Smoky Mountain Hiking

The Knoxville News-Sentinel, home of the site GoSmokies, has just launched a social network for those that love the Smokies. Head on over to gosmokies.knoxnews.com and sign up for an account to get started.

The site uses Ning.com to create a social network where users can create profiles, share vacation stories, and post hiking pictures and logs.

You can view my page by going directly to the site or by clicking on the “badge” in the right-side bar.

The Birmingham News (my local paper) had a great feature in a recent Sunday paper about hiking to LeConte Lodge. You can check it out at al.com.

The article is basically the telling of the writer, her husband, and their friends hike up to the Lodge via Boulevard and out via Alum Caves. It also talks a lot about the experience of staying overnight at the lodge and some of the history.

Made me want to grab my pack and head to the mountains.

The Great Smoky Mountains Association has launched a series of podcasts that are available from their website or the iTunes podcast directory.

The podcasts vary in subject matter, including audio tours of Newfound Gap Road and tips on what to do when you encounter a bear in the backwoods. In all, they have 41 podcast episodes available and seem to be adding new episodes frequently.

Visit the GSMA website to download individual podcast episodes. If you are an iTunes user, you can subscribe to the GSMA Podcast to receive updates automatically and easily sync them to your iPod.

September 28-30, 2007
Teacher Escape Weekend where teacher’s escape to preview Tremont school programs.

October 12-14, 2007
Grab just one more weekend away with the family in the peak of the fall season with Tremont’s Fall Family Backpack. Tremont supplies the gear!

October 19-21
Formerly known as Naturalist Weekend, Autumn Splendor Weekend provides all the information you need to fully “connect with nature.” Bring a friend!

October 26-28
Fall is a great time to get the girls together for their own outing! That’s why Tremont holds the Fall Women’s Backpack every year. This popular program for women only treks to places seldom seen by others in the Smokies.

October 26-29
Join renowned photographer Willard Clay in Tremont’s Fall Photo Workshop. This program offers photographers at all levels information they need in capturing great images of the Smokies. This one is filling fast! Get your spot today.

Gatlinburg cabins and Pigeon Forge cabins in the Smoky Mountains is a wonderful way to spend your vacation this summer. You can experience a whole new way of vacationing…relax with the convenience and privacy of home, without just four walls and a bed at a hotel room. The cost of Gatlinburg cabin rentals is comparable (sometimes cheaper!). Each cabin is privately owned and decorated in its own style for your enjoyment. Your adventure can be in a cozy unit for 2 up to an entertaining family unit that sleeps 14. We feature beautiful Smoky Mountain cabin rentals with hot tubs, fireplaces, mountain views and home theaters.

Visit their website for more information and specials.

America’s Cabins Inc. features beautiful brand new cabins and chalets in the Great Smoky Mountain Area. Our rental units are just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley, Tennessee.

Visit their website for more information and specials.

Nestled atop mountain ridges and overlooking the beautiful Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, our Gatlinburg cabin rentals and Pigeon Forge cabin rentals are close to the restaurants, shopping and attractions in Gatlinburg, TN and Pigeon Forge, TN but are tucked away to give you privacy and seclusion during your vacation.

Visit their website for more information and specials.

Be swept away into the Great Smoky Mountains with your friends at Amazing Hillbilly Hideaways. We offer the best and most affordable luxury log cabins in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Our beautiful log cabins feature Hot Tubs, Jacuzzis, Saunas, Pool Tables, Air Hockey Tables or Foosball Tables. We have many fine log cabins with Mountain Views or Located on Water. Amazing Hillbilly Hideaways is here to offer you the best Gatlinburg Log Cabins and Pigeon Forge Cabins around.

Visit their website for more information and specials.

Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, right along the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway. We are the #1 Lodging Choice for your vacation accommodation needs. Come and enjoy the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee!

Visit their website for more information and specials.

Our rental cabins of one to five bedrooms are ideal for families, corporate retreats, or other groups–whatever the occasion. Several of our log cabin rentals are within easy walking distance from one another, making them ideal for large groups. These log cabins rentals and chalets rentals are convenient to swimming, hiking, fishing, tennis, and Ober Gatlinburg and the Ski Lodge, and just a few minutes from downtown.

Visit their site for more information and specials.