Smoky Mountain Skies

10/10/2026

Beautiful sunset last night in Cades cove

10/10/2026

You just arrived in Gatlinburg for a fall getaway. What are three of your must-dos?

10/10/2026

10/03/2026

10/03/2026

Remember, you're in bear country.

Keep yourself safe and the black bears wild by following the Smokies BearWise tips.

Never feed the bears. It's illegal and dangerous for you and for them.
Do not approach or attempt to touch the bears.
Admire them from at least 50 yards (10 car lengths) away.
Throw all trash away in the bear-resistant bins.
Keep the doors and windows locked in your lodging and your vehicle.
Do not store food in your car or in a cooler outside your lodging.
Do not block the roadways for photos or videos of the bears.
If you see a bear, back away slowly or go inside if you are able. Do not run or climb a tree.
Pay attention to all official notices in the city and in the national park.

For more tips, visit gatlinburg.com/bears

📷 Kristi Parsons

10/03/2026

Happy Dolly Day 💗🦋🫶🏼

10/03/2026

We like big bears and we cannot lie! 🐻

From the Smokies to Katmai, bears everywhere are putting on the pounds to prepare for winter. Are you joining in the Fat Bear Week fun?

Cast your final votes for your favorite chonky champion!
https://explore.org/fat-bear-week



Photo by Gary Carter

09/12/2026

One of the Smoky Mountains’ most beautiful sights is the Emert’s Cove Covered Bridge, where a rustic wooden crossing stretches above the clear, rushing Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Although it looks like something from another era, the bridge was completed in 2000 to honor Frederick Emert, a Revolutionary War veteran who settled here with his family in 1790. The 84-foot bridge has a log-cabin look, a shingled roof, and open side windows that give you beautiful views of the river and mountains. You can walk across its wooden deck, stop for photos, and enjoy the peaceful setting just off Pittman Center Road, only a short drive from Gatlinburg. Trout fishing is also popular along the Middle Prong. About half a mile away, you can visit Emert’s Cove Cemetery, where Frederick Emert is buried. The river was also named an Outstanding National Resource Water by Tennessee in 1998, two years before the bridge was finished.

09/12/2026

One of the Smoky Mountains’ most magical stops is “Santa’s Land” in the mountain town of Cherokee, North Carolina…where you’ll find Christmas fun tucked into the mountains with rides, animals, shops, and Santa himself. Families can stop by Santa’s cabin, climb aboard the Santa’s Express train, take a spin on the Ferris wheel and carousel, or ride the reindeer-themed Rudicoaster. There are also games, shows, paddle boats, and areas where younger visitors can get close to animals. The zoo adds even more to see, including bears, deer, kangaroos, lemurs, birds, and other animals. Grab a burger, pizza, or a piece of fudge before wandering through the Christmas-themed gift shops. Santa’s Land first opened in June 1966, making 2026 its 60th season of welcoming families to the Smokies. The park sits about three miles east of Cherokee, close to the southern entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is generally open seasonally from mid-May through late October.