Notes from the Smokies — Stay in Smokies blog

The Dog-and-Fireflies Week, Honestly Planned

The fireflies do not respect dog rules. Here is how to handle the synchronous-firefly window from a pet-friendly base, including which evening walks work.

Gatlinburg · Jun 2, 2026

Motel 6

Skip the Parking: A Gatlinburg Trolley Day in May

The Gatlinburg trolley costs two dollars round-trip and goes most places worth going. In May, leaving the car parked at the motel is a real plan.

Gatlinburg · May 19, 2026

Lodge at Mill Creek

The Park Is What You'll Remember, Not the Headlines

The Stampede gets the headlines in this part of Pigeon Forge, but Great Smoky Mountains National Park is what you'll remember. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a twenty-five-minute drive from Mill Creek; Cades Cove is forty-five.

Pigeon Forge · May 8, 2026

Motel 6

The No-Fee Math on a Smokies Week With a Dog

A week in the Smokies with the dog does not have to involve a pet-fee surprise. Here is the actual cost picture from our parking lot, without the marketing.

Gatlinburg · Apr 28, 2026

Spring in the Smokies: A Plan From Any of Our Front Desks

April in the Great Smoky Mountains is wildflower pilgrimage week, mild trails, and weekday park access at its calmest. Here is the cross-property version of the plan.

Apr 22, 2026

Motel 6

Two Park Trails That Allow Your Dog

Most national park trails ban dogs. Two near Gatlinburg do not. Here is how to spend an April morning with the dog without leaving the park boundary.

Gatlinburg · Apr 7, 2026

Days Inn and Suites

A Free Spring Morning at the Smokies Doorstep

Cataract Falls is ten minutes from our parking lot, the trail is paved, and the only money you'll spend before lunch is on coffee. Here is how an April morning out of Gatlinburg actually works.

Gatlinburg · Apr 4, 2026