Everyone has seen the old Western movies where men get from saloon to saloon by riding on a horse. Today, horseback riding has become less of something you see a movies and more of something you see people doing all the time. The Great Smoky Mountains has a beautiful view and several horseback-riding stables. The [...]
Archive for the ‘Great Smoky Mountains National Park’ Category
Riding Stables
Posted in Attractions, Cades Cove, Family Fun, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor, Sevierville, Townsend on November 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Cycles in The Mountains: Rentals
Posted in Attractions, Cades Cove, Family Fun, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on November 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Bicycling is one of the most enjoying activities to experience in the smokies. Bicycles can travel on most roads within the park and cyclists can traverse the parkway’s unfinished portions. Do not worry if you want to cycle in the smokies but are not able to find a bicycle to ride- Cades Cove offers a [...]
Tennessee Heritage Trail
Posted in Environment, Family Fun, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking on November 1, 2009 | 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 [...]
The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball
Posted in Family Fun, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Indoor on October 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball was written by Lisa Horstman and the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association and published in April 1997. It is a children’s book for ages 5-7 years old. The book is about a young girl’s trip to the Smokies. While camping with her family, she sneaks out of 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.
Fall Foliage Report
Posted in Attractions, Fall, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on October 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A visit to the Smokies is a must in autumn. Mid-October and early November is usually the peak of color, and the best way to see the fall foliage is to reach a high elevation. If you want to drive, try Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Newfound Gap or Parsons Branch Road. If you are [...]
Elk Bugling
Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor, Photo Opportunity, Wildlife on October 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Elk once roamed the Smokies before they were over-hunted, but they were reintroduced in 2001. Click the link below to hear a sound that is once again familiar in the Smokies, thanks to the elk.
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYzWmKlZtrU
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 [...]
Ghost Stories in The Smokies
Posted in Attractions, Events, Fall, Family Fun, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, History, Outdoor on October 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
This October, prepare yourself for bone chilling stories during the Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg. Though this event doesn’t have masked ghouls and chainsaws making you scream throughout the walk, the stories themselves paint the frightening picture of the past 100 years of murder and mayhem in Gatlinburg and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This [...]
All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory
Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on September 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
ATBI is a project of Discover Life in America. It officially launched on Earth Day 1998. The goal is to catalogue and record all of the estimated 100,000 species of living organisms in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The scientific plan is to create an inventory of organisms which has never been attempted before. [...]
Fall Fishing in the Smokies
Posted in Fall, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor, Wildlife on September 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
One of the many great assets of the Smokies is that you can fish year round. Trout fishing is normally closed in most regions during certain seasons, but if you are brave enough to conquer the icy, winter waters, the several varieties of trout can be found in our waters. Expect to catch native Appalachian [...]
Bird Watching
Posted in Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor, Wildlife on August 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Great Smoky Mountains is a premier location for bird watching. The crest of the smokies towers almost a mile above the foothills, while provides a diversity of habitats and climates for the nearly 240 birds that have been found in the park. Out of these 240 birds, only sixty are year round residents. The [...]
Foothills Land Conservancy
Posted in Fall, Family Fun, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on August 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Protecting the environment is very important to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Foothills Land Conservancy is a non-profit organization that works hard to keep the foothills of the mountains and their surroundings looking good. The Foothills Land Conservancy was founded in 1985 and is lead by a volunteer Board of Directors, who are elected [...]
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 [...]
Events in The Great Smoky Mountains
Posted in Events, Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park on August 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Great Smoky Mountains hold a lot of tradition and history for Tennessee and the National Park always has different events going on that visitors can attend. If you are interested in finding an event happening at the National Park for a certain day, visit this website, enter you date, and a list of fun, [...]
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 [...]
Geocaching in the Smokies
Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor, Townsend on August 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A new outdoor activity has created a different way for visitors to explore the Smokies and surrounding areas. Geocaching, a worldwide game of high-tech treasure seeking played by adventurers equipped with GPS devices, is attracting visitors to explore the mountains. The idea behind the game is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then [...]
Low- impact Vacation
Posted in Environment, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on August 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Whether you’re a conservation-minded traveler or looking to go green on your next vacation, Townsend, Tenn. has hundreds of ways you can be eco friendly while appreciating nature in the Smokies.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains several campsites for visitors to enjoy the outdoors. Campers have the opportunity to camp under the stars in [...]
Hot Air Balloon Rides
Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on July 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
What a better way than to get the entire scenic, panoramic view of the breath-taking Smoky Mountains that in a Hot Air Balloon. Smoky Mountain Balloon Adventures located in Dandridge, TN just north of Sevierville offers rides with views covering Cherokee Lake and Douglass Lake, scoping a fantastic view of the Smoky Mountains in [...]
Backpacker Magazine’s Trails of the Smokies
Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking on July 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Backpacker Magazine has added a section to their website that gives you an in-depth synopsis of the trails [...]
Great Smoky Mountains Postcard Video
Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on July 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you are planning a trip to the Smokies and want to know what all the fuss is about? Check out this awesome video of the Smokies. You will be awe-struck with the beauty and grandeur of the mountains.
TLC’s Duggar Family Visits the Smokies
Posted in Family Fun, Great Smoky Mountains National Park on July 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Duggar family of TLC’s “18 Kids and Counting” visited the Smokies in May. Mayor Keith Whaley invited the family to participate in Dolly Parton’s homecoming parade.
The Duggars filmed an episode of their show while visiting Pigeon Forge. You can see part of the episode here.
New Found Gap Road
Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Maps & Alternate Routes on June 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Newfound Gap Road is a 33-mile drive from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC. It makes up the largest drivable pass through of the entire park. It is the perfect way to see everything the park has to offer. Along the way, don’t forget to pack a picnic and pull over by the river, or take [...]
Parkway to the Park Giveaway
Posted in Attractions, Great Smoky Mountains National Park on June 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
From now until July 15th, you can get registered to win an exciting prize pack from the town of Pigeon Forge. To celebrate the 75th anniversary, the “Parkway to the Park” campaign will give 75 families a $75 fuel card, a $75 parkway attraction pass, a list of 75 fun activities in Pigeon Forge, Dolly [...]
Plan Your Fishing Trip
Posted in Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on June 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Father/son fishing trips are a part of southern culture. The perfect place to plan one is in the many fishing holes located in the Great Smoky Mountains. One place in particular is the Horseshoe located on the Abrams Falls Trail is known for its rainbow and brown trout. They can be found where the Little [...]
Smoky Mountain Celebration
Posted in Attractions, Events, Family Fun, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on June 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Come celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park on June 13th through 15th. For more information on the weekend celebration and events throughout the year please click here.
Fishing in The National Park
Posted in Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor on June 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors in an inexpensive way. Before heading out there are a few guidelines that you should know. If you catch a brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, or small-mouth bass that is smaller than 7 inches, you must immediately return it [...]
Stay Safe in the Water
Posted in Family Fun, Free Things To Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor, Safety, Summer on May 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
When things get heated, be careful when cooling off. The streams and waterfalls of the park seem like an excellent way to cool off but, water recreation in the National Park is not recommended and you need to use extreme caution. Drowning is the leading cause of death in the park. If you get injured [...]
