Category: Education

Before the birth of the United States, and even before any European immigrants came to North America – one nation ruled Southern Appalachia. A subdivision of the Iroquois and a highly advanced civilization, the Cherokee Nation sprawled from Kentucky to northern Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. To the east, the Smokies formed a crucial part […]

If you could rewind the clock as far as you like, what would you like to see? Would you try to meet your great-great-grandfather, who bravely fought in the Civil War? Maybe you’d return to your favorite era of movie history to see those classic moments for the first time again on the big screen. […]

“What is life like on other planets?” That’s the age-old question that millions of other curious individuals like you have asked. Yet, all we have to do is look around us! Lucky for us, we already live on a beautiful, far-flung planet full of diverse life forms. Aliens are all around us, walking on four […]

Cades Cove is the most popular destination within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, drawing in more than 2 million visitors each year. So what’s so special about it? Less than an hour-and-a-half drive from downtown Gatlinburg, the 4,000-acre valley features rich native wildlife, spectacular mountain views, and hiking and auto trails. It is perhaps […]

Your higher power is with you no matter where you are. Yet, you may feel a stronger connection with the divine when surrounded by ancient beauty and graceful grandeur. Impressive, timeless, yet gentle – the Great Smoky Mountains inherently generate such a sense of sacredness. It’s no surprise that there is a wide variety of […]

From space to industry, technology to culture, our world is overflowing with themes as diverse as they are captivating. Curious artifacts, lesser-known phenomena and intriguing stories stand in testament to the extent of human discovery in these fields, offering the extraordinary pleasure of learning about the mysteries that interest us most personally. Museums provide an […]

Discover thousands of aquatic creatures with Erik at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. It’s easy to see why they were voted Best Aquarium in North America. Catch the sharks, penguins, sea turtle, sting rays and so much more!

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is home to fabulous entertainment, plenty of food options, and a bounty of shopping locations. When you’re checking out places in Gatlinburg to visit, we recommend you keep these Gatlinburg points of interest in mind.   Sky Lift The iconic yellow Gatlinburg Sky Lift is a favorite tourist location to get astounding views […]

Dollywood is a fantastic place for families, couples, and friends. There is so much to do—you might want to visit multiple days! Because it’s such an immersive park, with plenty of things to do, we want to make sure you have a chance to visit these five places you might have missed. 1. SGMA Hall […]

Check out one of America’s best aquariums, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, with Erika! Located in downtown Gatlinburg, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has everything from stingrays to sharks to penguins and so much more! Be sure to allow at least two hours to explore all they have to offer.