Harrah’s Cherokee Resort is the Hottest Ticket to Big-Name Entertainers in the Smokies in 2016!

Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center in North Carolina has some of the hottest entertainers coming to the Smoky Mountains in 2016! Check out these great shows in the beautiful 3,000-seat event center. All guests must be 21 years of age or older and must present valid identification.

GREGG ALLMAN
Saturday, January 9, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
The Southern blues rock legend will warm up the winter evening with his vast array of hits that have inspired and entertained audiences for generations. Don’t miss the one and only Gregg Allman! Tickets $19.50 – $34.50 per person.
JENNIFER NETTLES with 2016 NEXT WOMEN OF COUNTRY TOUR presented by CMT
Saturday, February 6, 2015 @ 7:30 pm
Jennifer Nettles, who did a great job recently portraying Dolly Parton’s mother in the NBC movie “Coat of Many Colors” joins fellow superstar girlfriends Brandy Clark, Tara Thompson and Lindsay Ell for an evening of country music and fun. Tickets $43 – $68 per person.
TRACY MORGAN
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
Thank goodness this funnyman is back making audiences laugh all over the world. See Tracy Morgan live at his Picking Up The Pieces 2016 Tour. Welcome Back Tracy! Tickets $19.50 – $30.50 per person.
BREAKING BENJAMIN
Friday, February 26, 2015 @ 9:00 pm
This alternative metal band with their signature “crunching” guitars are in town for an evening of  good ol’ post grunge rock ‘n roll! Tickets $18 – $20.50 per person.
DWIGHT YOAKAM
Saturday, March 5, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
As the most frequent musical guest on NBC’s Tonight Show, Dwight Yoakam orginally made his mark on country music in the 1980’s and he has been a force ever since. Now an actor, director and biscuit maker (Bakersfield Biscuits), Yoakam still charms audiences with his brand of hip, honky-tonk, country music. Tickets $34.50 – $54.50 per person.
THE MOODY BLUES
Saturday, March 19, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
Don’t miss this legendary band from England on their Fly Me High Tour 2016! The Moody Blues have been combining classical music, rhythm and blues, and rock n’ roll since the ’60s…and they are better than ever! It’s an evening with the pioneers of the genre progressive rock. Tickets $39.50 – $59.50 per person.
AARON LEWIS
Friday, June 17, 2016 @ 9:00 pm
As founder of the rock group Staind, which recorded seven albums, Aaron Lewis has since ventured into the country music scene and is making quite a splash there too. His hit song “Country Boy” features the likes of Chris Young, Charlie Daniels and George Jones. With a new album coming out in 2016, you can be the first to hear all his great new songs live! Tickets $17.50 – $22.50 per person.

To purchase tickets for any of these events, visit harrahs-cherokee/shows.

INSIDER TRAVEL TIP: Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Hotel is pet-friendly. They even have a special PetStay Luxury Room for up to two of your four-legged family members of the canine persuasion.

If you love Monopoly and you love the Smokies, you’re really gonna love the Smoky Mountain-opoly Board Game!

Get the board game Smoky Mountain-opoly! Relay for Life of Sevier County acquired exclusive rights to create a Smoky Mountain version of the beloved board game to help raise funds for cancer research. Filled with the iconic amusements and attractions in the Smoky Mountain region, your family and friends will have big time fun playing Smoky Mountain-opoly!

Which game piece will you pick? The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel at The Island in Pigeon Forge, the Helicopter from Scenic Tours, a Wine Bottle from Rocky Top Wine Trail, a Pick from Pigeon Forge Gem Mine, the Cable Car from Ober Gatlinburg’s Aerial Tramway, or the cutest Bear from Three Bears General Store.

“Proceeds from sales of the board game will benefit American Cancer Society and our fight to end cancer,” says Relay for Life of Sevier County Chairman, Sophia Conerly, “We are so excited about Smoky Mountain-opoly because it is something that both locals and visitors can enjoy.”

Get a Smoky Mountain-opoly Game and make someone’s holiday. Visit these fine establishments today and pick up a board or two or five! And help in the fight against cancer!

SAVE THE DATE! Relay for Life is scheduled for Friday, June 2, 2017 at Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge. For more information visit Relay for Life of Sevier County of Facebook.

The Greenbrier Experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

…feeling great in GREENBRIER!

The Greenbrier section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be found six miles east of Gatlinburg, Tennessee on Highway 321. Also known as Big Greenbrier, this watershed is widely considered the finest example of a cove hardwood forest on planet Earth. The entrance to the cove is a narrow paved road which meanders alongside the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River.

A Driving Tour of Greenbrier

The first mile into Greenbrier has many riverside pull outs for fishing, paddling, and the occasional wedding ceremony. After passing the ranger station the road turns to gravel and narrows, so please be courteous and allow room for other vehicles to maneuver. Past the ranger station the next landmark will be a quiet picnic area on the left next to the river. The picnic grounds have several tables and composting toilets.

Traveling on you will soon find a pair of bridges on the left. The Grapeyard Ridge trail begins on the west side of the bridges. Grapeyard Ridge meanders 7.6 miles west ending at the Cherokee Orchard Motor Nature Trail.

The Old Settler’s trail begins on the east side of the bridges. Old Settlers trail stretches 15.9 miles east to its junction with Maddron Bald trail and Gabes Mountain trail.

Turn left onto the bridge and drive 1.5 miles to the Ramsay Cascade trailhead. Ramsay Cascades is a tough eight mile round trip hike to one of the tallest and most beautiful waterfalls found in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The trail is renowned for its old growth forest and giant trees in addition to the awe inspiring waterfall.

Remaining straight at the bridge will bring you to the second picnic area found in Greenbrier. This spot has a covered pavilion, picnic tables, a pure, running spring and composting toilets.

A half mile after the picnic area the road dead ends at the Porters Creek trailhead. Porters Creek trail is 3.7 miles long and is a favorite among wildflower enthusiasts during the spring. Porters Creek trail also provides access to the historic Smoky Mountain Hiking Club cabin and the Brushy Mountain Trail. Brushy Mountain is 4.7 miles long to its junction with Trillium Gap trail and is considered one of the most challenging ways to access the summit of Mt. Leconte. Continue reading…

The Deep Creek Experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Deep Creek Experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park includes three impressive waterfalls found among the pristine mountain streams that appeal to anglers and tubers alike. Hikers love the trails that lead to the waterfalls. Cyclists love Deep Creek too; most trails in the National Park are closed to bicycles but not the Deep Creek and Indian Creek Trails. And with camping and picnicking available, what’s not to love about Deep Creek?

DEEP CREEK WATERFALLS

Juneywhank Falls – The beautiful 80-foot cascade, Juneywhank Falls can be viewed along a 1/3 mile steep trail from the Deep Creek trailhead parking area. This is a large parking area at the end of Deep Creek Road which is located across the creek from Deep Creek Campground.

Tom Branch Falls – Another impressive 80-foot waterfall can be accessed from the Deep Creek trailhead parking area. Walk along the flat and wide Deep Creek Trail about 1.4 mile to Tom Branch Falls.

Indian Creek Falls – Continue along Deep Creek Trail past Tom Branch Falls for another mile to Indian Creek Falls. Follow the trail about 200 ft. uphill to view the top of falls the plunges over 25 feet into Deep Creek. There is a small spur trail that leads to the bottom of the falls.

There are two loop trails that can take you to all three trails: Three Waterfalls Loop which is 2.4 miles and Deep Creek-Indian Creek Loop which is a moderate 5 miles and a favorite hike for viewing spring wildflowers.

Continue reading…

Family-Friendly Fall Hikes for Different Skill Levels

When it comes to hiking it seems like everyone has a different skill and interest level, so here are four family-friendly fall hikes to please most everyone. An all-day trek covering many miles may be your thing; however someone in your bunch may prefer just a short, quiet walk in the woods. With that in mind, we have some suggestions for some great fall hikes that range from easy to difficult.

Lace up your hiking boots, or your walking shoes, do a couple of simple stretches, and enjoy kicking through the colorful and crunchy leaves on these favorite trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this season!

  • Sugarlands Nature Trail (.5 mile roundtrip, easy)
    Sugarlands Nature Trail is found 1/4 mile south of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road. The trail is a paved, handicap accessible, path that is 1/2 mile in length. The trail follows the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River upstream with benches for relaxing and plenty of access for trout fisherman. The Sugarland Valley is acclaimed for the beautiful fall foliage. Once dominated by the sugar maple tree, today it is a mixed hardwood forest with a dazzling diversity of fall color.
  • Laurel Falls Trail (2.6 miles roundtrip, moderate)
    The Laurel Falls trailhead is on Little River Road four miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center. The trail is paved but is considered moderate in difficulty. The 2.6 mile round-trip hike is well worth it with a 80-foot tall waterfall to reward your effort. If you hit this trail at the right time of the season the fall colors are amazing! We suggest early to mid October. This is one of the Park’s busiest trails, so a good off-time to hike is during the week or early before 10:00 a.m.
  • Abrams Falls Trail (5 miles roundtrip, moderate)
    The Abrams Falls Trail is found halfway around the Cades Cove Loop Road approximately 1/2 mile before the Cable Mill Historic Area and Visitor Center. The hike is 5 miles round trip and is considered moderate in difficulty. Again the rewards for this hike are big with an up close view of the 20-foot tall Abrams Falls from its base. Keep an eye on the creek as you walk along and you may be fortunate to see some playful river otters. The best chance for viewing fall color in Cades Cove is usually mid-to-late October due to its lower elevation;  however, with sweeping views of the Stateline Divide there is always some color in view at some elevation.
  • Alum Cave Bluffs Trail (4.6 miles roundtrip, difficult)
    Alum Cave Bluffs Trail is one of the most popular in the Smokies and is found on Newfound Gap Road 8.6 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center. Get an early start and avoid the crowds. This relatively short walk, 2.3 miles one way, is considered difficult due to a rise in elevation of almost 1,500 feet. The steep climb does however provide amazing views of some of the most famous geologic features in the Park, like Arch Rock and the Chimneys. The hike to the bluffs is 4.6 miles round-trip. This hike combines Cove Hardwood Forest and the edge of the Canadian Zone Spruce Fir Forest giving the hiker the opportunity to experience a wide diversity of fall color. The Smokies are often described as being on fire during the fall when the vibrant red and yellow foliage are at peak. Don’t miss your chance to see it in 2015.

Keep up with the Fall Color Report from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service!

HIKER PLANNING TIP: Always be prepared for the unexpected when you step into the wilds of the Great Smoky Mountains. For a complete breakdown of the minimal supplies you should always carry visit our blog on the Ten Essentials.