Be sure to check out the 32^nd annual “Festival of Christmas Past” which will take place at the Sugarlands Visitor Center on December 8^th. This popular event celebrates the culture of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, especially the Christmas traditions.

 Visitors at this event can expect a full day of activities. There will be old time bluegrass music, demonstrations of basket weaving, quilting, and soap making, storytelling, a visit from Santa, short walks led by costumed guides, basket weaving workshops presented by the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and more.   The event is free, but there is a fee to participate in the basket weaving workshop. For more information about this fun event, contact the Sugarlands Visitor Center at 865-436-1291.

One of the things that has become apparent to me since starting this blog about Great Smoky Mountains National Park is my appalling lack of talent when it comes to photography. I’ve started searching through my pictures to add to this site, and realized that I’m from the thumb over the lens school of photography, and using a digital camera makes things only minimally better.

 With this in mind, I’ve started surfing the web for the best images of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the areas surrounding it. Today I came across Tellagalleria.com. Here there are a number of phenomenal pictures of scenes in the park. I especially like this one which gives you an idea of the beauty of the park in winter. I recommend taking some time to look through the pics.  I’ll continue to share sites where I come across great pics that highlight the park, and if you find some or have some you would like to show off, please feel free to share them!

Well, winter is upon us, and with it comes Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s road closures. Many roads have closed already, and there are several more that will be closed by the end of the month.
Balsam Mountain Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Parson Branch, Rich Mountain, and Roundbottom/Straight Fork have all closed for the winter.Clingmans Dome and Roaring Fork will be closed as of November 30^th. All these roads will reopen again in the spring.

To keep track of temporary road closures, either due to weather or road work, check out the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service’s road and facilities closures or call (865) 436-1200.  

One of my favorite things to do, especially this time of year, is to pack a picnic lunch and hike in the park. I usually stop at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and pick up one of their Southern Fried Chicken box lunches (ok, so I’m not the healthiest eater, but hey, at least I’m getting some exercise!). The restaurant is the last one before you hit the park from the Gatlinburg entrance so it doesn’t get more convenient than that!

 Once in the park there are so many trails to choose from. I recommend the hike to Rainbow Falls. This trail leads all the way up to Mt LeConte so you can choose how challenging a hike you would like. From the Rainbow Falls parking area, you can expect to spend about an hour and a half on the trail before you get to Rainbow Falls. On a nice day, this is the perfect spot to sit, soak up nature, and enjoy a picnic lunch.

If I’m feeling ambitious (and not too stuffed from the fried chicken) I’ll continue on up the trail to Mt. LeConte. The trail gets much more challenging once you’ve passed Rainbow Falls, so if you want to get to Mt. LeConte and back, plan on getting an early start, and pack some warm clothing as the temperature gets much cooler as you gain elevation.  

I was reading an article in The Mountain Press this morning about how the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is hosting several discussions on balancing economic growth with the preservation of the natural environment. It really got me thinking. I love Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and many other of our country’s national parks. I love that there are still places we can escape to where nature is not paved over or corralled. But with the number of visitors flooding into Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year, can tourism be sustained while still preserving the natural beauty that people flock to enjoy?

I’m a firm believer in the “leave no trace” philosophy when it comes to visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park or any other place where an effort has been made to preserve the natural environment. Is it really possible, though, to leave absolutely no trace of a visit to the park? The answer is a resounding “No”. If we drive into the park, we are bringing pollution with us. We are eroding trails each time we walk on them. Even with the best intentions, all of us who visit the park are making an impact on nature.

According to the National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park “provides an economic hub generating over $1 billion a year for surrounding tourist communities.” That’s a lot of money which is putting food on many tables and roofs over many heads. It’s tax dollars which are providing financial backing for schools and the arts. If the park were closed to visitors, or the number of visitors to the park each year were restricted, this would surely have a detrimental impact on the communities around the park for which tourism is the biggest industry.

So what’s the answer? How do we sustain economic growth while preserving the environment and the natural beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park? I don’t have any answers, but maybe the sustainable tourism discussions going on this month will provide us with a few ideas.

I feel like I should be writing about all the off the beaten track places in the park, places that don’t make it to every guidebook. But I just can’t help myself. I really love Cades Cove…along with every other person who has ever been to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I think if you could only visit one spot in the park, this place would give you a glimpse of everything the park has to offer – history, hiking, biking, wildlife, mountains, valleys, and scenic mountain views.  

Cades Code was settled by farmers before the land was acquired as part of the national park. Visitors can drive along the eleven-mile loop road, stopping along the way to visit all the historic sites. There are several homesteads, a church, a grist mill and a cantilever barn in the valley. Anyone with an interest in history and the life of the of the early settlers will enjoy the stops along the loop.  

There is something in Cades Cove for hikers and bikers, too. There are a number of hiking trails that originate from the Cades Cove loop including the Cades Cove Nature Trail and the hike to Abrams Falls. One of my very favorite times to visit Cades Cove is on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from the middle of May to mid-September. If you get there before ten in the morning, you’ll find the loop road closed to traffic. Only pedestrians and bikers are allowed on the loop road at this time.  

As an animal lover, I’m just like everyone else who flocks to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I always want to know where I can see wildlife. One of the answers I hear most often is Cades Cove. Here visitors will find an abundance of wildlife – bear, deer, wild turkey, fox, and a variety of birds.  

 So, although it may be crowded, I would have to tell any visitor that a trip to the park would not be complete without a stop in Cades Cove.

If you’re hoping to hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check out A Walk in the Woods. Vesna and Erik Plakanis, owners of A Walk in the Woods, offer a variety of services for hikers. They offer guided nature walks and hikes which can accommodate a first time hiker or a more experienced trail blazer. A Walk in the Woods also offers a hiker shuttle service, backpacking trips, gear rental, and trip planning services. You may also want to check out one of their classes on edible plants, medicinal plants, compass navigation and more. I love to hike, and I think the guide services offered by A Walk in the Woods are a great way to be introduced to the park.

If you’re looking for a place to stay while you explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Tennessee may be your best bet. It offers hotels, condominiums, and cabins just steps from the entrance to the park.

I have a love/hate thing going on with Gatlinburg. On the one hand, it has a lot to offer in the way of places to stay, restaurants, outdoor outfitters and more. Its location is ideal for visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On the other hand, during the park’s peak seasons Gatlinburg is beyond crowded. The crowds that come to see the park have caused tons of touristy shops to pop up full of t-shirts, key chains and shot glasses. Not one of my favorite things. I do appreciate the fact that unlike some of its neighboring towns, Gatlinburg has some restrictions and requirements on the buildings that go up, trying for a ski chalet theme that fits in with the backdrop of the Great Smokies.

There are some things, however, that I think give Gatlinburg its own special charm - one of them being that Gatlinburg has made kitschy into an art form. It’s second only to Las Vegas when it comes to marriages - hence the number of cabin rentals boasting heart-shaped tubs! There is a ski lift that starts right in the middle of town and carries you up the mountain. There’s a mammoth aquarium in town which to me is an especially interesting quirk – especially considering Gatlinburg is no where near the sea. Gatlinburg is also home to the “world’s only” Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, and the Guinness World’s Record Museum.

One of my favorite things about Gatlinburg, aside from its proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is the Arts and Crafts Community. This loop holds the shops and studios of artisans and craftsmen, from glassblowers and woodworkers to potters and painters. There are also some of the more interesting coffee shops and restaurants that Gatlinburg has to offer here.

For those interested in finding out more about places to stay and other things to do in and around Gatlinburg, check out the Chamber of Commerce website.