted with the real backwood Smoky Mountains than in a personal hummer adventure. Off Road Voyages takes you on a real Humvee through the scenic and unseen areas that the normal highway route would not be able to expose you to. This ride not only takes you through the [...]
Smoky Mountain Field School
Posted in Environment, Family Fun, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking, Outdoor, Wildlife on October 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Smoky Mountain Field School was started by The University of Tennessee to help people utilize the Great Smoky Mountains. They conduct workshops, hikes and other activities to help people learn more about the mountains. Their mission is to enhance public appreciation, understanding and stewardship of the Smoky Mountains. Some of their course offerings are [...]
Volunteers in The Park Program
Posted in Environment, Great Smoky Mountains National Park on October 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park needs volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, join the Park’s Very Important People program or VIP. A variety of areas need work, so there is something for everyone. Visit http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/volunteer/opportunities.htm?id=grsm for a complete list of opportunities.
Tulip Poplar
Posted in Environment, Fall, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor, Winter on October 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
There is no better time to visit the Smokies than in the fall; the weather is nice, and the fall foliage is beautiful. The Tulip Poplars of the Smokies turn to bright yellow when the weather turns colder, so the mountains light up with color. The Smokies are also home to one of the tallest [...]
Albright Grove Trail
Posted in Environment, Family Fun, Hiking on October 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you are looking for a longer, but still easy trail, check out Albright Grove Trail. It is about 7 miles in length and takes you through a forest of tulip poplar, maples, and beech trees. The trail is named after Horace Albright, an advisor to John D. Rockefeller and conservationist. For more information check [...]
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Posted in Environment, Hiking, Outdoor on October 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you want to hike, but are inexperienced or have small children, the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest may be the place for you. The trail through the forest is only 2 miles long and has steps built into the trail. The hike should only take 1-2 hours. The forest is named after Joyce Kilmer, poet [...]
Wears Valley
Posted in Environment, Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Photo Opportunity on September 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Wears Valley is considered to be one of the most scenic areas surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains. It has become a popular vacationing spot with all that it has to offer. From visiting the Smokies to whitewater rafting and tubing Wears Valley offers something for every outdoor enthusiast. The shops in Wears Valley are unique [...]
Townsend River Walk
Posted in Environment, Outdoor, Townsend on September 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Townsend–based Tuckaleechee Garden Club is proudly working on the Townsend River Walk, a short walking train established in 2004 along the Little River. The club has planted hundreds of daffodils to bloom next Spring and continues to maintain the quarter-mile trail, ensuring that walkers and cyclists have a beautiful, trash-free view of the river [...]
Tuckaleechee Cove
Posted in Environment, Fall, Free Things To Do, Outdoor, Townsend on August 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Tuckaleechee Cove refers to the area where the Little River descends from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but most people know this area as Townsend. Townsend is located between Bates and Rich mountains and the Little River runs east to west through the town. The city is about 0.9 miles in size, and as [...]
Wesley Woods
Posted in Attractions, Environment, Hiking, Outdoor on August 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Spending a week at camp is one adventure most children remember well into their adult years. Camp Wesley Woods, located in Townsend, is a Christian camp that provides children with programs such as Environmental Education, Adventure Education and Summer Camping. Tourists can canoe, fish, and tour the camp all in one afternoon if he or [...]
Popular Fishing Outfitters
Posted in Attractions, Environment on August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Smoky Mountains, which run from North Carolina to Tennessee, are home to nearly 500 miles of fishable streams and include several fishing outfitters for tourists to enjoy. Below is a list of the most popular fishing outfitters in the smokies. Little River Outfitters: located in Townsend. To contact, call 865-448-9459, or visit their website [...]
Nature Pods Guide Application
Posted in Environment, Family Fun, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking on August 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you’re a nature lover who feels the urge to identify animals and insects that cross your path, this little iPod application is made for you. Instead of lugging around heavy-duty nature books weighed down by colorful illustrations and information, Apple has created a downloadable application that offers the same features but with more ease [...]
Wildflowers Bloom Calendar
Posted in Environment, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking on August 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Wildflowers fill the Smoky Mountains with color and life for everyone on the trails to enjoy. However, certain wildflowers are more prevalent at certain times of the year. For a complete schedule of when specific flowers bloom in the smokies, visitthis website.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Posted in Environment, Great Smoky Mountains National Park on August 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Great Smoky Mountains are such a beautiful part of Tennessee, so it’s our job to try and take care of them. There are several ways that you can help to preserve the environment and reduce your carbon footprint. You can turn off lights when you aren’t using them, do you weekly shopping in a [...]
