Tree City USA, sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in association with the Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, provides direction, technical assistance, and public attention for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of cities. For the past twenty-one years, Gatlinburg has been chosen as a Tree City USA, which is a great accomplishment. In order for a city to meet earn the honor of being a Tree City, it has to meet four standards- implementation of tree board, tree care ordinance, comprehensive in community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance.

Meet Santa this holiday season as he comes to Pigeon Forge to bring you lots of holiday cheer. The Christmas Place welcomes Santa and his guitar for his 11th year to help you get into the spirit with songs, new and old, that put a smile on anyone’s face. Fun photos and CD’s that Santa has made are provided on your visit to The Christmas Place. 

Add a little yule-tide glee to your heart with Singing Santa at http://www.christmasplace.com/visitus/singing_santa.cfm

Rocky Top Tour’s mini-coach takes passengers on scenic tours of the best sites in East Tennessee.  The tours available are the Smoky Mountain Special, Cades Cove, the Biltmore Estate, and a Cherokee Reservation.  Rocky Top Tours even offers transportation to University of Tennessee football games and Bristol Motor Speedway.  They accommodate individuals as well as large groups on the tours.  For more information email  info@rockytoptours.com or call(865) 429-8687.

If you want to get into the Christmas spirit early, visit the Festival of Trees in Gatlinburg. Running from November 24th until the 28th, the Festival of Trees displays dozens of ornately decorated Christmas trees. Located in the W. L. Mills Conference Center, visitors can enjoy this display for free. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit their website:http://www.eventsgatlinburg.com/event_detail.aspx?id=16

Local art galleries are a great way to experience local culture and most of them have a minimum fee or no fee. Gatlinburg is home to several great local art galleries. Some of the best ones are listed below.

Alice Moore Gallery: an arts and crafts community in Gatlinburg.
To contact, call  (865) 436-0327. 

American Legacies: Gatlinburg log cabin art.
To contact, call  (865) 430-4301.

Appalachian Gallery and Frame
To contact, call  (865) 436-2477.

Beneath The Smokies: offers photography and work by Ken Jenkins, a nationally known photographer.
To contact, call (865) 436-3460.

Church Mouse Gallery: features fine art, prints, and pottery.
To contact, call  (865) 436-8988.

From November 5 until February 28, visitors in Gatlinburg can experience mountain scenes and colorful winter displays along Hwy. 321. Located next to Parkway, River Road features an enhanced, romantic arched walkway with a pair of 40-foot swans and several ornate floral representations. Lights line the streets of Gatlinburg and invite people of all ages to come and see the beautiful landscape. Winter Magic also delivers quartets of holiday carolers and Winter Magic Tunes and Tales, where visitors can meet characters and storytellers, and listen to music. For more information, visit their website:http://www.gatlinburgwintermagic.com/

Elk once roamed the Smokies before they were over-hunted, but they were reintroduced in 2001. Click the link below to hear a sound that is once again familiar in the Smokies, thanks to the elk. 

 Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYzWmKlZtrU

Old Timey Photos By Renee

716 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738-3240

(865) 436-4411‎

Miss Dee’s Old Fashioned Photos
174 Old Mill Ave
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863-3516
(865) 429-0111

Dixie’s Old Time Photo
529 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-0055

Garters & Guns Old Time Saloon Photos
602 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-430-4455

Miss Sadie’s Old Time Photos
1001 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-430-4120

Old Town Photos
651 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-430-7660

The Dukes of Hazzard original cast members are set to appear at the Smoky Mountain Fan Fest. The event is set to take place at the Smokies Stadium July 18 and 19 for photo ops, autographs, and Q&A sessions. Along with this, a special concert by Merle Haggard will be performed Saturday night. Tickets can be purchased at the Smokies Stadium Ticket office or online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or www.concertsinthesmokies.com

Newfound Gap Road is a 33-mile drive from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC. It makes up the largest drivable pass through of the entire park. It is the perfect way to see everything the park has to offer. Along the way, don’t forget to pack a picnic and pull over by the river, or take advantage of the great photo opportunities. You can call the National Park at (865) 436-0120 for a Newfound Gap Road Auto Tour Booklet that will tell you all the great pull-offs and hiking trails along the drive.