The Temptations Revue, Pigeon Forge, TN

A tribute to the Temptations featuring Nate Evans

by Joan Brock | July 17, 2010

When I hear the songs “My Girl”, “I Wish It Would Rain”, and “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” I can picture The Temptations on stage in their fancy suits and performing their unmistakable choreography.

Though I grew up in East Tennessee my musical tastes are varied, leaning more toward more toward Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll, and, of course, Motown. That is why I am so very happy to see

2nd Annual Adopted Chinese Children Association (ACCA) Reunion - July 10, Sevierville, TN

Providing adopted Chinese children the opportunity to connect with the culture they left behind

by Joan Brock | July 01, 2010

Smiles are contagious in a theater filled with children that are laughing, playing games and connecting with their roots.

The 2^nd Annual Adopted Chinese Children Association (ACCA) Reunion brings children adopted from China together at one of the hottest Sevierville attractions for a fun-filled day of activities themed around the culture they left behind.

Hosted by the Smoky Mountain Palace in Sevierville, home of the amazing Chinese acrobats of Cirque de …

Patriot Festival - July 3, Pigeon Forge, TN

Celebrating our nation’s independence with music, fireworks, and a special Veterans’ salute

by Joan Brock | June 29, 2010

The 20^thAnnual Patriot Festival at Patriot Park, in the heart of Pigeon Forge, is bringing country music stars and fireworks together to celebrate the nation’s independence and offer a special salute to veterans.

This year’s festival begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 3, and continues until dark when fireworks light up the sky. Patriot Park is located on Old Mill Street at traffic light number 7 behind the historic Old Mill.

…

Gatlinburg Screenfest Film Festival 2011, Gatlinburg, TN

Bringing "Hollywood" to the Smokies

by Joan Brock | June 28, 2010

If you have a penchant for fresh, creative, independent films then put the 3^rdAnnual Gatlinburg Screenfest Film Festival (2011) on your list of things to do when you vacation in Gatlinburg next year.

Gatlinburg has been associated with Hollywood for several years through attractions such as Hollywood Star Cars Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, and Hard Rock Café, so it seems only fitting that the city is …

Smoky Mountain Brewery & Restaurant, Pigeon Forge, Tn

Brewing Up Good Times

by Joan Brock | June 26, 2010

Good food, micro-brewed beers, nightly entertainment, and over 20 TVs showing all the latest sports has made the Smoky Mountain Brewery & Restaurant in Pigeon Forge a popular hotspot with locals and tourists alike.

You will find this Pigeon Forge restaurant in the Shops at Walden’s Landing on the Parkway located between traffic lights 3 and 2B. Just look for the large grain silo.

Menu selections include traditional pub fare …

Midnight Independence Day Parade, July 3-4, Gatlinburg, TN

35th Annual 4th of July Midnight Parade to Honor Military Personnel

by Joan Brock | June 20, 2010

At the stroke of midnight on Sunday, July 3, be among more than 100,000 cheering spectators as the city of Gatlinburg kicks off the nation’s first Independence Day parade.

Gatlinburg’s 35^thconsecutive Independence Day parade comes alive at midnight with more than 100 colorful floats, helium balloons, marching bands, equestrian entries, and a large contingent of our armed services men and women. Organizers say this year’s parade will be the most …

Black Bear Expo - Saturday, June 26, Townsend, TN

Learn more about this illustrious wild animal

by Joan Brock | May 22, 2010

There are more than 1,500 black bear in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and to see one can be pretty exciting, and at times just plain frightening.

If you have always wanted to learn more about this illustrious creature, now’s your chance. Come to the Black Bear Expo on Saturday, June 26 at the Townsend Visitors Center in Townsend.

Hosted by the Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) in cooperation with the …

Patriot Park, Pigeon Forge, TN

A beautifully landscaped park and inspiring Veterans Memorial

by Joan Brock | May 18, 2010

There is a hidden gem in downtown Pigeon Forge, a place where one can go to relax, take a stroll or simply get away from the bustling traffic.

This hidden gem is Patriot Park, a beautifully landscaped city park located behind the Old Mill shops and restaurant.

Not only is this lovely park a place for picnics and fun-filled activities, it is an inspiring Veterans memorial. A monument near the park’s main entrance …

The Tin Roof Cafe, Sevierville, TN

A unique café specializing in grilled Panini and scrumptious desserts

by Joan Brock | May 15, 2010

There are countless restaurants in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville but there is only one The Tin Roof Café.

The Tin Roof Café was built in a converted two-story, white farmhouse just past the Apple Barn complex and is well worth a stop on your next Sevierville vacation.

This local favorite has a relaxing atmosphere befitting its surroundings, right down to the screen doors that let in the fresh air …

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN

Enjoy the great outdoors in the Great Smoky Mountains

by Joan Brock | May 10, 2010

The Cherokee called it “land of blue smoke” for its misty, bluish haze that rises after a rainstorm. Today this land is part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that has become the nation’s most visited national park.

Many park visitors come to hike its more than 800 miles of maintained trails, including those leading to waterfalls like the Abrams Falls Trail, and many that lead to great heights such as the popular Alum …

Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games, May 14-16, Gatlinburg, TN

A parade kicks off this popular Gatlinburg event

by Joan Brock | May 08, 2010

The mesmerizing chanters and drones of Scottish bagpipes will soon resonate in the Smoky Mountains as the 29^thAnnual Scottish Festival and Games kickoff in Gatlinburg. A parade down the Gatlinburg Parkway featuring Scottish pipes and drums will kick off the weekend’s festivities at 6 p.m. Friday, May 14.

All Scots are invited to participate in the parade, which is followed by a Gala Reception at the Quality Inn Creekside. …

Spa at Oak Haven, Sevierville, TN

Let your cares melt away at this luxurious spa

by Joan Brock | May 03, 2010

As I recline in the heated massage chair, soak my feet in a warm, bubbly bath and take in the water’s chocolate aromas, I think, “Wow! It can’t get any better than this!”

Then, as my feet and legs are scrubbed, buffed, messaged, and wrapped in a nice, warm mask, I’m handed a decadent ice cream sundae floating in whipped-cream heaven and topped with a maraschino cherry. Aaahhhhh.

This, my first experience at …

Soul of Shaolin at the Eastern Shanghai Theater, Sevierville, TN

An amazing, action-packed performance

by Joan Brock | May 01, 2010

Now is your chance to see a theatrical event unlike any other in the Smokies, or elsewhere. Straight from a short run on Broadway in 2009, garnering award nominations for Tony and Drama Desk awards, Soul of Shaolin and its awe-inspiring cast will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Soul of Shaolin is not only a Chinese martial-arts spectacle performed by award-winning Kung Fu masters, but it is also a …

BBQ Boot Camp, May 11–13, Sevierville, TN

Learn to "Q" from a world champion

by Joan Brock | April 26, 2010

There are many barbecue restaurants and competitors who tout having the “best barbecue.” Now you have a chance to learn how to make the “best barbecue” yourself, from 2008 World BBQ Champion Mike Davis during the BBQ Boot Camp, a Sevierville event coming up Tuesday, May 11 through Thursday, May 13.

The boot camp that is part of the sixth annual Bloomin’ Barbecue & Bluegrass in Sevierville that continues on through …

Tennessee Smokies Baseball, Kodak, TN

It's baseball time in the Smokies!

by Joan Brock | April 19, 2010

Get ready for an all-American good time in the Smokies! The Tennessee Smokies' 2010 season is in full swing now through September at the Smokies Park, located at Exit 407 off Interstate 40 in Kodak.

The Tennessee Smokies, a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, moved from Knoxville into the new, state-of-the-art Smokies Park in Sevier County 10 years ago and continues to draw record crowds.

The organization always puts on …

Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass May 14-15, Sevierville, TN

A wildly popular toe-tapping, mouthwatering event

by Joan Brock | April 17, 2010

If there’s one thing the South is known for, it is top-notch, mouthwatering barbecue—and there’s no place better to sample some extraordinary BBQ fare than the 6th Annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival May 14 and 15 in Sevierville.

This family-friendly event in the Smokies is packed with great food, toe-tapping music, a vocal competition honoring the songwriting of Dolly Parton, and a cook-off featuring the best barbecue cook teams …

25th Annual Dolly Homecoming Parade, Pigeon Forge, TN

Honoring local celebrity Dolly Parton

by Joan Brock | April 11, 2010

It’s springtime in the Smokies and the colorful flowers blooming up and down the Parkway are telltale signs that time for the 25th Annual Dolly Homecoming Parade is drawing near.

One of the most popular of the springtime Pigeon Forge events, the annual Dolly Parade will hit the Parkway at 6 p.m. May 7 in honor of the area’s hometown celebrity, Dolly Parton. As grand marshal of the parade, Dolly can be found sitting …

Rosewood Gardens, Sevierville, TN

A romantic English style garden nestled in the Smoky Mountain foothills

by Joan Brock | April 05, 2010

Traveling along a county backroad about 10 miles east of Sevierville one would be surprised that a romantic, English-style garden exists—at least until you see it. Rosewood Gardens is hidden amidst foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and is truly a unique place to visit on your next Sevierville vacation.

Owners Ed and Kay Chapman, natives of Coventry, England, were inspired by the popular gardens of their home country, particularly the famous …

Mountain Man Memorial March, April 17, Gatlinburg, TN

A 26.2-mile tribute to our armed service members

by Joan Brock | April 03, 2010

In June, 2007, the detonation of an improvised explosive device during a dismounted patrol in Rashaad, Iraq, claimed the life of Lt. Frank B. Walkup, a University of Tennessee graduate. The third annual Mountain Man Memorial March (MMMM) on Saturday, April 17, is a marathon-length run or ruck march in Gatlinburg that honors the life of Lt. Walkup and the men and women in uniform who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice so much …

Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens, Gatlinburg, TN

The revival of a Gatlinburg icon

by Joan Brock | March 29, 2010

Fifty years ago Ron Ligon created a Gatlinburg icon, Christus Gardens, memorializing Christ through enduring scenes that depicted His life. Christus Gardens closed its doors in 2008 and the property seemed destined to become a condo development had it not been for the economic downturn.

Last fall the former Christus Gardens at 510 River Road was reborn under new ownership as Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens, carrying on the theme …

Hidden Mountain Resorts, Sevierville, TN

A hidden gem in the Smokies

by Joan Brock | March 27, 2010

Nestled in the quiet mountains on the outskirts of Sevierville and Pigeon Forge is a serene and picturesque resort waiting to be discovered.

Of all the abundance of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville vacation rental properties, Hidden Mountain Resorts is one of the first if not the first log cabin resorts in the Smoky Mountains that offers a variety of luxury accommodations to pamper and relax you.

The quality and workmanship …

Titanic Museum, Pigeon Forge, TN

Titanic Museum Launches April 8

by Joan Brock | March 23, 2010

Just four days into her maiden voyage, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912.

Ninety-eight years later and far from her home port of Liverpool, England, the Titanic and her passengers and crew will soon be memorialized in Pigeon Forge.

One of the newest and largest Pigeon Forge attractions, the Titanic Museum is a half-scale, three-deck reproduction of the ill-fated ship. …

Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, TN

Dollywood celebrates 25 years; opens March 27

by Joan Brock | March 20, 2010

She’s turning 25! Dollywood opens for its 25th season on March 27, marking a major milestone for one of the most popular Pigeon Forge attractions named for country music superstar Dolly Parton.

Dolly has written a special song entitled “Celebrate the Dreamer in You” to commemorate the season-long celebration. You will hear the song a lot in the park this season.

Along with the silver anniversary, this 2010 season promises many new …

Spring Festival and Old Timers Day, Townsend, TN

BBQ, bluegrass, and good old-fashioned fun

by Joan Brock | March 15, 2010

Kick up your heels and enjoy a rip-roaring good time at the 18th annual Spring Festival and Old Timers Day, coming up Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1 at the Townsend Visitors Center.

Celebrate the arrival of spring with bluegrass music, arts and crafts, mouth-watering barbecue and the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. There is something for everyone, from the very young to the young at heart.

Events kick …

Wahoo Ziplines, Sevierville, TN

Adrenaline-pumping mountain adventure

by Joan Brock | March 13, 2010

Imagine soaring above the treetops at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour! Wahoo Ziplines in Sevierville makes it happen, offering two hours of mountain adventure and heart-pounding excitement. From the moment you step off that first platform, you will want to come back for more.

Last weekend was my first experience on a zip line anywhere. My husband, friend and I arrived at Wahoo Ziplines’ clubhouse at 1200 Matthews Hollow …

McClaren’s, Sevierville, TN

It's a St. Paddy’s Day Ceilidh at McClaren's March 17

by Joan Brock | March 08, 2010

Put on your Shamrocks and green and come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at McClaren’s, one of the best Irish pubs in the Smokies.

McClaren’s servers and bartenders will be donning their kilts and serving up corned beef and green beer during their first annual St. Paddy’s Day Ceilidh on March 17, 2010. The celebration begins at 4 p.m. with Irish movies on the big screen and drink specials all night.

McClaren’s opened last year …

A Mountain Quiltfest, March 10-14, Pigeon Forge, TN

Preserving the timeless art of quilting

by Joan Brock | March 02, 2010

On some very cold nights when I was a child my mom would tuck me in under several layers of handmade quilts that she and my grandmothers had made. I would stay warm under those quilts throughout the night, even when the fire in the wood stove that heated our house would burn out.

These quilts were lovingly pieced together and stitched by hand from pieces of clothing and fabric squares of many different …

Spring Break in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville, TN

Family-friendly Spring Break destination for fun, sun, AND snow

by Joan Brock | February 28, 2010

If sand and surf aren’t what you have in mind for Spring Break, then take a breather in the scenic and fun-filled Smoky Mountains.

The Smokies offers loads of fun for spring breakers of all ages, kindergarten to college age—from the great outdoors, theme parks, attractions and outlet malls, to theaters, dinner shows, golfing and mini-golf.

For lovers of the great outdoors, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker’s …

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg, TN

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary with new “Penguin Playhouse”

by Joan Brock | February 27, 2010

Birds of another feather are flocking to the Smokies this spring. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year with the opening of a new $5 million Penguin Playhouse in March, serving as home to 24 African Black Footed penguins.

The Penguin Playhouse will feature an interactive indoor/outdoor habitat that will include a naturalistic beach area and underwater viewing. Get an up-close and personal look at these rare and amazing birds. …

Holly and Shamrock Parade, Gatlinburg, TN

St. Nicholas meets St. Patrick in this 2nd Annual Gatlinburg event

by Joan Brock | February 23, 2010

If you visit Gatlinburg on Saturday, March 13, you will see a wee bit o' green and a whole lot of RED when St. Nicholas meets St. Patrick in the second annual Holly and Shamrock Parade.

The Holly and Shamrock Parade is one of several Gatlinburg events taking place as part of the Celebrate Santa Festival and is expected to draw more than 40,000 spectators, over twice that …

Clint’s BBQ & Country Cookin, Sevierville, TN

A local favorite that's off the beaten path

by Joan Brock | February 19, 2010

A mass of fun yard art and a welcoming “Hi ya’ll” from the owner at Clint’s BBQ & Country Cookin’ told me on my first visit that this Sevierville restaurant is one-of-a-kind find.

The inside is rustic and warm with checkered tablecloths, local memorabilia and historic photos covering every inch of wall space. My personal favorite display is a miniature replica of a rustic cabin complete with working screen door. When you open the door and look …

Travel Guide to the Smoky Mountains

Why You Should Visit the Smoky Mountains

by Joan Brock | February 15, 2010

There is nothing more breath-taking than the view from atop Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a cool October morning. Hiking the park’s more than 800 miles of trails is one of many reasons to visit this diverse mountain region located along the Tennessee-North Carolina border.

The area embraces a history as diverse as its landscape. But it is best known as a family vacation …