Lifestyle

Great Smoky Mountains National Park invites the public to “Fall into Volunteerism with Smokies Service Days!” Park staff will lead several single-day volunteer opportunities across the park on Saturdays beginning through November 21. Each experience provides a unique, hands-on opportunity to help care for park campgrounds, historic buildings, and natural resources. This volunteer program helps complete much needed work across ...

Westgate Resorts is pleased to announce the opening of Southern Comfort restaurant – a new Southern-cuisine dining experience located at the award-winning Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa. Southern Comfort restaurant showcases the very best dishes from the South, including low-country, soul food, creole, Cajun and good old southern home-style cooking, and is the first restaurant to open in partnership with the ...

During the week of October 19, Great Smoky Mountains National Park invites the public to provide input on how the park can improve visitor experiences and alleviate congestion at some of its busiest destinations. The public can participate through virtual interactive workshops, online forms, or direct mail. “We look forward to working hand-in-hand with our local communities and visitors from ...

The U.S. Department of Energy canceled all big game quota hunts scheduled on Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area due to the coronavirus pandemic. All 12 big game quota hunts scheduled for November 7-8, November 14-15, and December 12-13, 2020 at Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area are canceled. The cancellation is due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission to Oak Ridge ...

UT Extension offers resources and suggestions for families making to switch to home-based virtual learning due to COVID-19. “Well, I guess we’ll just figure it out…I’m not prepared for this!” These are the thoughts and emotions of many parents across the country as school reopening plans and fall options continue to be unveiled. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many aspects ...

Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will soon be able to camp again at their favorite Smokies campgrounds. Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is increasing access to additional campgrounds and picnic areas. The National Park Service (NPS) is ...

WonderWorks Pigeon Forge is offering a range of new educational opportunities for the fall of 2020. With both in-person and virtual options, WonderWorks is expanding upon current programs and adding new ones to be a part of the new education “normal” 2020 is bringing. These programs come at a time when many parents and teachers are searching for additional educational ...

Visitors can learn about the women’s suffrage movement and Tennessee’s role in a pop-up display in the lobby of Alcatraz East Crime Museum. August 18, 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. By decriminalizing the actions of women across the country that had been attempting to vote, this constitutional amendment was a significant moment in our legal history. ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking public input on a proposed mountain bike trail system on the unfinished section of the Foothills Parkway corridor in Wears Valley, TN. The park is initiating an environmental assessment and 30-day public scoping period in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act. The proposed mountain bike trail system ...

Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians will be holding a drive-thru cookie booth, a real treat for the public since Girl Scout cookies are usually unavailable this time of year. Stock up on all your favorites! The drive-thru cookie booth will be held Saturday, August 1, 2020 at the Knoxville Girl Scout Service Center, 1567 Downtown West Blvd. in Knoxville, from ...