Ober Gatlinburg

Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area and Amusement Park offers a variety of year-round family fun at the top of Mount Harrison. Spring, Summer and Fall, the amusement park is a family-oriented theme park offering “snowless” Summer Tubing, Ski Mountain Coaster, Ice Skating, Ice Bumper Cars, Alpine Slide, Scenic Chairlift and Wildlife Encounter. The Ober Shops, full-service restaurant & lounge round out the offerings.

After Thanksgiving, Ober Gatlinburg transforms into the only ski area in the state of Tennessee. Winter sports enthusiasts will enjoy snow skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and snow tubing in Gatlinburg, made possible by state-of-the-art snowmaking systems.

Along with Smoky Mountain skiing and all season family-fun, Ober Gatlinburg is home to festivals that round out the calendar with MayFest and Oktoberfest each spring and fall. 

Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee

Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all-concrete surface, two pit roads, different turn radii, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

Bristol Motor Speedway is the fourth-largest sports venue in America and the tenth largest in the world, seating up to 146,000 people. The speeds are far lower than is typical on most NASCAR oval tracks, but they are very fast compared to other short tracks due to the high banking. Those features make for a considerable amount of car contact at the NASCAR races as the initial starting grid of 40 vehicles each in the Cup and Xfinity Series, and 32 in the Truck Series, extends almost halfway around the track, meaning slower qualifiers begin the race almost half a lap down.

Grandstand in 2007

The drag strip at this facility has long been nicknamed "Thunder Valley". Both NASCAR Cup Series races held at Bristol are for 500 laps; the spring race (historically a day race; however, the 2006 race ended under nighttime conditions because of Standard Time and the late afternoon start) is sponsored by area grocery chain Food City and considered one of NASCAR's top 10 annual races.[2] The late summer race (the popular night-time race, considered "the toughest ticket in NASCAR" to obtain) has rotated among several sponsors. From 2001 to 2015, Newell Rubbermaid sponsored the race, first under its Sharpie brand (2001–2009) and then its Irwin Tools brand (2010–2015). From 2016 to 2021, Bass Pro Shops became primary sponsor of the summer race, with the National Rifle Association as a secondary sponsor. In 2022, Bass Pro Shops became the sole entitlement sponsor of Bristol's September NASCAR Playoff Race.

The old scoring pylon in August 2007

Bristol is a fertile ground for other levels and types of racing; NASCAR Xfinity Series races often draw more than 100,000 spectators, making it one of the best-drawing Xfinity venues, and resulted in Fox televising the race nationally from 2004 to 2006 and ABC doing the same in 2007 and 2008.

In 2004, it was the first Busch Series race of the season televised on broadcast network television, and the race, which had been 150 laps in 1982, 200 laps in 1984, and 250 laps since 1990, was a 300-lap race in 2006.  READ MORE...

Living in Tennessee

This morning, FOX News had a segment on the hundreds of people that were leaving Democratic-controlled states and moving to Tennessee, specifically NASHVILLE.  But, the state of Tennessee is not just about Nashville...

• When I think of Nashville, I think of the home of Country Music...
• When I think of Memphis, I think of the home of Elvis Presley...
• When I think of Bristol, I think of the home of NASCAR....
• When I think of Knoxville, I think of the home of Oak Ridge National Laboratories...
• When I think of Chattanooga, I think of  Glenn Miller's Chattanooga Choo Choo and the revitalized riverfront, similar to the riverfront in San Antonio, Texas...

Tennessee is also the home of Jack Daniels whiskey and has the nickname of "Volunteers" that dates back to the Alamo and Davy Crockett...

And, what is not mentioned often is the Great Smoky Mountains which is the NUMBER ONE TOURIST ATTRACTION in the entire US of A...   imagine that?

Tennessee has a HUGE system of LAKES thanks to the TVA and the public works projects of the 1920s that put people to work because of the Great Depression.  And, where I am currently living, I have access to two lakes on either side of me, Cherokee and Douglas...  I can get to either lake in about 10-15 minutes.

About 40-60 minutes (depending upon traffic) away from my location, there is:

• Pidgeon Forge
• Dollywood
• Gatlinburg

Each of these tourist attractions went from just being opened in the summer months (circa 1990s) to being open 12 months a year (circa 2000s)...

Oak Ridge National Laboratories just outside of Knoxville, receives 80% of the Department of Energy's budget each year to work on a variety of projects for the Federal Government...  Currently, ORNL works on protecting nuclear materials to secure the peaceful use of energy production, medical applications, and scientific discovery around the world...

I moved over to TN in 1990 and 32 years later not only am I still here but I have no desire to live anywhere else...  I wear a t-shirt from April through December...  that's 8 months out of the year...  not bad.

Do yourself a favor...  come to TN for a visit...  stay a week or two, maybe three...  spend your money, but don't stay!!!

Renaming Clingman's Dome

The view from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The mountain is the tallest peak in the park and sits on the Tennessee-North Carolina border. It's sacred to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who hope to see the name of the mountain changed to Kuwahi, which their ancestors called the mountain for hundreds of years.  Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council passed a resolution Thursday in support of changing the name of the highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Clingmans Dome.

Long before the mountain on the Tennessee-North Carolina border was a National Park attraction, the Cherokee referred to it as Kuwahi, which translates to "mulberry place." Tribal medicine men would journey up the mountain and pray for guidance, then share the visions they had with the rest of the community.

Lavita Hill, treasury specialist for the tribe, said she and her friend, fellow activist Mary Crowe, spent the last month preparing the name change proposal for the tribal government's approval. Hill said she was inspired by Yellowstone National Park's renaming of Mount Doane to First Peoples Mountain, which was based on the recommendation of the Rocky Mountain Tribal Council.

Cades Cove Tennessee

Driving along the edges of East Tennessee’s lakes, there are signs that things are not always as they have been.

Decaying grain silos rise up inexplicably from the water. In other places, ancient roads and trails lead down to lakebeds without turning.

In the days before the Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee’s rivers ran wild and free. They were dangerous, frequently jumping the banks and damaging crops and farms and livestock. They could be deadly.

The TVA came along and in the words of Ulysses Everett McGill, “Hydroelectric up the whole dern state” or at least the valley.  READ MORE...

Guide to Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches over 500,000 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina, and is known for its wildlife and historic homesteads. It’s the most visited national park in the country (yes, beating Yellowstone), with 12 million visitors in the last year alone.

With six park entrances to choose from, it’s important to base yourself near the sites you most want to see. Each gateway town has its own personality, but most don't get as much press as well-known Gatlinburg. Here, we break down what each of the six towns has to offer to help you decide where to stay for your Smokies getaway.

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Bryson City and Cherokee, North Carolina
Bryson City is the hub for the North Carolina Smokies and is popular with families riding the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, as the best-known route snakes through the mountains between Bryson City and Dillsboro. Train tickets include admission to the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum, which has over 7,000 model train engines and cars.

Neighboring Cherokee is an essential stop for learning about the Native people who were forcibly removed from this land in 1838. The tribe still has a presence here, and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian details their 11,000-year history. Support the community by shopping for Cherokee-made crafts at Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc.

When you’re feeling peckish, Naber’s Drive In is like stepping back in time, complete with carhop service and a simple menu featuring burgers and hot dogs. Anthony's Restaurant, in the heart of downtown Bryson City, is known for its white pizza and garlic knots (you'll need to fuel up for all that hiking, after all).

Cozy up at Sky Ridge Yurts, located just across the river from rafting outfitters like Nantahala Outdoor Center. The permanent tents have porches overlooking the forest, fire pits, full-sized bathrooms, WiFi, televisions, and kitchens (some come with kitchenettes, others offer full set-ups).  READ MORE...

Lakes in Tennessee

Tennessee is a four-season vacation destination whose name came from the Yuchi Indian word “Tana-see”, meaning ‘meeting place’. Living to its name, this state has plenty of attractions to visit and it’s packed with history, nature, and culture. Previously, native Americans tribe inhabited the area, hence some of its places are still named after them. Tennessee also has both iconic natural and man-made attractions that make it a known state and a popular destination. It is the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Mountain Dew drink. It is also where Oak Ridge, the energy capital of the world, is located. Moreover, Tennessee has plenty of lakes with green spaces, offering you outdoor and water activities. Here’s a list of the 10 beautiful lakes in Tennessee, USA.

1. Norris Lake

Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Brian Stansberry used under CC BY 3.0

Norris Lake is quietly nested at the foothills of Cumberland Mountains. It is known as one of the cleanest lakes with deep waters. It serves as a sanctuary to approximately 56 species of fish. Wildlife that can be spotted here includes deer, cows, horses, eagles, turkey, and blue heron. You can indulge in a plethora of recreational activities here, including boating, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and more. For stay, there are plenty of options near the lake - you can pitch a tent, stay on a houseboat or book a floating cottage. For a complete experience, dine at one of the many restaurants overlooking the lake.

Norris Lake
Address: Ext. 122, Norris, TN 37828
Website: Norris Lake




2. Cherokee Lake

Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Portraitlady4306 used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Situated in the foothills of the Clinch Mountains, Cherokee Lake was named after the Native American tribe who previously lived in the area. A dam built in the 1940s can also be seen in this lake. Along its shoreline are campgrounds, boat docks, resorts, parks, picnic areas, playground, and paved trails. There is also a swimming beach, should you want to take a dip. Other popular activities here include lake fishing and birdwatching.

Cherokee Lake
Address: Cherokee Lake, Knoxville, TN 37849
Website: Cherokee Lake




3. Boone Lake

Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jakec used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Boone Lake is one of the small lakes in Tennessee. It has a shoreline of 139 miles. It features a swimming area and a boat ramp. Activities popular here are fishing, waterskiing, and other water-based recreation. Through the summer season, the lake has a stable water level. The lake serves as an aquatic ecology to fishes like crappie, bass, and bluegill.

Boone Lake
Address: Sullivan / Washington counties, Tennessee, United States

TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE OTHER SEVEN, CLICK HERE...

East TN Living

Today, it is raining throughout the Valley as the local stations warn us to brace for flash flooding...  and, that makes sense because the ground as a result of many days of high heat is hard and will not absorb the water easily creating runoff.

But for me, it is just another day being retired after retiring in 2015...  6 years I have enjoyed the lifestyle of not having to be anywhere and not being forced to kiss ass just to remain employed...  still, after 45 years of working for "the man," I am glad that I no longer have to do that...

I have been told by many people that their careers were not like what I experienced and I am glad that all of them had something different...  work will always be work...  and quite honestly, I really don't miss or need the money.

I am comfortable with the lower middle class income that I have as it pays the bills while allowing me to do whatever I want to.

Many people throughout the US look down their noses on TN as a backwards State, fiercely devoted to their Baptists beliefs, and who marry their cousins and quite possibly their brothers and sisters from time-to-time, who spend all of their time farming, making shine, and who have black, decaying teeth.

Unfortunately, that is NOT A TRUE PICTURE...

Ivy League Colleges and University PhD graduates teach in our colleges and universities...  they offer their medical expertise in our hospitals, clinics, and private practices...  they work at Oak Ridge National Laboratories which rivals the Research Triangle Park in NC.

Nashville is the home to COUNTRY MUSIC which is a BILLION DOLLAR business...

And, some of the best marijuana in the country is grown in and around the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Jack Daniels is made here in TN along with moonshine and if you recall, TN is the home to Peyton Manning who was just recently inducted into the Football Hall of Fame...

Giving the current state of affairs and the increase in violence and crime, I would not be caught dead in:

• New York City
• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Baltimore
• Los Angeles
• San Fancisco
• Portland

The Heart and Soul of the SOUTH

The front door to my modest 1,800 square foot home is open and the all glass storm door allows full sunlight to enter.  I am sitting in a recliner just left and back from the front door wearing sweatpants and a fleeced lined sweatshirt jacket because it is a tad chilly inside our home during these months as we keep the thermostat on a constant 68 degrees which ordinarily is fine but as I grow older, I tend to need more warmth wrapped around me.

The outside temperatures have been in the 50's and tomorrow it will reach well into the 60's and whatever remnants of snow remaining will be for sure melted away.  Tomorrow, I will take down and package up our outside Christmas decorations...  well before New Years Day which is the tradition around these parts...  as they say in these parts...

My door is open because I feel relatively SAFE in East TN and not the slightest concerned that BLM along with the help of ANTIFA will be running around this neck of the woods rioting, burning, and looting...  although, we have plenty of black families living in this area...  and, actually not too far away if one were to take a notion to measure.

With a 30 minute drive, I can be in the heart of Knoxville, or Sevierville and if I were to add 30 more minutes, I can be in the heart of NASCAR country or Bristol, TN to the north and to the east Dollywood and/or Pigeon Forge and the resort area of Gatlinburg...  and in none of these places will I find any traces of BLM or ANTIFA...   even though more and more people are visiting these places from those bigger cities where BLM and ANTIFA seem to thrive.

Tennessee was one of the first STATES of our nation and was split in half more or less when we decided to have our Civil War...  as there were places about an hour from here that made munitions for the Union Army...  but, mostly it is a confederate State and because it was and still is in the business of "running moonshine" along the back roads provides the heart and soul of NASCAR...  along with North Carolina as they share The Great Smokey Mountains...  although, North Carolina may be a little more sophisticated.

But...   and, more importantly...  at least to me...  is the fact that on days like today, I can open my front door and let the sunshine in...   and, politics BE DAMNED...  and, I say that quite forcefully being the 73 year old threat that I am because...  politics has changed very little in this damn country of ours...  we have pretty much kept the STATUS QUO which is exactly why the BLACKS are bitching so much...  they see it too...

And, that is the great IRONY about POLITICS...  once you become a POLITICIAN and go that route under the FLAG of CHANGE... and WIN...   you quickly decide that nothing needs to change at all other than one's vocabulary...  in the sense of telling the people what they want to hear...

This is exactly why my front door is open and will continue to remain open while other front doors across the country at SHUT TIGHT and BOLTED.

America's problems lies not with her people but with her LEADERS...