Great Smoky Mountain Cabins
So you're interested in a secluded, mountain adventure? I thought the photo above might grab your attention. Who wouldn't want to stay in a beautiful cabin when it is often cheaper then a hotel! Cabin rentals offer you the privacy you crave on a mountain retreat without sacrificing on the luxury and amenities we all want. There are certainly no shortage of cabin rentals available in the Great Smoky Mountains... with a little searching you can find the perfect cabin. The most popular cabin rental locations include: Tennessee North Carolina Gatlinburg Asheville Pigeon Forge Cherokee Sevierville Bryson City Wears Valley Waynesville Highlands Maggie Valley While cabin rentals are my favorite accommodation option for ...
Home of the Black Bear
The Great Smoky Mountains have the largest black bear population east of the Mississippi River. Bears are truly amazing amazing. They are beautiful, yet extremely powerful. Seeing a black bear in the wild can frighten some people to death, while others it makes your vacation all worthwhile. As long as you know how to handle yourself in the wild, seeing a black bear shouldn't be terrifying. Have you ever been walking a trail or picnicking at a campsite in the Smokies and seen one of those funny looking garbage cans? Those are supposed to be bear proof! Surprisingly enough, anywhere you ...
Cades Cove Loop
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 ...
Hike Charlies Bunion
Charlies Bunion is one of the more popular (and fun) day-hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s about 8.1 miles roundtrip so give yourself plenty of time to hike in and get out. Charlies Bunion rises to an elevation of 5,565 feet, but you only do about 1,640 feet in elevation during the hike.
To get to Charlies Bunion, start at the Newfound Gap parking lot. The trail to Charlies Bunion, via the Appalachian Trail, is not hard to find. Just follow the signs. It’s funny – you’ll see a sign when you get there that reads “Closely control children.” When you reach the summit there is not a lot of room to move around and it’s all rocks. There aren’t picnic benches or anything. You do this hike for the magnificent view.
Check out this video from the summit.
Great Smoky Mountain Book Fair
Posted by David
Filed under Things to do
It’s time for visitors and locals alike to come out to the 5th annual Great Smoky Mountains Book Fair. Stop by Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Christian Life Center of the Sylva First United Methodist Church. There will be more than 50 authors on site for book signings, story telling, and discussions. It’s a great time for families to come out and walk around. The weather should be good so there’s no excuse not to come!
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.
Cades Cove Loop
Posted by David
Filed under Things to do
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.
Newfound Gap
Posted by David
Filed under Hiking, Sightseeing
Newfound Gap is a mountain pass in the Great Smoky Mountains. Newfound Gap is near the North Carolina and Tennesse border accessible from US 441 (also known as Newfound Gap Road). This is one of my favorite destinations in the Smokies. Not only is the scenic drive magnificent, but you also can visit the Rockefeller Memorial – the site where former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the park on September 2, 1940.
Newfound Gap is one of the most popular destination in the Smokies. There is a large parking lot and plenty of hiking trails in the area, including the Appalachian Trail. It is generally pretty crowded if you go during the summer/fall seasons. Kids love to climb on the rocks by the Memorial and parents love to walk to the top of the Memorial. From here you can see for miles. One of the best views in the entire park.
Home of the Black Bear
The Great Smoky Mountains have the largest black bear population east of the Mississippi River. Bears are truly amazing amazing. They are beautiful, yet extremely powerful. Seeing a black bear in the wild can frighten some people to death, while others it makes your vacation all worthwhile. As long as you know how to handle yourself in the wild, seeing a black bear shouldn’t be terrifying.
Have you ever been walking a trail or picnicking at a campsite in the Smokies and seen one of those funny looking garbage cans? Those are supposed to be bear proof! Surprisingly enough, anywhere you find food is still one of the most popular places to find a black bear in the GRSM. But seeing a black bear walking down the street doesn’t have the same appeal as seeing one in the wild.
The best places to see black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains:
- Cades Cove
- Cataloochee
- Anywhere in the back country
- In low lying creek beds
What if I see a black bear?
For some, just seeing a black bear can make your entire trip.
Try to stay at great distance away from the black bear.
You’d think this is common sense, but you’d be surprised at the number of bear attacks are a result of humans trying to feed them. Bears are not pets!
Don’t want to see a black bear?
Well, if you’re hiking on a trail try making a lot of noise. Black bears can hear you miles away and will go the other way. Some people say to carry a jingle bell with you. If you’re camping in the back country, be sure to pack all your food away in sealed containers.
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