Smoky Mountain Travel Guide

When you are planning a family vacation to the Smoky Mountains, you have to find things that the kids will love. For a summer vacation, what could be better than a series of water activities? They’ll keep you cool while providing a ton of fun. Here are five of the best options!

1. Wild Bear Falls Water Park is a brand new way to enjoy the Smokies. Located in Gatlinburg’s Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, it is the largest indoor water park in the South. Don’t worry, though—the roof is retractable, so you’ll still be able to get a tan if you visit in the summer months. There are wading pools, slides, rides and a tree house at this amazing amusement park.

2. We can’t forget about a favorite Smoky Mountains pastime—fishing! Fish one of the park’s many streams and rivers to catch Brown, Brook and Rainbow trout. You’ll have to choose if you want to fly or angler fish, so get your gear together and get ready for a great time.

3. Swimming in the fresh, mountain streams is another great way to commune with nature in the Smokies. Check with the park rangers to see which places are best.

4. Rent or bring your canoes and rafts to explore the park from a new angle. If your family is up for some white water rafting, check out the guides that offer their services. Rental is possible for many different kinds of watercrafts.

5. Get creative and rent a houseboat for your Smokies vacation! Take this floating home’s luxurious accommodations to one of the region’s lakes and insert yourself into the Smokies lifestyle.

No matter which way you choose, spending some time in the beautiful, clear waters of the Appalachian Mountains is not to be missed!

Tennessee is home to some truly amazing people. Actors, writers, inventors and more have come from the Volunteer State, all of whom are worth our admiration in some vein. Here are just five of the best known Tennesseans:

Johnny Knoxville, MTV’s “Jackass” star, was born Phillip John Clapp in Knoxville Tennessee. Brave enough to try hundreds of stupid, painful stunts for television, Knoxville hit Hollywood in “Jackass the Movie”, “Jackass the Movie 2” and “The Dukes of Hazzard”.

Patricia Neal is an Oscar-winning actress with an amazing survival story. She was born January 30, 1926 in Packard, Kentucky but grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her Oscar came from her 1963 film, “Hud”. She also starred in a number of other films, Broadway shoes and television programs. In 1965, Neal suffered three cerebral aneurisms, putting her in a coma for three weeks. She survived, and how works as an advocate for paralysis victims.

Jack Daniel, born Jasper Newton, is the king of whiskey. He was born in 1850 and went on to open Jack Daniel’s Distillery, the world’s largest maker of whiskey, in Lynchburg, Tennessee. He met his end at a young age after developing a blood disease as the result of a toe injury.

One of the finest American writers to date, Cormac McCarthy is a Tennessee local too! He was born on July 20^th, 1933 in Providence, Rhode Island, but he moved to Knoxville at the age of four. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a Pulitzer prize winner for his novel The Road, which was recently made into a movie starring Viggo Mortensen. He also won a National Book Award for his novel All the Pretty Horses. He lived in eastern Tennessee until the 90s and based a number of his novels on the region.

Christina Hendricks, the stunning redhead on AMC’s “Mad Men”, wasn’t born a redhead in her native Knoxville, Tennessee. After dying her hair at age ten, she never went back. It has defined her roles in “Firefly”, “Without a Trace” and “Cold Case”, as well as her starring role in the hottest show on television.

The Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee draws tourists to Gatlinburg like a Toby Keith concert draws starry-eyed southern girls.  What’s great about the beautiful southern city is that it is easily accessible by less than a day’s drive for more than half of the country’s population.  On a good day, you can get there by taking I-40 to Exit 407 and going south through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge.  For alternative routes consider the following:

-If coming by way of Virginia, consider a 45 minute drive via I-81 South to I-40 East and get off at Newport (Exit 435). Then, follow Highway 321 South into Gatlinburg.

-For those coming from Lexington, Tennessee, take I-75 North and follow Highway 321 to I-40 East to Exit 435, which should also take 45 minutes.

-From Chattanooga, Tennessee, take Exit 81 on I-75 North, following Highway 321 North to Gatlinburg through Maryville and Townsend. Expect to be on the road for approximately an hour and ten minutes.

-Nashville dwellers, you will take I-75 South and follow the same directions as if you were coming from Chattanooga.

-Those arriving from Asheville, North Carolina can take I-40 West to Exit 440 and follow Highway 321 South to Gatlinburg. This should take 45 minutes.

-Atlanta residents can take a leisurely road trip along I-85 North to I-985 North to US 23. Take US 23 to Highway 23/441, changing to Highway 74/441 through Cherokee, North Carolina. It will take you about 4 hours and ten minutes.  This will allow for maximum sight-seeing potential along the drive!

For those who may balk at taking a road trip but still want to take in the unique fun and foods of Gatlinburg, consider flying into Knoxville – McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) which is 55 miles north of Gatlinburg.  Most major airlines fly there daily and once you are on the ground, renting a car is quite easy for maximum enjoyment of the trip. Hop in the car, turn up the radio to a little Sugarland, and be prepared to enjoy some good ole southern hospitality!  Gatlinburg is waiting with open arms.

Now, we aren’t saying to stay away from the Smoky Mountains because there are tons of animals looking to kill you the minute you step foot in the park—that’s not the case. There are lots of animals in the Appalachian Mountains, and some of them can be dangerous if not treated with the proper respect—we just want you to be prepared. So, visit this beautiful place, and keep your eye out for its inhabitants!

1. Bobcats

You really don’t have anything to be afraid of here, so if you see a Bobcat just enjoy! They are nocturnal, so they probably won’t be around when you are hiking, but you could get lucky. They are carnivorous little kitties, and though they can only grow up to three feet in length and weigh up to twenty pounds, they can kill small deer.

2. Eastern Cougars

The Eastern Cougar is the Smoky Mountains’ only native mountain lion. They were believed to be eliminated from the region, but consistent sightings suggest that cougars present here are transients. They are large brown or gray cats that weigh on average around 140 pounds and can be about seven feet from nose to tip of tail. They are generally shy, but they have killed humans in the past—21 people have been killed in the past 118 years.

3. Red Foxes

These cuties are extremely shy. They are about the size of a domestic dog, and can weigh up to 24 pounds. Their charming rust color and fluffy tail make them extremely recognizable. The Red Fox is a solitary hunter that typically feeds on small game, but they have been known to eat human food if exposed to it.

4. Coyotes

Coyotes look like medium-sized Collie dogs, but they have a round and bushy tail. The coyotes that live in the Smokies have thick, dark fur and white bellies. You may hear their howling at night. They can weigh up to 45 pounds and can be about 60 inches long. They are extremely athletic and can run at high speeds and easily leap an eight foot fence. Alone, they hunt small prey while in packs they can bring down much larger animals. They are typically afraid of humans, but they can prove dangerous for pets!

5. Red Wolves

These are one of the most endangered animals in the Smokies. There are only 350 left in the world, roaming free in the Smoky Mountains and in coastal North Carolina. There are about 25 in the park, and they are generally not considered a threat to humans. They are shy and nocturnal, though you can hear them howl sometimes. Adult wolves can weigh between 45 and 80 pounds, and can be red, grey, yellow or black. They typically eat raccoons and ground hogs. They are not pack-oriented, instead roaming in couples or families.

6. Skunks

Although they won’t hurt you, their spray is extremely unpleasant! Though they are small and cute, their spray can travel up to ten feet. The spray causes no real damage, although it is difficult to remove and smells terrible. They are about the size of a house cat, and can be striped, spotted or swirled—but all black and white.

7. Wild Boars

These animals are not native to the Smoky Mountains, but they somehow arrived and have flourished. These hairy pigs have huge heads, short legs and can be dark grey, black or brown. They typically weigh between 110 and 200 pounds, but this varies greatly. Both males and females have tusks, although male tusks are much larger. They are not typically dangerous, though they will defend their children violently. Males and females will charge, and females will bite if compromised.

8. Black Bears

Though smaller and less aggressive than Grizzlies, Black Bears can prove dangerous. About 600 roam the park, and they can grow up to 300 pounds. While they are usually hidden away, sleeping, for the entire winter, their time in the spring, summer and fall is consumed with finding food. They will eat anything, including human food. Human food drastically shortens their life span and removes their fear of people, often making them dangerous. Feeding bears is illegal, as well.

9. Northern Copperhead Snakes

This is a poisonous snake, though their poison is not lethal. They can be up to 36 inches in length and have a stocky body. They are typically copper, orange or pinkish in color with chestnut colored bands crossing the body. They are shy and difficult to find, but they have bitten more people than any other venomous snake in the U.S. They will only strike if very threatened and are most common below 3,000 feet.

10. Timber Rattler

This is a fairly large venomous snake that lives mostly above 3,000 feet. They can be up to 4.5 feet long and fairly thick, with black or brown cross bands on a lighter background of yellow, brown or gray. Some can appear all black. It has a triangular head with small scales on the crown. This snake’s poison is not lethal either.

One of the best reasons to visit the Smoky Mountains is the fishing—there are lots of great, big fish to catch and fry up for your family in your cozy Gatlinburg cabin! There are about 2,115 miles of streams in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, making up what is one of the last wild trout habitats in the eastern United States. Here are just a few tips to ensure that you make the most of your Smoky Mountain trip:

1. Keep in mind time limits. While there is no real season for fishing, you can only fish from 30 minutes before official sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.

2. Only use hand-held rods, artificial flies or lures and single hooks. You can also use up to two dropper flies on a leader. No other bait or lures are allowed—and you may be asked to show your tackle to an authorized ranger at any point while you are in the park.

3. You can keep up to five trout or Small Mouth bass each day if they all measure at least seven inches long. You can also keep up to 20 Rock Bass each day.

4. You cannot catch Spotfin Chubs, Duskytail Darters, Smoky Madtoms and Yellowfin Madtoms. They are all federally protected in the park, so let any you catch go.

5. You cannot fish in the Lynn Camp Prong where it merges with Thunderhead Prong in Tennessee. In North Carolina, stay away from the place where Bear Creek meets Forney Creek.

6. You need a license from the state you are fishing in. You must be at least 13 years old to fish, and you need a special license if you are over 65. Special permits are also required if you plan to fish in Gatlinburg or Cherokee.

7. Be careful in the water, as prolonged immersion in water can cause hypothermia. The current moves fast, so get a good footing in the water and watch out for wet rocks and moss.

8. Respect the natural habitat of the fish by keeping rocks where they lay and keeping your fishing site clean of bait and tackle debris.

Fishing is a great activity for friends and family to share together, so as long as you are respectful of the environment and the animals of the region, you will make it a good experience for everyone.

For a jam-packed day or weekend of hunting, don’t overlook eastern Tennessee. With an abundance of native wildlife and acres of forests and mountains, no wonder hunting is one of the most popular activities in the Smoky Mountains. To get you started on the right path, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency provides various licenses catered to your hunting pleasures, whether you hunt solo, with children, or take a weekend trip with the boys. To get your trigger finger twitching and taste buds salivating, take note of the four most popular game animals in the Smokies.

1. Eastern Wild Turkey: Now one of the most popular game animals, the skittish and difficult to catch wild turkey once graced the endangered species list. Their small size—hardly ever more than 20 pounds—adds to the hunting challenge. If you master their call, consider yourself a talented hunter. Very few capture the wild turkey this way, and even experienced hunters rely on a guide. Turkey season goes from the last day of March to the middle of May. Bag limits: One bearded turkey per day; 4 per season.

2. Wild Hogs: These large beasts resulted from a crossbreeding of wild boars and domestic pigs, and today, hundreds roam the park freely. Their features include black hair, long legs, tusks, canine teeth, and a distinctive white blaze on their face. Wild Hogs are huge—they can weigh up to 125 pounds and grow to 3 ½ feet long. They make up for poor eyesight with an acute sense of smell and hearing. Wild hogs typically live in the western area of the park, but during the warm spring and hot summers, move to higher elevation. Don’t feel guilty about bagging one of these boars—as an exotic species, they cause harm to the park.

3. Black Bears: Although a popular target, not many black bears live within the park limits, so it is illegal to kill more than one a year, and you must always leave alone cubs or female bears with cubs. Bear hunting carries some restrictions depending on the county, so check out the rules and regulations carefully. Some counties only permit archery, while other counties prohibit dogs.

4. Deer: Does the deer have antlers at least three inches long? Is it a Buck? Hunt freely. However, you may not hunt antlerless or albino deer anywhere in Tennessee. Tennessee regulations allow for three deer per season, except in Unit B, which allows only two. Deer season dates and length depend on your weapon of choice and the presence of children, so ask when you apply for a license and before you enter the park and check on the bag limits.

Remember that all hunters in Tennessee must have a license. The best way to purchase the correct license is to decide how long and what you want to hunt. The more specific the license, the less money you spend; however, the more limitations on where you can hunt and fish. With such beautiful surroundings and wild game to chase, why limit yourself? Go with the more expensive, general licenses and follow your whims into the mountains!

What is more patriotic than being the first in the country to celebrate the Fourth of July? Not much!

Each year, Gatlinburg, Tennessee is the site of the first Fourth of July parade in the nation when they start the marching at 12:00 a.m. This massive festival routinely attracts between 80,000 and 100,000 spectators. As the huge collection of floats, helium balloons, marching bands, equestrian entries and groups of men and women representing the armed services parade through the downtown, the Fourth of July is kicked off to a truly epic start.

Over 100 units make up this parade that stretches over a mile in length. It is the 35^th year Gatlinburg has put on this parade, so they definitely have it down to a science. Each year, the parade is dedicated to our men and women in the armed services, so military personnel always serve as the parade’s Grand Marshall. This year, the 129^th Army Band from Nashville, Tennessee will lead the parade and offer their powerful contribution. Additional spectacles featured this year include vintage military vehicles, a parade-scale replica of the U.S.S. Enterprise starship from Riverside, Iowa and the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit from Boyertown, Pennsylvania. The Nashville Suzuki Strings and the Knoxville Pipe and Drum bands will also play. Though the parade is on the evening of July third, the entire festival will last for four full days, with free admission concerts by the 129^th Army Band, the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit, and the Nashville Suzuki Strings, the Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta unmanned floatable race and a spectacular fireworks display.

Best of all, all of these exciting events are free and open to the public! If you are worried about having a good place to see the parade, don’t—it goes through the entire city, so if you can’t get right downtown you will still see it in its entirety on the main strip. The fireworks show should be visible from most of the parkway, from the skylift to the Applebee’s, and it will last a full 20 minutes. Even nearby Pigeon Forge will be having their own celebrations with fireworks and free concerts sponsored by a regional radio station. No matter where you plan to hang out for the holiday, you and your family are sure to have a great time.

The streets will be shut down by 11 p.m. on July third, so be sure to get in to town earlier rather than later. Traffic could be intense, even taking up to an hour to get out of town, so keep this in mind. And, great street performances and acts start as soon as the street is clear of cars, so to catch it all you will want to get there early.

Plan on spending the whole weekend in eastern Tennessee—rent one of the many beautiful Gatlinburg cabins for your whole family, and have your own barbeque before you make your way into town for the festivities. When the parade is over, you can just go home and crash, avoiding the heavy traffic and staying nearby for the great stuff Gatlinburg promises for the day of the Fourth!

Dolly Parton is many things: singer, songwriter, actress, and theme park proprietress. But despite all these talents, perhaps her role as a philanthropist gives her the most joy. Dolly Parton never forgot where she came from—dirt poor in the Smoky Mountains—and now that she has the resources to give back to her hometown, she’s done just that, multiple times over. Dollywood employs 30,000 people in Pigeon Forge and brings millions of tourists to the area each year, but her other way of giving back impacts even the least of these: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, her original idea to encourage and foster literacy amongst the children of her hometown and the surrounding Smoky Mountain communities.

It all started in 1996, when Dolly realized the need children had for books, especially those from impoverished families. Ergo, the Imagination Library, a foundation that mails a brand new, age-appropriate book every month every child under five in Sevier County, Tennessee.

Over its 14 years of existence, the Imagination Library has made a difference Eastern Tennessee and beyond. Some interesting tidbits from the Imagination Library library:

• The very first book the foundation chose to mail out was The Little Engine That Could.

• And, as of July 2010, the most recently delivered book was Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

• Penguin Group USA holds the rights as the exclusive publisher of the Imagination Library Books.

• In 2000, the program expanded to children living in Branson, Missouri and in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, two locations where Dolly’s businesses operates.

• In the 1,068 communities involved, just under 561,000 children are enrolled.

• In 2009, 6.2 million books were mailed, bringing the total number of books distributed by Dolly’s Imagination Library to more than 23 million!

• In the United Kingdom, the Imagination Library mailed its 100,000^th book in 2009.

• Another international location, Canada, enrolled 100% more children each month in 2009.

• A documentary film crew recently followed Dolly and discussed her commitment to literacy and children. The Book Lady is being shopped around in Canada.

• Dolly wrote and published her own book for children, I am a Rainbow, in 2009, and she vowed that she would donate all royalties to the Dollywood Foundation that oversees the Imagination Library.

The Imagination Library works by inspiring communities to take initiative when it comes to promoting literacy. A community can provide the Imagination Library program for their preschool-aged children by fronting the money for the books, covering mailing fees, and registering the children into the database. The Dollywood Foundation takes care of the rest and ensures delivery of the books to all the homes. Is your community is ready to make this commitment to the children?

No Hollywood soundstage can compare to the natural backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains. The quaint communities and residents (extras!), rich with history themselves, only add to the scenery-as-storytelling motif. Update your queue with these four films that took advantage of the eastern Tennessee locale to create four very different movies.

Movie: The Dollmaker

Released: 1983

Starring: Jane Fonda and Levon Helm

Plot: Gertie Nevels (Fonda), a pioneer woman with five children, leaves her country home in Kentucky to join her husband where he works in Detroit. Along their resettlement process in the projects, setbacks and tragedies attack the struggling family, and only Gertie can save her family in their new home. Based upon the book by Harriet Arnow.

Movie: Blaze

Released: 1989

Starring: Paul Newman and Lolita Davidovich

Plot: In the 1950s, Governor Earl Long (Newman), an aging, frequent visitor of strip joints, falls in love with a young stripper named Blaze Starr. After they move in together, Earl’s political opponents attack his already controversial political program, which includes Black Rights. Earl struggles to keep Blaze, as well as control of Louisiana and his personal reputation.  Based upon the true story chronicled in a book by Blaze Starr.

Movie: Christy

Released: 1994

Starring: Kellie Martin

Plot: A schoolteacher moves to an impoverished Appalachia town called Cutter Gap, in Tennessee. Set in the heart of the Smoky Mountains in 1912, Christy Huddleston does her best to educate the children and make a difference in the community, while trials of love and life attack her on all fronts. Based upon on the best-selling novel by Catherine Marshall.

Movie: A Smoky Mountain Christmas

Released: 1986

Starring: Dolly Parton and Lee Majors

Plot: A country music star (Parton) escapes the big city for her mountain home for the holidays. But the backwoods cabin she rents only brings trouble and adventure. Runaway orphans, a witch, and Christmas Carols make this an Appalachian Christmas to remember!

Even though some of these films don’t take place in Tennessee, the producers and “Big Name” movie stars chose the Great Smoky Mountains location for a reason. The unique scenery, indigenous wildlife, and local people showcase the feature film in ways no other place can, piquing the interest of travelers to check out the landscape from their favorite movie.

Local dialect, euphemisms, and a pleasing, musical twang only add more flavors to the already rich culture of the Smoky Mountains. The folk expressions distinct to the Appalachian region of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina are much more than just pronunciations and colloquialisms; they contain a life and history of their own. The Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English chronicles the unique “mountain talk” created by the diverse European settlers and Native Americans who lived there. Before you visit, take to heart some of the vocabulary only spoken and understood here, so you won’t get called out as a “Jasper” (an outsider not from the mountains).

1. A Pig in a Poke…refers to not having all the information about what’s about to happen. For example, “My upcoming Smoky Mountain vacation is a real pig in a poke!”
2. Airish…describes a chilly or breezy weather.
3. Ball-hoot…is a term derived from the logging industry practice of rolling logs downhill, and now it means to drive recklessly on the dangerous mountain roads.
4. Beginning to turn…means getting closer to death.
5. Chancy…is to feel doubtful, as in a situation seems a bit chancy.
6. Charivari or Shivaree…originally French folk custom now practiced in the Smokies, it’s a noisy mock serenade for newlyweds where townspeople bang pots and pans to celebrate the marriage.
7. Cumfluttered…means confused or embarrassed, and also how you may feel about this vocabulary lesson.
8. Cut a shine…means to dance!
9. Do wha?…is the proper response to, “Can you tell me how to get to Dollywood?” or, “Can you please help me finish this fried turkey leg?”
10. Eh, law!…means “Oh, well” and the like.
11. Fixin’…has several meanings and uses. It can mean a serving or helping of food, as in, “Can I have another fixin’ of green beans?” Or, it can refer to a meeting or social event, as in, “Are you’ns a-heading to the church fixin’?” Or, it can mean “about to,” as in, “I’m fixin’ to go to a-hiking today!”
12. Fair up…describes a change of weather to the better, as in, “This mornin’ it was a-fixin’ to be airish, but by noon, it faired up.”
13. From can see to can’t see…is as synonym for “from dawn to dusk.”
14. Haint…is a ghost.
15. Kyarn…is derived from “carrion,” and refers to dead flesh, and most often, road kill.
16. Lay out…means to lie about being sick to get out of work or school. For example, “I laid out from work today to get a-shopping in Gatlinburg.”
17. Mess…refers to the amount of food necessary to feed everyone present, for example, “A mess of fried chicken and dumplings.”
18. Pay it no mind…as in, “They said the pancakes weren’t delicious, but pay them no mind.”
19. Poke Salad is… is a local delicacy made from indigenous greens that grow the valleys. However, unless they are boiled properly beforehand, the greens are poisonous.
20. Redd up…means to clean, especially in regards to your home in preparation for visitors.
21. Sigogglin…implies that something is crooked or leaning, as in a tree.
22. Tee-totally…means “completely.”
23. You’ns...is the proper Appalachian version of “y’all” and is pronounced like “yunz,” as in, “You’ns come back now, you’ns hear?”
24. Zonies alive!… is a mild swear word, as in, “Zonies alive, what a beautiful cabin!”

Now that you’ns are fixin’ to see yonder Great Smoky Mountains, don’t get cumfuttered when bombarded with local terms and their definitions. It’s the little bursts of local culture, such as accents and turns of phrase, that make any new place unique and memorable.