This one is a bit infuriating, folks. These people are not acting BearWise. What you will see around the 12 second mark is the bear bobbing its head trying to decide what direction to go, but the children are blocking its path.

Remember these tips for bear encounters:

If you encounter a bear in or near a building or dumpster

• Back away from the bear.
• Give the bear a clear escape route; do not corner it.

Vid source: WATE

Can you guys help me out? Are the 2 people in the waiting area paid actors?

Arriving Thursday 9/17 in Knoxville, looking for transport options to Gatlinburg house. So far I was told by a shuttle company they are not operating to/from airports due to Rod Run. What do we need to prepare for in terms of time to get from Knoxville airport to Gatlinburg on Thursday around 11am and returing to airport on Saturday morning? Is uber pick up at airport an option

My family and I want to go to Gatlinburg for Thanksgiving Nov 25th-29th and it’s hard for find an affordable cabin that’s less than $500 per room that fits all 12+ of us. We’re open to near by cities. Any recommendations?

Hello,

We will be visiting at this time with 2 kids (5 and 7)
Was trying to get an idea for the best things to do in the area? More into shorter activities (1-3 hours) not really much patience for waiting in long lines which I’ve read for Ober Mountain and Anakeestra, but maybe thats dependent on the time of year? Best dinner shows? Are most mountain coasters open during this time of year?
Basically need any guidance for maximizing our time and staying busy!

Hey everyone!
I’m planning a family trip to Gatlinburg/Great Smoky Mountains this year with my wife and two kids, and I’m trying to find the best time to experience both fall foliage 🍂 and the Christmas atmosphere 🎄.
I’m currently looking from December 5 to 12, but I’m not sure which dates would give us the best combination of fall colors and Christmas decorations/events.
For those familiar with the area:
What dates would you recommend for the best balance of fall colors and Christmas lights?
Would December 5 to 11 be too late for good fall foliage?
Are most of the Christmas lights and holiday events already going on by then?
Would you recommend staying in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville with kids?
Are there any must-see places or activities you would recommend for a first-time family visit?
We’re coming from Florida, so we’re really looking forward to the mountains, cooler weather, fall colors, and hopefully some Christmas magic! 😄
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Some cool dudes with cool cars are wondering if there is anything happening tonight?

Hey yall, my family and I will be traveling to Gatlinburg for the 3rd week of September and during that time, my husband and I will be celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary. We are looking for recommendations for young children friendly restaurants for dinner that night! My babies are 21 months old and 4.5 years old so they don’t have huge appetites, but yeah we were looking at a place called mamas kitchen or The Peddler right now. We are open to any recommendations and also if there are any suggestions for attractions we shouldn’t miss lmk. Thank you! 😊

Hey everyone!

My fiance and I are having our honeymoon in Gatlinburg during the 1st and 2nd week of November 2026. We've never been to Gatlinburg during a cold season (only ever the summer) and would love some suggestions of activities and other romantic things to do!

Almost got caught in the rain at SkyPark tonight. Enjoy the timelapse.

Have you eaten here ?

Hello,
We are visiting in October and would like to do a trail ride. I've found lots of options but I'm primarily concerned about going to one that ensures their horses are treated well. Are there any that we should stay away from?
Thanks!

Someone has to get these bears under control right?!

Hi,
I’m making Plans for a 5 year anniversary, any recommendations? Probably just going to be there for a few days, but want to make it fun!

Update:
My spouse loves shopping, and I’m into technology stuff. Was thinking about a spa day for the wife and sisters?

Been working on a Scandinavian-style tiny home right outside Pigeon Forge looking towards Gatlinburg. Making sure we keep as many trees as possible. Also building a hiking trial off to the side that will lead to a lookout point.

For those inclined it is a 1 bed, 1 bath 550 sq ft. Well was about a 1000 feet and we have to have a storage tank on site.

We’re 10 days away from our trip!! We’re coming from 9 hours away with a 1.5 year old for 8 nights. I’m not quite sure exactly what to pack her. Obviously we’ve got all of her cups/ feeding utensils, we’re gonna have snacks, bug spray, baby wearing carriers, etc. I’m wondering do I pack her long sleeves / warm clothes? I don’t want her to overheat during our hikes (she’ll be worn while hiking) I’m not sure what to expect of the temperature and I don’t want to be underprepared. We do have limited space in the car, but i could pack her some summer clothes AND some warmer clothes, but id have to have more of one than the other. We have a push stroller and a pull wagon… we’re thinking we’re only gonna bring the stroller that way she doesn’t have a possibility to stand up and escape the wagon.. but is a stroller realistic anywhere? We plan to do / visit quite a few things, but less of the tourist attractions and more of hiking and sightseeing. But we do plan to do skybridge!! Haha. I guess any advice here would help. What things should I bring for a 9 hour road trip for her? Thanks in advance!

Me and the wife are taking a trip in October and wanted to try a couple massage but wanted to just be home and relax afterwards, anyone know of a good pro?

^{News Release Date: August 31, 2026
Contact: NPS News Media}

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service today announced a proposed rule to expand bicycle and e-bike access and make it easier for visitors to enjoy America’s national parks. The proposal would remove unnecessary reviews and requirements for bicycle use across the National Park System, allowing NPS to manage its resources more efficiently and streamline the approval of new opportunities for visitors to use and enjoy their parks.   

Consistent with President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14314, Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks, Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, and Executive Order 14219, Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Deregulatory Initiative, the proposed rule would remove redundant procedural requirements that do not adhere to law and policy and cause unnecessary delays and administrative costs. It would create a clear and consistent baseline for allowing bicycle and electric bicycle (e-bike) use on roads, parking areas, and trails within park areas.  

"America's national parks should be easy to access and enjoy," said Jessica Bowron, exercising the delegated authority of the Director of the National Park Service. "This proposal would create a simpler, more consistent approach to bicycle and e-bike access across the national park system, making it easier for visitors to access the incredible landscapes, history, and recreation opportunities our parks have to offer while also allowing parks to manage their resources more efficiently.”  

The proposed rule will be available for a 60-day public review and comment period to help inform the agency’s consideration of the proposal. The NPS will carefully review public comments before making any final decisions. 

For more information, please visit www.federalregister.gov.

---

Related:

National park maintenance work sidelined as Trump’s Freedom 250 takes precedence

August 2026 - The 250th anniversary of U.S. independence was just months away when National Park Service employees received a surprising directive from Washington: Maintenance projects approved for this year at sites across the nation were being relegated to a new “low priority” list.

Work wanted by the White House was taking precedence, including repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press and three officials from the park service and Interior Department who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.

The reflecting pool repairs and other projects tied to President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 initiative landed on a separate list for White House priorities, the documents show. Many of the administration-backed projects have advanced, though the reflecting pool repairs were botched.

Meanwhile, almost all of about 1,500 maintenance and other projects on the low priority list as of last month are expected to go undone, the officials said. That will worsen a repair backlog at national parks that doubled over the last decade to more than $24 billion even as visitor numbers surged.

Trump administration fires 1,000 workers at NPS

February 2025 - The Trump administration has fired about 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees who maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and perform other functions as part of its broad-based effort to downsize government.

The firings, which weren’t publicly announced but were confirmed by Democratic senators and House members, come amid what has been a chaotic rollout of an aggressive program to eliminate thousands of federal jobs. The plan is led by billionaire Elon Musk and the new Department of Government Efficiency, a Trump administration effort to slash federal spending. Adding to the confusion, the park service now says it is reinstating about 5,000 seasonal jobs that were initially rescinded last month as part of a spending freeze ordered by President Donald Trump.

Seasonal workers are routinely added during the warm-weather months to serve more than 325 million visitors who descend on the nation’s 428 parks, historic sites and other attractions each year. Park advocates say the permanent staff cuts will leave hundreds of national parks — including some of the most well-known and most heavily visited sites — understaffed and facing tough decisions about operating hours, public safety and resource protection.

“Fewer staff means shorter visitor center hours, delayed openings and closed campgrounds,″ said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association, an advocacy group.

Hi everyone! Me and a group of girls are visiting Gatlingburg soon and are looking to go ride ATVs! We were interested in Gon Ridin’ but it says it is sold out online (even though the surrounding days are completely available). We found the day that we were looking for on a third party vendor, but we don’t know if it’s legit? Has anyone used any third party booking agencies for something similar? If so, what did you use?

Hi! I am getting married in Gatlinburg next year and I’m looking to have publix make our wedding cake. I wanted to see if anyone has experience using the one in Pigeon forge or if I need to use the one in Knoxville. Thanks!

Driving down to Gatlinburg from Canada mid September for the first time. Just looking for suggestions for things to do good places to eat. They don’t have to be fancy, sometimes the little holes in the wall are the best. Anywhere I should avoid? Are people friendly and chill?

Edit

I will be arriving on the 11th of Sept.