Forbidden Caverns

If you’re looking to cool off in Sevierville, head underground…. Seriously.

The Forbidden Caverns, one of the most well-known Sevierville attractions, keeps a temperature of 58 degrees throughout the year and can be a great respite for families, or just yourself, if you’re driving through Sevierville to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge, or Gatlinburg.

Once a place only known to select few, in particular the Eastern Woodland Indians, Forbidden Caverns is now known by people worldwide for its “buried” earthen structures and rock formations. The Eastern Woodland Indians actually used the caverns to their own benefit. When they weren’t traversing East Tennessee’s forests and mountains in search of good hunting grounds, they used the cave in the winter as a shelter. One of the big draws to staying in the caverns, besides its shelter, is the underground river that provided a consistent water supply.

So where did that river come from? Its source is believed to stem from an underground lake found beneath English Mountain. Famous for its spring water, chert or flint can also be found on English Mountain, but in limited quantities. Indians once used both to form arrowheads, knives and scrapers to use for tribal hunting and battle. Calcite formations can still be found growing in the cave as well as other rare rock formations. English Mountain boasts the largest wall of rare cave onyx or dripstones known to exist anywhere.

Moonshine was distilled in the cave from the early 1920s until 1943. The cave’s never-ending water supply and the isolated locale was a moonshiner’s dream in order to brew their homemade Tennessee whiskey.

It wasn’t until 1964 that a group of businessmen began the task of preparing Forbidden Caverns for its grand opening to the public. Forbidden Caverns finally opened in June 1967 following three years of excavation work on the expansive cave.

If you’re making a trip to the caverns these days, a picturesque valley leads you right to the caverns’ opening. You’ll see the peaks of Mount LeConte and English Mountain as make your way through the valley toward the caverns. Along the way, stop and take a look at the grist mill-museum, some primitive farm houses preserved from generations past, and a trout farm.

Looking to make a day of it, well Forbidden Caverns is just a 35-minute drive from Gatlinburg, from Knoxville a short 45 minutes, and should figure into your plans if you’re coming through East Tennessee, specifically the Great Smoky Mountains area. If it’s a tour you’re looking for, plan on at least a 55 minute stop. Cars and buses park for free and guests can peruse the souvenir shop and use the picnic pavilion at their leisure.

Hiwassee / Ocoee State Park

Whitewater rafting! That is the main reason that you come to Hiwassee / Ocoee State Park in Tennessee. With plenty of diversity in the water you can find those portions that are as tame or as wild as you want them to be. The Ocoee is the premier whitewater river in the southeast. With class 3 through 5 rapids at different points in the river, kayakers and rafters come to this area of the country and the state park for one thing: to get in the water.

Traveling through this state park is a whole different view of the Southern Appalachians than any other place north of this park. You are traveling along the Tennessee and Georgia borders through almost all of this area and the river that forms that natural boundary is gorgeous. The river changes from raging rapids to areas of near placidity. The mountains on one side and the river on the other follow you from one end of the state park to the next. As you travel you will see roughly 23 miles of river and you will see kayakers and rafters the whole way.

One of the biggest attractions to the Hiwassee / Ocoee State Park is the Ocoee Whitewater Center. This is located near the Cherokee National Forest and is the site of the whitewater rafting during the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, GA. Before the Olympics began that year, this portion of the Ocee was modified to enhance the rapids and make them more formidable for the competition. Mixing the natural passion that this river has with the modern technology they Atlanta Olympic organizers turned this area into some of the best whitewater that the Olympics have ever seen. Now you can bring your own kayak and give the same course that they ran in 1996 a try.

Along with the whitewater activities in the Hiwassee / Ocoee State Park, you can camp while you are on your own rafting adventure. There are also places to escape the water and do some hiking or even some horseback riding. Like most of the rest of the state parks in East Tennessee, there are always plenty of things to do and more than enough to fill a beautiful sunny day while you explore the rivers and mountains in the southern-most state park in East Tennessee.

Cooper Creek Trout Farm

From trout tournaments to just recreational fly fishing, the Smoky Mountain trout brings many visitors to the National Park each year. However, trout fishing is not necessarily the easiest way to spend a day in the Smokies. It actually takes time and lots of patience to become good at and requires a lot of gear that can be, at times, a hassle to carry around – especially around the creeks and rivers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . That being said, at the Cooper Creek Trout Pond in Bryson City, NC you can catch a trout; take it home to eat, and all without having to ford a mountain stream or spend hundreds of dollars on a rod and other fishing equipment.

A little over an hour south of Sevierville, TN traveling U.S. 441, Cooper Creek Trout Farm sits on 70 acres of land in western North Carolina. Cooper Creek was originally constructed in the 1970s, and though it has gone through a handful of owners, the current ones have kept the farm open year round. So yes, you can fish even when there is snow on the ground. There’s no better way to trout fish and get a guaranteed catch then by fishing at the Cooper Creek Ponds – a place dedicated to helping you catch trout.

A number of branches and streams flow from the pond through the farm. Again, you’re guaranteed to catch a fish. The staff will even catch the fish for you if you’re having a hard time just to make sure that you take a fish home with you. Don’t worry about bringing gear either, they provide it. Rods and reels are available for you to use or you can bring your own and break them in at the farm. You don’t even have to have a license to fish here.

At Cooper Creek you keep whatever you catch. Once they’re caught, the fish don’t get thrown back in for someone else to catch, it’s yours. Cooper Creek staff will also clean the fish for you. Or they’ll show you how if you plan on trying it out for yourself. It’s a very clean operation, from the fish all the way down to the streams they live in. Just make sure that you give yourself enough time to hang out for the whole day, especially if you’re bringing a family or large group to the creek. It’s going to be a lot of fun that you don’t want to miss and won’t forget any time soon.

As previously stated, Bryson City, NC is home to the Cooper Creek Trout Pond. Right outside of town you can spend the morning riding the train and then spend the afternoon catching trout in the mountains. Fresh caught trout is one of the delicacies that the Smokies offers to its visitors. Rather than fishing somewhere that you can’t be sure to catch a fish, go to Cooper Creek. They will help you fish and make sure that all of the kids and adults get to reel in their supper.

Check out Cooper Creek’s Facebook page for the latest goings-on at the creek.

Black Friday in the Smokies

Black Friday! Those two words have become as synonymous with Thanksgiving as turkey and dressing. And it’s no different in the Smoky Mountains. In fact, some say the towns of Sevierville and Pigeon amp it up even further when it comes to after Thanksgiving shopping.

The two mountain towns have each become a shopping destination over the years with the Five Oaks Tanger Outlet Mall forming a literal “shopping bridge” between the two. Both are geared to offer some of the best Black Friday deals in the Smokies with such a wide range of name-brand stores and local shops advertising big sales. From outlet center deals to one-of-a-kind art and quality antiques, Black Friday in the Smoky Mountains is a shopper’s paradise.

Eat that turkey and ham quick because Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Mall in Sevierville starts out early with big sales beginning Thanksgiving night. You’ll also find stores at Tanger Five Oaks guaranteeing Black Friday specials. That is, if there is anything left. Of course, sales will go through the weekend for anyone who decides they’d rather relax and enjoy a slower pace for the holiday season.

As for other area shopping destinations, Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville opens with great deals on knives, kitchen accessories and bakeware.

On up the road and across Interstate 40 in Kodak, Tn, Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World’s sale is always a must stop for the outdoorsy person on your gift list.

Located just off Interstate 40 Exit 407 in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, TN offers the BEST in after Thanksgiving Black Friday holiday shopping. Shop the outlets, Pigeon Forge’s Christmas Place and Old Mill Square, or some of the many local boutiques offering sales aplenty.

Kayaking in the Smokies

Maybe you have been whitewater rafting in the Smokies a few times and you have decided that it would be fun to try something new. Or maybe you are a kayaker and you have brought your own boat to the Smokies. Either way, the Smoky Mountains have a great way for you and your boat to get in the water and have a great time exploring the waterways around the Smoky Mountain area. Besides the extreme kayaking that can be done while you explore the faster water with rapids, there is also a considerable amount of flatwater kayaking that can be enjoyed in the area as well.

Whitewater Kayaking
There are lots of rapids in the Smokies. From small class ones that shake the boat a little to class fives that might eat you and your boat for lunch. Both inside and outside the park, if you can find a boat launch or a place that will get you close enough to the river to put your boat in, you are set. You still need to plan ahead so that you have a plan to get back to your car at the end of the day but as long as there is water you most likely have the right to kayak in it. You do have a few options when it comes to whitewater kayaking.

Park and Float – You find a place to park, set your boats off the car and then have someone else leave a car or truck at the other end of the trip so that you have a way to get back and forth. This is complicated but as long as you have two vehicles you are able to use your own vehicle for transport from the drop off point to the take out when you kayak.
Use a whitewater company – If you are going to be using the same river as one of the many whitewater companies in the area, you will probably be able to work out a deal so that the rafting company provides you with transport to and from the river. Great solution so that you don’t have to shuffle cars back and forth.

Flatwater Kayaking
For those of you that don’t enjoy the bumps and thumps of a whitewater adventure but would rather drift down the river in solitude while you watch the scenery gradually flow by, there are plenty of places that you can put your boat in the river for some flatwater kayaking. Bring your boat with you. Put it in the Tennessee River or the French Broad. In some of the smaller channels you might run across a calls one or a class two rapid but for the most part it will be you controlling where you go and enjoying your trip. You can also rent flatwater boats at some of the outfitters in the area and they will help you figure out the best places to put your boat in the water.

Carver’s Orchard

If you ever find yourself in Cosby, Tn, make sure you ask the locals about a little place called Carver’s Orchard. There, you’ll not only find the orchard, you’ll also find a farmer’s market and a restaurant at Carver’s that boasts one of the best fried apple pies in East Tennessee.

Carver’s Orchard is a well-marked spot and easy to locate. Carver’s, surrounded by apple trees, really is a roadside wonder. The best way to reach Carver’s is to follow Hwy 321 out of Gatlinburg. The intersection of 321 and the Parkway is at traffic light No. 3 and it will take you straight out of town and past the Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts community. The route from traffic light No. 3 in Gatlinburg to Carver’s Orchard is a hare above 22 miles and takes you through the Smokies and its natural beauty. You’ll pass the Greenbrier area of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park on your way before turning off at the Cosby Campground exit. Eventually you will end up in the middle of Cosby, TN.

Cosby’s beauty certainly shines through at Carver’s Orchard. Apples that grow on the trees in the orchard are processed there. In all, there are more than 40,000 trees to pick from during the process. Included in the orchard are 126 varieties of apple, from standard fare to heirlooms. Literally thousands of apples are processed during the annual harvest. These delicious red apples of various sizes and shapes roll down the conveyor belts to be sorted by hand into bushels. Next, the bushels are packed up for the farmer’s market or loaded on to trucks to be shipped out across the country. The apples that find their way to the farmer’s market floor are then judged by cooks and apple coinsurers before the best are picked. Most markets will even let you sample the apple before you buy it just so you know you’re buying the best of the bushel.

The orchard’s restaurant also benefits from the yearly yield. Appalachian home cooking abounds at Carver’s. A basket of apple fritters is brought out as a starter for each meal as well as a glass of cider. This is quite a beginning and some would even say they could make a meal out of it. Still, if you chose to stop you wouldn’t be able to experience the rest of the menu. The catfish is a particular favorite. They have a wide selection of sandwiches and if you’re out that way early enough you can even get breakfast served to you. And don’t forget to order a slice of Carver’s fried apple pie for desert. It’s definitely not to be missed.

To put it simply, their fried apple pies are amazing. This area is a haven for foodies and when you’re searching for something good, yet off the beaten path and away from the city, Carvers can’t be beat. And not only are they sold in the restaurant, you can purchase their pies in the pastry as well. Have one with ice cream or by itself. A Carver’s Orchard fried apple pie will leave you full and dreaming of the next time you’re in Cosby, Tn. Fried apple pies carry a bit of southern charm and take you back to the good ole days as folks around here like to talk about. If you or someone you know haven’t gotten to taste one, run out quick to Carver’s Orchard in Cosby, Tennessee.

Appalachian Trail – A History

Appalachian Trail

A History

The Appalachian Trail is one of the big draws for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Conceived in the 20s, this brain child of Benton MacKaye had the first section established in 1923 and now it is one of the three big trails in the United States. Starting in Georgia and ending in Maine, this 2,200 mile trek is one of the accomplishments that makes a Thru-Hiker drool. The first part of the Appalachia Trail starts in Northern Georgia inside the Smokies and the most hiked portion of the Appalachian Trail is the 1.7 miles that starts at the Newfound Gap Trailhead.

The Appalachian Trail, or AT as it had come to be known, was thought of by Benton MacKaye and fellow hiking enthusiasts in New England. They had been kicking around the idea of a national trail, an eastern trail that would cover the beauty of the Appalachian mountains for years. Trail blazing started in the north, with trees and trails being emblazoned with the familiar diamond shaped logo that still marks trails to this day. As the years progressed people got more and more into the idea of a trail that covered most of the Appalachians. Eventually this movement culminated in the idea that the trail would stretch from Georgia to Maine. The AT grew in both fame and length as the years went on until it reached its current length of 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt Katahdin in Maine.

Since the establishment of the AT, not only has the trail received national attention but it has received national funding too. A national Appalachian Trail Conference was established in the 30s, which later became the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. This organization helps to track the number of people that are hiking the AT each year and also spends time making sure that the trail stays maintained and usable by guests. Maintaining over 2,000 miles of trails is a huge undertaking but one that the AT Conservancy delights in. Along with this, they provide tools and resources for Thru-Hikers, those people that take the time to hike from Georgia to Maine, a trip that might take 5-7 months depending on how many miles you are hiking a day.

Thru-Hikers make up a huge number of the people that hike the AT each year. These Thru-Hikers depend on the people that visit the area and the locals alike to keep them going as they cover the miles. The people that hike the trails, especially the Thru-Hikers find themselves at the mercy of the elements and the conditions on the trails. The brief respite that they get are jaunts into town in the back of a pickup to pick up supplies and get a break from the rigors of the trail. They are hiking history on the AT. They are covering the ground that was hiked by the frontiersmen, pioneers and the Native American people that inherited the land before white settlers arrived. As Thru-Hikers make their way from Georgia toe Maine, or from Maine to Georgia, they pass through some of the most beautiful land that the country has to offer – the Smokies, the Blue Ridge the Shenandoah Valley and of course through the gorgeous landscape that is all of New England.

Elvis Museum

Everyone loves the King of Rock & Roll! In Pigeon Forge, TN, there is no shortage of Elvis memorabilia and places to get into your Elvis groove. One of those places is the Elvis Museum in Pigeon Forge. Combining both a museum and a theater this venue is all things Elvis and the fact that it is located right on the Parkway makes it a quick stop on the way through town.

The museum at the Elvis Museum is one of the most wonderful small venue museum that you will ever find. Mike Moon started collecting Elvis memorabilia in 1971 when he had a chance to meet the King at a party in Las Vegas. The belt that he got from Elvis, himself, that evening is still in the collection and it started a passion for all things Elvis that has continued to this day. Though Mon has since passed away, his family still carries on the tradition of this museum that has been in the heart of Pigeon Forge since 1979. Here are just a few of the highlights that you might see at the museum:

1973 Lincoln Continental Limo – the last personal limo that Elvis owned
TCB Ring
TCB Necklace
Gold Nugget Watch
Karate Gui
Shotgun
Jewelled Lamp
Artifacts from Elvis last tour
much, much more…

Along with the museum, there is a theater at the heart of the Elvis Museum, This theater is home to some of the best Elvis tribute artists that are found in the area. In fact there are three Elvis tribute artists working out of this theater:

Will Reynolds – At 17 years old, Reynolds is known as Teen Elvis. Reynolds takes on all of Elvis’ various career phases throughout his show from young Elvis to the Vegas years. He has only been performing for a few years but he is at a level that does not match his years.
Matt Cordell – An Elvis tribute artist for more than 20 years, Cordell entertains at the TCB Theater on Mondays. Over his two decades of entertaining, Cordell has won several prestigious awards: Elvis Presley Enterprise’s Ultimate Elvis Contest in 2010 and he placed fourth in the Ultimate Elvis Finals in Memphis.
Robert Keefer – A fan and a tribute artist, Keefer has been performing for years and has also worked backstage at the Elvis Museum in Pigeon Forge. He believes that being able to get closer to the King by handling and caring for the various memorabilia in the museum. He focuses on Elvis 70s career in Vegas and his collection of jumpsuits bring that era of Elvis bigger then life lifestyle to the stage.

For that Elvis fan that is traveling with you on your vacation to the Smokies there is no other stop that will mean as much to them as the Elvis Museum in Pigeon Forge. The incredibly well maintained museum and the theater with the three different take son Elvis by the tribute artists are something you are not going to find anywhere else in the Smokies. Stop by their location on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge and spend sometime with Elvis – The King of Rock & Roll.

Elvis Museum
2638 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN
865-428-2001
http://www.elvismuseums.com

Highlands Playhouse

Highlands, NC has one of the best repertory theaters in Western North Carolina. The Highlands Playhouse puts on countless shows throughout the year, using both professional and amateur actors. They stage productions that range from one man shows to full stage productions to the delight of both the local and the tourist alike.

In 1938 a group of dedicated Highlanders presented a version of Kaufman and Connelly’s Dulcy. They put the show on in the local school auditorium. Thus, the Highland Playhouse was born. Over the years they have been under many different artistic directors and have seen many different actors on the stage. They have performed everything from comedies to drams and everything in between. This quaint theater has moved several times over the years but it is now in its own theater, near downtown and within easy walking distance for all of those tourists that enjoy Highlands throughout the year.

The Highlands Playhouse – whose legal name is the Highland Community Theater – is a non-profit organization that is funded by the people of Highlands, by companies in the area and of course by ticket sales to the shows they put on each year. The monies they collect go to pay for the professional actors and actresses they bring in and of course to maintain the theater that they perform in.

Visit the Highlands Playhouse website and see what they have to offer the next time you are in town. Plan your visit around taking in a show. Sit down in an audience with towns people and tourists alike. Especially, if you are in Highlands for a romantic getaway, there i snothing better for a night out with that special someone then to take in a play or live show.

Highlands Playhouse
362 Oak Street
Highlands, NC
828-526-2695
http://www.highlandsplayhouse.org

Unto These Hills

If you only have time to take in one attraction while you are in Cherokee, NC, that one attraction needs to be Unto These Hills. This show has been part of the attraction scene in Cherokee for more then sixty years and it is the second oldest running outdoor drama in the US. Combining the story of the Cherokee people, the music and sounds of the mountains and of course all of it under the stars in the Smoky Mountains, this action packed presentation has been bringing the people back year after year.

Unto These Hills opened to a crowd in Cherokee, NC on July 1, 1950. Since that time, the show has run at the Mountainside Theater from June through August each year. And though the script and the information has changed some over the years, the power of this drama has not changed at all. Focusing on the people that called the Smokies home, Kermit Hunter, the original author was hoping to capture the spirit of these noble people that refused to be forced out of their land and stayed, even though they were told to walk the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma.

The story starts with the people that lived in the Smokies before the European setters came. It tells a story of a cultured, civilized people that embraced their new neighbors from across the ocean. They helped the settlers that came to the area and though some of the leaders realized that the Europeans were not going to reciprocate the good feelings, they still helped the white man establish their towns. Over time, as the Cherokee lost land and were forced higher into the mountains, Andrew Jackson – President of the United States – decreed that they would be removed to a reservation in Oklahoma. Some of the Cherokee decided that they would not leave. They stayed, hidden in the mountains until a time when they could be embraced by a different attitude and government. All of this history and the culture of the Cherokee is contained inside this wonderful outdoor drama.

Since 1950, Unto These Hills has been performed in the same theater – the Mountainside Theater above Cherokee. It is located in the same place as the Oconaluftee Indian Village, in fact they share a parking lot. This 2800 seat amphitheater is all outdoors but the temperate weather in the Smokies and the elevation make it pleasant outside for all of the performances.

Next time you are in Cherokee, NC, or just on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, call ahead and make reservations. Take the whole family to Unto These Hills, let them learn some American history, let them get a better appreciation for the people that lived in the Smokies before Europeans settlers came to the area and of course, remember that you are seeing a show that has been running since the middle of the 20th century.

Unto These Hills
688 Drama Road
Cherokee, NC
866-554-4557
http://www.cherokeesmokies.com/unto_these_hills.html