Metcalf Bottoms

Once a family farm, Metcalf Bottoms is now a large picnic area approximately 11 miles from Gatlinburg near the Little River. The picnic area is 24 feet by 60 feet and has a capacity of 70 people. Four grills are just outside the pavilion and there are 15 picnic tables for visitors to sit at. Patrons are able to rent out the pavilion from 8 am until 3:30 pm and then again from 4 to 8 pm. The area also offers fishing streams as well as a hiking trail. For more information, visit here.

Fall Foliage Report

A visit to the Smokies is a must in autumn. Mid-October and early November is usually the peak of color, and the best way to see the fall foliage is to reach a high elevation. If you want to drive, try Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Newfound Gap or Parsons Branch Road. If you are a hiker, try Sugarland Mountain, Albright Grove, Andrew’s Bald or Mt. LeConte.

For more information, visit http://www.gatlinburg.com/.

Tulip Poplar

There is no better time to visit the Smokies than in the fall; the weather is nice, and the fall foliage is beautiful. The Tulip Poplars of the Smokies turn to bright yellow when the weather turns colder, so the mountains light up with color. The Smokies are also home to one of the tallest tuliptrees, standing 178.5 feet tall along Baxter Creek. The Tulip Poplar is also the state tree of Tennessee, so make sure to see one while you visit. 

Fall Craftmen’s Fair

Every year, several craftsmen from all over migrate to the Gatlinburg convention center to display his or her skills during the Fall Craftsmen’s Fair from October 8th thru the 25th. This year is the 34th year Gatlinburg has hosted the fair and they promise not to disappoint. Several unique and talented craftsman, like potter David Howard and stained glass craftsman Charles Adams, will be attending the fair this year. Along with craftsmen, the fair also provides visitors with live music. Dennis Lee and Band will be at the fair from October 8th to 16th and Keith Longbotham and Band will be at the fair from October 17th to the 25th. For more information, visit their website.

Smoky Mountain Haunted Forest

If you are looking for a good scare around Halloween, then visit the Smoky Mountain Haunted Forest in Sevierville. The haunted forest experience is a fun walk through a forest with lots of ghouls and ghosts and even a creepy cemetery. The attraction includes several hand made props and different scenes that set them apart from other haunted forests. One of the most popular and gruesome scenes includes prisoners who are waiting to be sent to a human butcher shop. In addition to giving patrons a scare, the haunted forest also gives part of all profits to the owner’s cousin, a quadriplegic. For more information, visit their website.

Dollywood’s Harvest and Music

For one month during the fall every year, Dollywood hosts the National Gospel Music and Harvest Celebration. During this celebration, some of the top Southern gospel performers in the county come to Dollywood to celebrate the season. The celebration also includes artists, crafters, and food. This fall, Dollywood will provide patrons with the beautiful Southern gospel as well as some bluegrass from several great musical artists such as Aaron Wilburn, the Ball Brothers, Brian Free and Assurance, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, and The Crist Family. For a complete schedule of performers, visit here.

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival

What better way to welcome fall than to celebrate with an elaborate festival? That is exactly what the Smoky Mountains do. During September 24 thru October 13, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg provide fall decorations as well as outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy. As the mountain landscape changes from summer green to shades of autumn, the festival encourages people to go hiking, walking, and to take a drive thru the mountains in order to see everything. Peak color for the mountains is normally from mid-to-late October. For more information, visit here.

Ghost Stories in The Smokies

This October, prepare yourself for bone chilling stories during the Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg. Though this event doesn’t have masked ghouls and chainsaws making you scream throughout the walk, the stories themselves paint the frightening picture of the past 100 years of murder and mayhem in Gatlinburg and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This tour offers the only ghost detector in town so that you are able to get the whole experience of passing over a supernatural area. The walk runs nightly at 9, 10:30 and midnight. 

 

Experience the fear yourself nightly, but first visithttp://www.ghostwalkofgatlinburg.com/default.html , for prices, directions and more information. 

Annual Pumpkin Festival

 

Come discover the beauty of the Smokies this fall during the Annual Pumpkin Festival. Feast your eyes on the gorgeous landscapes that the mountains provide in the fall with many festivities and activities that this festival withholds. The Wears Valley Farmer’s Market presents the Annual Pumpkin Festival, running from September 15 through October 30, which is located in Wears Valley, TN. Nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, the festival offers a wide arrangement of seasonal mums to fresh produce and pumpkin carving. Along with arts and crafts, this festival has a wide assortment of happenings to satisfy any family’s desire. 

 

Capture the essence of fall this year during your trip into the Smokies with the Annual Pumpkin Festival: http://www.wearsvalley-farmersmarket.com/pumpkin-festival.html .

Chili Recipes

Below are two great Tennessee Chili Recipes that would please even the pickiest eaters.

Tennessee Pride Chili

1 lb. Tennessee Pride Country sausage
1 lb. ground beef
1 med. onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 med. green pepper, chopped
1 (28 oz.) can whole tomatoes, undrained
2 (16 oz.) cans red kidney beans
1 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. water

Saute sausage and ground beef, onion, green pepper and garlic until browned; drain excess grease. Stir in remaining ingredients. Break tomatoes with back of wooden spoon. Cover and simmer 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

**Cooks.com

Tennessee White chili

1 tablespoon corn oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 lb, or more, ground turkey or chicken
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 15oz can garbanzo beans
1 15oz can white (navy) beans
1 15 oz can white corn
2 cans chicken broth
salt & pepper to taste
2 cans (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 cup shredded Jack cheese
Salsa

Heat oil in Dutch oven. Add chopped onion, garlic and ground meat. Cook until meat is no longer pink; don’t brown. Add all the rest of the ingredients; cook over low heat 30-45 minutes. Top with cheese and salsa.

**Smoky Mountain Cookbook