Take a Scenic Drive on Moonshiner 28 near the Great Smoky Mountains!
Bridal Veil Falls on Moonshiner 28 nears Highlands, NC (flickr/leslie looper)
Dollywood Welcomes Wildwood Grove Guests
Make plans to explore Dollywood’s new Wildwood Grove!
Dollywood Welcomes Wildwood Grove Guests beginning May 2019. This is sure to be a great year for America’s favorite theme park. The Wildwood Grove will boast six new themed rides, the amazing Wildwood Tree, outdoor water play zone, four new Woodland characters to interact with and a new restaurant.
Dollywood is known world wide for heart pumping rides and the best music anywhere. The new grove ramps up the fun for the entire family. Kids will love the Tree Top tower offering a sky high view of the grove and surrounding Smoky Mountains while whisking through the air in a giant acorn.
The great tree swing is just what you would expect and more. This swing is big enough for the entire family. Fashioned as a flying leaf boat rising and falling through the air as if on an autumn breeze.
Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove is a true family adventure!
The black bear trail is your chance to catch a glimpse of the iconic symbol of the Smoky Mountains, black bear. Be sure and have your camera ready to capture some cuteness.
This Heysmokies.com exclusive video shares a few of the Wildwood Grove secrets!
Hop on over to the Frogs and Fireflies ride for a fun race around the lily pad pond. Hold on tight astride a giant frog for a fun romp chasing fireflies.
Impossibilities
Impossibilities is an evening of Magic, Mindreading, and Mayhem at 115 Historic Nature Trail Road in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Are you looking for an evening of family entertainment in the Great Smoky Mountains? You’re looking for Impossibilities.
Magical Comedian Chris Collins and Master Mentalist Erik Dobell present a night of stunning magic, reality shattering mindreading and hilarious mayhem. An evening of family fun where Impossibilities are brought to life right in front of your eyes.
With a combined 40+ years in the art of magic, Chris Collins and Erik Dobell have traveled from Las Vegas to South Korea performing their award winning shows for audiences and companies such as the NFL, Sony Electronics, and Carnival Cruise Lines. They have been seen on NBC, FOX, and America’s Got Talent; and now they bring their critically acclaimed show to the Historic Gatlinburg Space Needle!
You do not want to miss the opportunity to be amazed and astounded by one of the best shows in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg; you do not want to miss IMPOSSIBILITIES!
For tickets and showtimes for Impossibilities at the Iris Theater, please call (888) 482-3330.
For learn more about Impossibilities visit them at www.Facebook.com/ImpossibilitiesShow or www.Twitter.com/BestMagicShow.
Hike into spring in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The amazing fire pink (Silene virginica) wildflower can often be found in sunny, rocky outcrops alongside trails and roads.
Hike into spring in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina is magical. A time of renewal and rebirth and it has never been more welcome than this year following on the heels of the recent devastating fires.
Spring is a season best experienced first hand. Poplar and Sourwood trees are showing their buds. Delicate pink and white Dogwoods can be found blooming throughout the landscape and soon will usher in a blazing display of color as wild azaleas strut their stuff, punctuating the mountains against the dense evergreen of Mountain Laurel, Rhododendron, and Hemlock. A warm, gentle breeze carries the hint of blossoms, moist earth, and that indefinable smell of spring. A favorite activity for us is to hike with spring over the coming months as warm temperatures climb the mountains heralding the seasons change at each elevation.
One of our favorite places to enjoy spring and view amazing wildflowers is the Porters Creek Trail in Greenbrier. This trail is easy to find and fairly easy to walk. In addition to an amazing wildflower display you can enjoy the impressive John Whaley cantilevered barn built in 1875 and the historic Smoky Mountain Hiking Club cabin.
Porters Creek Trail is a great hike for the entire family!
Beyond the the historic structures, a profusion of wildflowers carpet the forest floor. Keep an eye out for bloodroot, hepaticas, white fringed phacelia, trilliums of every color, bluets, and jack in the pulpit.
Approximately two miles above the trailhead is the spectacular Fern Falls which plunges sixty feet down to the trail and beyond to it’s confluence with Porters Creek. These falls are dramatic during times of high water, and the cool breeze flowing down from its rocky heights is always refreshing during warm summer months!
The trail continues another 1.7 miles past Fern Falls ending at Backcountry Campsite 31, a spacious site located conveniently next to Porters Creek and in the shadow of Mount LeConte and adjacent to the Appalachian Trail.
17 Best Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains | 2017 Winter Edition
Hey 2017! To get this brand-new year started off in the right direction, HeySmokies has compiled a list of the 17 Best Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains 2017 Winter Edition! There are some things that you can only enjoy in the Smokies during winter, so don’t let this wondrous season pass you by. On the list, you’ll find some of our tried and true favorites along with a few new places that we’re looking forward to exploring and hope you will too! Happy New Year! We’re so glad you’re here!
HeySmokies’ List of the 17 Best Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains | 2017 Winter Edition:
#1 Newfound Gap Car Snowmen and Icicle Viewing
There’s nothing quite like the sight of little snowmen atop vehicles around Gatlinburg, especially when there’s no snow on the ground in the downtown valley. From where do these little snowmen come? A short 14 mile drive on U.S. Highwy 441 (Newfound Gap Road) takes you to the highlands of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and during the winter season there’s usually a good chance of snow on the ground. And if there’s no snow, you’ll still be amazed at the beautiful icicles that hang off the rockfaces alongside the road. Newfound Gap Road can be temporarily closed 15-20 times each winter, so check current driving conditions by calling 865-436-1200 or check GSMNP’s Twitter.
#2 Cross Country Ski on Clingmans Dome Road
Although Clingmans Dome Road is closed to vehicles in winter it is not closed to people. On any given day, you’ll find folks out and about with their cross-country skis and snowshoes enjoying the snow-covered road. Or, you could just grab your snow boots and enjoy a walk in the highlands of the Great Smoky Mountains. For more info, visit The Clingmans Dome Experience in the Smokies.
#3 Downhill Skiing and Snow Tubing at Ober Gatlinburg and Cataloochee Ski Areas
Cataloochee Ski Area, with a summit elevation of 5,400 ft., is located in Maggie Valley, NC. Cataloochee offers 18 slopes with 740 ft. vertical drop. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area, with a summit elevation of 3,300 ft., is located in Gatlinburg, TN. Ober offers 9 slopes with 600 ft. vertical drop. Both ski areas offer snow tubing and snowboard free-style terrain parks. Ober Gatlinburg also has an indoor ice skating rink! For more info on lift packages, rentals and lessons, visit Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area 800-251-9202 or Cataloochee Ski Area 800-768-0285.
#4 Alum Cave Trail Hike
Take a hike on the new and improved Alum Cave Trail. Be one of the first to check out the great works of the Trails Forever crew and volunteers who’ve spent the last two years rehabbing one of the Smokies’ most popular trails to Mt. LeConte Lodge. Wide and graceful native stone and timber stairs have replaced the rutted gulleys on the trail. Even if ice prevents a hike to the Bluffs, you can still enjoy a walk in the old-growth forest at the trail’s beginning off Newfound Gap Road. The ancient forest here boasts a thick under-story of 10-foot high, evergreen rosebay rhododendron, dog-hobble along with a variety of mosses and ferns.
#5 Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
If you need to take the chill off and you’re feeling lucky, head to Cherokee, NC to the beautiful Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort for live Blackjack and Roulette and, of course, rows and rows of the latest slots. However, if gaming isn’t your thing Harrah’s offers a spa and some great restaurants you can check out while attending an upcoming concert: Air Supply on January 13, Jamey Johnson on January 28, YES on February 3, Purple Reign – Prince Tribute Show on February 18, Michael Bolton on February 24, and Rodney Carrington on March 25, 2017. For more info and tickets, visit Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort or call 828-497-7777. Events at Harrah’s are for guests at least 21 years old.
#6 FACE Amusement Group’s Arcades in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
The under 21 set will love an afternoon of bright lights, great music and games at one of FACE Amusement Group’s arcades in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. They offer a squeaky-clean environment, friendly staff, and great prizes! Visit Arcade City and 7-D Dark Ride Adventure at The Island in Pigeon Forge. Also in Pigeon Forge is Rockin’ Raceway and Big Top Arcade on the Parkway. In Gatlinburg, you’ll find 7-D Dark Ride Adventure in the Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler on the downtown Parkway. For more info, check out our Top Five Favorite Arcades in Gatinburg and Pigeon Forge!
#7 Cades Cove
Everyone knows Cades Cove is beautiful anytime of the year, but there is a special quietness to be found there during wintertime. Fill your thermos with some hot cocoa, pack a picnic, and take a drive around the 11-mile loop, or if you’re looking for some extra adventure, plan a camping trip. Cades Cove Campground is open year round and reservations can be made by calling 877-444-6777 or visiting www.recreation.gov. For more info, check out The Cades Cove Experience.
#8 The Melting Pot Fondue Restaurant in Gatlinburg
When it’s chilly outside who doesn’t love a little heated pot of cheese or chocolate with your favorite dipping munchies. And with Valentine’s Day coming up, what better place to cozy up for a romantic meal. The Melting Pot on the downtown Parkway in Gatlinburg is a great place for a unique and delicious dining experience. For more info, visit The Melting Pot Gatlinburg or call 865-430-4430 for hours and reservations.
#9 Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge
More weird and wacky fun has arrived in Pigeon Forge in the form of the Alcatraz East Crime Museum. Open 365 days a year from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. this new attraction offers a unique glimpse into American crime history. Originally located in Washington DC, the museum features OJ Simpson’s famous white Ford Bronco among hundreds of other artifacts. Surprisingly, Alcatraz East is super kid-friendly and offers some great programs for children of all ages. For more info, visit Alacatraz East Crime Museum or call 865-453-3278.
#10 Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Tuckasegee River Excursion
Climb aboard one of the enclosed and heated train cars of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City, NC. During the winter season, they offer an 11:00 a.m. trip on Saturdays. The Tuckasegee River Excursion is a 32-mile round-trip train ride that takes about 4 hours as you travel to the town of Dillsboro. You’ll have a 1 1/2 hour layover in historic Dillsboro to enjoy dining and shopping. Not only can you enjoy the beautiful western North Carolina countryside, you get to pass by the movie set of Harrison Ford’s The Fugitive. Choose from First Class, Crown Class and Coach Class seating. For prices and reservations, visit Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
#11 Score some Big Deals at Tanger Outlets Sevierville
Polls report that shopping is a top activity of visitors to the Smoky Mountains, and budget-minded shoppers know that now is the time to score some awesome bargains. Extra-savvy shoppers may even get their next Christmas’ shopping done now! And why not with all the huge discounts and great brands to be found at Tanger Outlets? For more info on winter hours, visit Tanger Outlets Sevierville.
#12 The Donut Friar in The Village, Gatlinburg
Early birds flock to The Donut Friar at 5:00 a.m. to gather up some of the warmest, tastiest donuts in the Smokies. The Donut Friar in The Village has been a fixture in Gatlinburg for generations. Just smell your way there and enjoy some time in the cozy, old-world atmosphere of The Village with 27 unique shops. For more info, visit The Village Shops.
#13 WonderWorks Pigeon Forge
When the weather outside is frightful and little natives are restless, we’ve got just the thing for you! WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge is 35,000 sq. ft. of lively “edu-tainment” and will delight the senses of kids of all ages. With interactive, learning fun WonderWorks offers an indoor ropes challenge course, laser tag arena, live magic show and more! For info on the 100+ hands-on exhibits and tickets, visit WonderWorks Pigeon Forge.
#14 Titanic Museum Pigeon Forge
Built to half-scale of the original luxury liner RMS Titanic, the museum’s collection contains over 400 personal artifacts from passengers and crew and is valued at more than $4.5 million. A unique self-guided tour tells the stories of people who were part of Titanic’s fate. Visitors can walk an exact replica of the $1 million Grand Staircase, put their hands in icy waters of 28 degrees, and learn the history of world as it was in 1912. Prepare to spend a few hours here if you want to take it all in and read everything. For more information and ticket prices, visit Titanic Museum Pigeon Forge.
#15 Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend
Learn all about east Tennessee’s Native American and Euro-American history at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, TN. With both indoor and outdoor exhibits on the center’s six-acre property, this is a great place to take a historic journey back in time from the early 1800’s to the establishment of the national park in 1934. For more info and tickets, visit Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center or call 865-448-0044.
#16 Horseback Riding in the Smokies
For those of you who just don’t like the heat of summer, perhaps a horseback ride in the brisk, winter air will suit you. With no flies out this time of year, it’s a great opportunity for a bug-free ride! Waldens Creek Stables in Pigeon Forge will be open beginning February 14, 2017. Davy Crockett Riding Stables in Townsend is open by appointment during the winter season. Five Oaks Riding Stables in Sevierville is open on weekends during winter.
#17 Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Fishing is permitted year-round and in all streams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, however, you must have a valid North Carolina or Tennessee fishing license. Fishing licenses can be obtained at area fly shops and even at Walmart. The streams within the national park boundary protects one of the last wild trout populations in the eastern U.S. For more info, check out our Reel Fly Fishing Experience.
