What was once a very hard thing to get will soon be easily available to anyone over 21.

The distillery will have a grand opening celebration on Friday, July 2 and will offer free tours, free samples of moonshine to adults over 21, and moonshine for sale.

Ole Smoky Distillery is located at 903 Parkway, and will offer original unaged corn whiskey moonshine, apple pie moonshine, sweet tea moonshine, and peach moonshine. The facility will include a working still. Moonshine cherries will be available for purchase during the holiday season.  The Ole Smoky recipes are the product of the hard work and experience of local families who have made moonshine in the mountains for over a century. Dave Pickerell, who served as the Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark for over 15 years, assisted with the refinement of the recipes in order to ensure a superior mountain – made moonshine.

This was just pure genius to bring this to Tennessee.  Another cool thing is the moonshine will be distributed in Mason Jars.

Update: I went to the Distiller the other day. Right now when you go there they are allowing you 3 shots of Moonshine. They aren’t full shots but you get enough. They start you out with 2 clear shots of shine, and then give you a apple shine shot. You can’t buy the apple moonshine until sometime in October or November. It’s about 25.00 a jar. There is a 10% Local discount if you happen to live around Gatlinburg. The moonshine is 100 Proof, not quite as high as the illegal shine. Definately worth buying a few jars to have around the house when you entertain.

There are a lot of Attractions in the Smoky Mountains!  I’ll just go over a few of the popular ones.  In the future I’ll discuss them in a more detailed review.

Cooters Place – A very  popular tourist attractions of Gatlinburg Tennessee is Cooters Place.  This attraction is based on the television series “The Dukes of Hazzard” and has a museum and a shop.  Ben Jones is your host at this tribute to the way of life in Hazzard County (Ben Jones was the man who was a friend of the Duke boys). Gatlinburg Tn This attraction features photographs, artifacts, costumes and memorabilia from the TV series.

Fort Fun Family Center Attraction – Family fun can be found easily in Fort Family Fun Center. For example, you can play Laser Tag, Video Arcade Games, black light mini-golf, Bumper Cars, Hillbilly Shooting gallery, Gem Mining, and 2 Outdoor Mini-golf courses

Fort Fun also has the most realistic 3D films that are in the Smoky Mountains – is the only theater attraction in Gatlinburg 3-D movie theater. Children – and adults – will love the selection of special effects that include sharks, aliens, dinosaurs and more.

Gatlinburg Tram / Skyway Attraction – Enjoy a spectacular view over the Gatlinburg and the Smokies.  Have fun with the Skylift cable car, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg Guinness World Records Attraction –

Guests can enjoy world records from the amazing groups of Sports, Space, Animals, Food, Human Achievement and many more!

Guinness world records are brought to life through incredible displays, cool interactive games and trivia, themed galleries and video productions!

Hillbilly Golf Gatlinburg Attraction – After a strenuous day in the Smokies or on the streets of Gatlinburg, head for the hills for a relaxing time at Hillbilly Golf. It’s the world’s most unusual miniature golf course. Ride the Incline 300 feet straight up to the mountain top above the city. Two challenging 18-hole courses await you. Both are riddled with mountaineer hazards from outhouses to stills, rocky walls and lush native plants. It’s great fun and excitement for the whole family. A truly unique adventure you aren’t likely to forget

OberGatlinburg – Go karts, water rides, alpine slide, skating, ski resorts, winter skiing, snowboarding and more!  A must for the family

Fish in the Smokies Attraction – Have your own experienced guide – day or half day tours that will have you fishing for trout and the area under. Even if you’ve never fished before, there are at any time  help of expert guides.

Rafting in the Smokies Attraction – There are a number of Rafting companies down in the Smokies. You can select tubes of family fun, guided or not, for rafting, one or more persons and boat hire for beginners or experienced level rafting. You can enjoy a full day of whitewater rafting in  powerful waters of Ocoee, Nantahala and Pigeon rivers. Rafting in the Smokies offers a exciting experience that is unforgettable.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Attraction – not just an aquarium – it is more than a million gallons of world-class aquarium. You can see sharks and over 8,000 exotic sea creatures from around the world. Piranhas, Indo-Pacific fish, rays, octopus and more. And travel through the longest underwater tunnel aquarium in the world.  It is awesome looking at the sharks and fish swimming over you.

Ripley’s Believe it or not Museum – This museum has thousands of unique and rare items that have been collected by Robert Ripley and the team of Ripley archivists. All guaranteed real and mind boggling. Join us for your challenge to simply… Believe It or Not! It takes about 2 hrs to go thru.

Ripley’s Davy Crockett Golf – this mini-golf course of two 18-hole green. It was built to recreate the moment when a Tennessee hero named Davy Crockett roamed the mountains of Tennessee. The course has some of the most unique holes in the world with interactive exhibits and plenty of water.

Ripley’s Haunted Adventure – Take your time and walk through the original factory. There is a good chance you will see some of the old inhabitants of the Smoky Mountains. It is likely that – you’ll hear the screams, the smell of decay and feel the dark as  you work through twisting corridors.

Smoky Mountain Stables Attraction – Enjoy a guided horseback ride through the Smoky Mountains. Located within the National Park.

Smoky Mountain Winery Attraction- Visit on of the free attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. International courtesy visit and tasting of award-winning wines. Open every day of the year throughout the year.

Space Needle – Enjoy this observation tower of 342 feet with laser tag.

Star Cars Museum Attraction– This museum has more than thirty of the best Hollywood movie and television cars to create the configuration. Configuration is done using sound, lights and action! Many of the cars are the creations of George Barris, creator of TV’s most famous cars in Hollywood than anyone. More vehicles are added to keep abreast of current entertainment industry in Hollywood.

As you can see there is plenty to do in the Smoky Mountains!

Planning your summer road trip will make you realize that there are so many things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You would most certainly want to experience all of them. The size of the park might pose as overwhelming, but the Smoky Mountain Heritage Driving Tour will surely help you discover the park at your own pace on a self-guided automobile tour. Take your time driving yourself around to seek out landmarks, mountain culture and heritage, the captivating aura of the neighborhoods and, of course, the history of the Smoky Mountains.

If you are looking for a unique way to wander around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then the English Mountain Llama Trek is perfect for you. The llama treks also allow you to move at your own timetable as you are welcome to arrange them for varying lengths of time. You have the option to choose a trekking trip with a picnic or even an overnight stay at one of the cabins and/or campgrounds affiliated with English Mountain Llama Trek. Children six years of age and older can join the treks as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

You can also spice up your summer road trip with an adventurous biking tour around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smoky Mountain Bicycle Tour offers guided and self-guided tours to everyone. Mountain and road bikes are offered for touring the mountains, the historical sights and other scenic areas in and around the park.

There are horseback riding opportunities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well. Walden Creek Stables’ Mountain Adventure Trail promises nothing but the best time. The ride takes about four hours and will take you through the valley, across the streams and to the top of the mountains where you can enjoy the most breathtaking views.

Note: During the summer months, the horseback rides are scheduled as early as 9 a.m. Should you wish to take the tour at an earlier time, arrangements can be made prior to your desired schedule.

Dare to challenge yourself physically on this summer road trip by conquering the bubbly and frothy whitewater. Raft yourself away with Rafting In The Smokies, which offers you the chance to experience the waters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a very scenic and exhilarating way, even if you have no prior rafting experience. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the summer.

After the very exhilarating whitewater rafting experience, tone the activities down and relax with the Smoky Mountain Angler, the oldest fly fishing guide and outfitter in Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountain Angler is authorized to give fly fishing guided services in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These services are offered to both professional fly fishermen and beginners.

The things you can do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park definitely spells out the words adventure and fun. You can bank it as one of the best summer vacations
any road trip planner will have in his or her lifetime!

But it’s not just the major cities on the east coast getting slammed… mountain destinations are being hit too. It sucks for people who live there but is awesome for vacationers looking to hit the slopes! Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials say Mt. LeConte got 14 inches new snow for a total depth of 27 inches. Ober Gatlinburg ski area is located pretty close to Mt. LeConte so you know they’re getting tons of snowfall too.

Ober Gatlinburg has eight skiing trails and three chairlifts. They also have a multi-tracked snow tubing slide that is great for kids and families.

Here are some pictures taken from Ober just a few days ago. If they don’t convince you to strap on those snowboard boots then I don’t know what will.

Locals and visitors come to the Park every time this year to celebrate this precious place. About 150 experts — rangers from the National Park Service, biologists, botanists, nature photographers, animal rehabilitators and Smoky Mountains residents — donate their time to present lectures, classes, photography shows, musical performances and demonstrations.

Wilderness Week is a free event and runs through January 16. Most of the activities can be found in Pigeon Forge, but there will be signs of celebration all throughout the park. It’s important to remember how scared the Smokies are and we shouldn’t take them for granted.

The Great Smoky Mountains have had so much snow over the past few days that certain roads are restricted and trails are closed. Even Cades Cove, the most visited part of the Great Smokies was closed. There was a lot of ice out there making it very dangerous for people who are not accustomed to traveling in those conditions.

Check it this picture from Newfound Gap, it looks nothing like the photo I posted back in October.

So go and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains this winter – it is truly a blessing to have this much snow so early, but please be careful when traveling and site seeing.

Most ski resorts in the Great Smoky Mountain area are open for business with limited hours. This early in the season you’re likely to be skiing on man-made snow – but hey, if you’re from Florida then all that matters is the slopes are open.

My favorite resort to ski at in the Great Smoky Mountains is Ober Ski Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. If you’re visiting the GSM during the winter months, then you really should plan a day or two on the slopes. Now for those of you who are used to skiing out west might find a mountain of this size to be disappointing. I’m not going to like – this is nothing like the Rockies.

But what you will find at Ober is 7 Trails accessible by 2 Quad lifts and 1 Double lift. Ober also has and ice skating rink and a scenic chairlift for those of you who don’t enjoy skiing.

Rates are modest at $30 for adults on non-holidays and they have on-site rentals. You really can’t beat this quiet mountain when traveling in the Great Smokies.

Are you looking for something a little more out of the ordinary to do on New Year’s Eve? Tired of just sitting in front of the TV for Dick Clark’s Special and watching the ball drop? Well, if you’ll be in the Great Smoky Mountain area during New Year’s Eve then there’s an exciting opportunity for you to take advantage of. The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad posted this special on their Facebook page:

Ring in the New Year on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s New Year’s Eve Gala. Enjoy a gourmet journey on board the train with an evening of dining, dancing and live musical entertainment, cash bar, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight (or sparkling cider), plus party favors for everyone!

The GSMR is New Year’s Eve Gala would be great for other that private time away with just you and the spouse or for a group of friends looking to have a great time. The route of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad passes through fertile valleys, through a tunnel and across river gorges in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. It was truly be a majestic night.

Here’s a little more info on the train ride I took from the GSMR website:

This delightful mountain vacationland is like a nature conservancy in which small towns, rushing rivers, and ancient mountains reside. Railroad depots are located in three historic towns; Dillsboro (no current departures), a village of shops and crafts; Bryson City, located on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; and Andrews (no current departures), a scenic valley in the Snowbird Mountains. All were founded in the 1800s and have retained some of their original character, adding to their historic charm.

So what do you think?

Authors scheduled to appear include: Ron Rash, Pamela Duncan, Vickie Lane, Alan Wolf, Bob Plott, Fred Chappell, Jim Casada, Sheila Kay Adams, Ed Schubert, Terry Taylor, Wayne Erbsen, Doug Elliot and North Carolina Poet Laureate Katherine Stripling Byer.

Admission is free, and 20 percent of all book sales go toward the new Jackson County Public Library Complex.

Before the Great Smoky Mountain area was turned into a park, Cades Code was home to many of the frontiers first settlers. Of course I’m talking over a hundred years ago… but what makes Cades Cove (located in Tennessee) so spectacular is that many of the original settlers’ cabins, stables, and churches are still standing. Today Cades Cove is the single most popular destination for visitors to the park, attracting over two million visitors a year.

Cades Cove is known for an 11-mile loop that takes you through the entire region. It is a one-way paved road that is accessible by car, bike or foot. By car, you can expect to travel the entire loop in one to two hours, depending on how many stops you make to admire the settlements and abundant display of wildlife. I recommend you travel through Cades Cove via bicycle. Bicycles can be rented for $3.25 an hour at the Visitors Center at the beginning of Cades Cove.