Smoky Mountains

The Christmas season is fast approaching, and Wears Valley is gearing up for an incredible holiday celebration! Starting at the end of November, this welcoming mountain community invites visitors and locals alike to participate in a series of special seasonal events. To help you make the most of your time in the Smokies, we’ve put together a convenient guide to everything going on in Wears Valley in the upcoming months.

Wears Valley, TN, often referred to as the hidden gem of the Smoky Mountains, is actually one of the best places to spend time while you’re visiting the area. When you’re looking for the ultimate relaxation while being surrounded by the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Wears Valley is the place to be. Take a look below to find out why visitors love all of the things to do in Wears Valley.

The Smoky Mountains fall foliage is nearing its peak! Not only does that mean that the beautiful fall colors are here to stay for awhile but that also means that traffic in the area is starting to pick up, especially around the weekends.

In the latest installment of our Insiders View video series, travel interviewer Meredith Lofton takes a special tour of Wears Valley. A hidden gem in the Great Smoky Mountains, this incredible area is one of the most scenic spots in all of East Tennessee. Ted Jordan, a local businessman and longtime resident of Wears Valley, shows Meredith some of the best things to see and do in the valley. Watch the video below to get an insider’s look at this amazing vacation destination: 

Wildlife. It’s probably one of the main reasons you visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether you’re visiting to see large animals like black bears or deer or you’re looking to catch a glimpse at squirrels and raccoons, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is filled with wildlife of all types. But according to the National Park officials, it’s the largest animal in the national park, the elk, that are one of the most dangerous this time of year.

Do you remember when you were a little kid and you would go exploring, and you would always imagine discovering a secret city or magical hideaway? That may have just been us, but wouldn't it be cool if it happened while you were hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

The fall season is quickly approaching, and that means the beautiful fall colors are making their way into the Smoky Mountains. Maybe you don’t want to go hiking in the Smokies when you’re visiting, but you’re looking for the perfect way to see the fall colors and be outdoors?

Many of you may not know about the secret entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Instead of driving through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and working your way into the mountains, there’s one spot that offers the best views and quick access into the national park. Keep reading to learn more about the hidden entrance.

Hiking in the Smoky Mountains is one of the best activities that people can enjoy in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Not only is this a great source of exercise during your vacation, but it is also a good way to experience the beauty of the area like never before.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to enjoy a family picnic, you can’t do much better than Metcalf Bottoms! This incredibly scenic area is just a few minutes away from the Wears Valley entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located right beside the gorgeous Little River, an afternoon in Metcalf Bottoms ideal for soaking up the last rays of the summer sun or admiring the fall foliage. Read on for everything you need to know to plan the ultimate Smoky Mountain picnic.

The Smoky Mountains are known for the beautiful wildflowers that call them home. These brightly colored plants blanket the area every spring and create an unbeatably stunning scene. However, there are much more to these Smoky Mountain wild flowers than just looking pretty. Don’t believe us? Check out the 6 shocking facts we found below.

We at Visit My Smokies could not be more excited that fall in the Smoky Mountains is just around the corner. Not only is this the time of year when the weather begins to cool off and we can start planning a relaxing evening by a fire, but it is also the time of year where the leaves in the mountains change into a stunning collage of colors.

Birthdays are always a special occasion to celebrate, especially if you are the National Park Service. Today, the National Park Service is celebrating a milestone anniversary of 98 incredible years, and what better way to celebrate than by offering free admission to visitors to all national parks in the United States.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is, by far, one of the most diverse national parks in the United States. There are 8 dates that absolutely changed the course of history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, each helping to make the park what it is today.

There are tons of delicious places to eat in the Smoky Mountains. From a relaxed and quiet restaurant in Gatlinburg to an exciting dinner and a show in Pigeon Forge, guests to the area can find something to tackle just about any food craving. That being said, how much do you and your family know about all the delicious Wears Valley restaurants? A little off the beaten path of the Parkway, these five eateries are sure to leave your family happy and full.