Gatlinburg Trolley and Map

A great and inexpensive way to view the sites of Gatlinburg is on the Gatlinburg Trolley. Gatlinburg features many trolley stops around the area and rides start at just 50 cents! More information on the trolley can be found here.

Swimming Sites in the Great Smoky Mountains

So far, this summer has been a HOT one! Swimming is a great way to cool off from the hot sun. Numerous swimming sites can be found throughout the park. These sites are good for a quick dip or tubing depending on the water level.

Area – Location – Features
1. Big Creek – State 32 from Cosby – Quiet, peaceful area with a refreshing creek
2. Deep Creek – Hwy. 19 from Cherokee – Great for tubing, bring your own or rent one
3. Greenbrier – Hwy. 321 from Gatlinburg – Just pick any spot on the gorgeous middle prog of the Little Pigeon River. Great for tubing!
4. Metcalf Bottoms – Little River Road – wade in and skip rocks across this calm, wide area of the river. Good for tubing.
5. The Sinks – Little River Road – The Smokies’ deepest swimming hole
6. Townsend ‘Wye” – Little River Road and Laurel Creek Road intersection – placid stretch of river with grassy banks for sunbathing. Another good place for tubing.

Local Churches in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area

Here is a list of some of the local churches in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. If you want to attend a service while on vacation, be sure to call the church of your choice to confirm service times. For a complete listing click here.

1. First Baptist Church
111 Oglewood Lane, Gatlinburg
(865) 436-4685
2. Fist United Methodist Church, Pigeon Forge
742 Parkway
(865) 436-4691
3. Gatlinburg Little Mountain Church, Gatlinburg
Reagan Drive
(865) 436-7773
4. Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg
Historic Nature Trail – Airport Road
(865) 436-5641
5. St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Gatlinburg
Historic Nature Trail- Airport Road
(865) 436-4907
6. Trinity Episcopal Church, Gatlinburg
Historic Nature Trail – Airport Road
(865) 436-4907

A Smoky Mountain Get-a-way at the Peace of Mind Cabin in Gatlinburg

Peace of Mind is a great one-bedroom cabin perfect for couples that want to get away. This cozy little cabin comes with a pool table, a 40” HD LCD TV, a hot tub, and an amazing mountain view. For those who can’t afford to totally escape from their daily life, the cabin also offers wireless high-speed internet access. Seasonal features of this cabin also include a fireplace and a swimming pool. To book this cabin or find out more information please visit Peace of Mind | Jackson Mountain Homes.

Bird Watching in the Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains is a great place to view birds. There are over 240 different species of birds that have been spotted in the park, 60 of these birds are year-round inhabitants. A list of birds to look for can be found here.

It’s Christmas in July (and all year-round) at The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge is the store with all of your Christmas needs. Selling everything from ornaments and ornaments to Christmas jewelry and lights. The store is open year-round to get a little taste of the holidays any time of the year. For more information call 1-800-445-3396 or email santa@christmasplace.com.

The Great Smoky Mountains: Salamander Capital of the World

The Smokies are known as the salamander capital of the world because of the diversity and abundance of salamanders. There are five different families of salamanders located in the park and there are 24 different species of lungless salamanders. Another interesting fact is that salamanders are amphibians not reptiles like lizards. Salamanders are considered amphibians because of their moist smooth skin, lack of scales, and the clear jelly-like substance that covers the eggs they lay. Whereas lizards have dry scaly skin and lay eggs that have a leathery covering. Click here for more information about amphibians in the national park.

Scenic Motorcycle Drives through the Great Smoky Mountains

The mountain roads through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are perfect for a relaxing cruise through the beautiful mountains. A motorcycle ride is a perfect way to feel the Smokies on your skin, and be able to have unhindered views of the Park and mountains. Here is a list of some scenic roads through the Park that are great for scenic driving:

Road – One-Way Mileage – Driving Time – Location

1. Balsam Mountain Road – 9 – 30 min – Blue Ridge Parkway

2. Little River Road to Townsend – 19 – 1 to 2 hrs- Sugarlands Welcome Center, Hwy 73

3. Gatlinburg to Clingmans Dome – 20 – 2 to 4 hrs – Hwy 441 South

4. Cades Cove Loop – 11 – 1 hr – Cades Cove District

5. Cherohala Skyway – 65 – 1.5 hrs – Tellico Plains, Tennessee to Robinsville, NC

Click here for a complete list of scenic motorcycle rides.

History of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It was a long hard journey for the Great Smoky Mountains to become a national park. Unlike other national parks in the U.S. the Smokies contained many farmers that owned the land, and getting them to sell their family’s homestead to the government was not an easy task. There was also argument about whether the Smokies should be a national park or a national forest. It wasn’t until President Cooliage signed a bill in 1926 that provided the establishment of the national park as soon as 150,000 acres of land was bought. The first superintendent arrived in the park in 1931 and by 1934 the park had purchased 300,000 acres of land. After the long anticipation, the park was formally dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. This ceremony let the nation know that this park was for them.

The Village: Gatlinburg’s Premier Shopping

The Village, located in downtown Gatlinburg, is filled with 27 unique boutiques, galleries and restaurants. The Village gives off a nostalgic charm of another time in East Tennessee. Click here for other amenities and lodging for your vacation in the Smokies.