An Outsiders Guide to the Smoky Mountains

So you caught the bug didn’t you?  You’ve been to the Smokies a few times and have rented a few different cabins and now comes the decision “hey let’s buy one of our own and we can rent it out, it will be fun and we’ll make tons of money right?”  Hold on their buckaroo….not… Continue reading Episode 024 – Buying a Cabin in the Smokies

One of the most popular questions I get asked or see asked on popular boards and groups is… which is the best of the seasons in the Smokies?  Great question but also loaded.  Most people just start throwing out answers Spring! Summer!  Fall!  Winter stinks! It’s like asking the Facebook groups who has the best… Continue reading Episode 023 – Seasons in the Smokies – Pros and Cons

Hello Everyone, I’m Chuck Schmidt and I am the Outsider. This is an episode of some pretty cool secret places scattered about in the Smoky Mountains area.  Most people just walk or drive by many of these things and never realize what the just missed. A set of carefully hidden stairs that leads to a… Continue reading Episode 022 -Secret Places in the Smokies

Welcome to Episode 21- Shopping in the Smokies – His, Hers, Theirs. Let’s get back to the business of visiting the Smokies!  There are several types of people that come to the Smokies.  Some come just to hike the park, others come to enjoy all the attractions and another group of people come to the… Continue reading Episode 021 – Shopping in the Smokies- His, Hers, Theirs.

We’re almost there!  Almost everything great about the Smokies and the surrounding areas is either open or set to reopen.  Most attractions and restaurants are now open albeit on a limited basis. In Episode 020- The Smokies at a Distance we will be exploring some of the lesser know trails and dining in and about… Continue reading Episode 020 – The Smokies at a Distance

At last most of the attractions and the restaurants are open so we can now have our Pigeon Forge Update 2020! We hope you like axe throwing because that is the new rage in Pigeon Forge. Count them three different axe throwing hoses join our Pigeon Forge Update 2020. Pigeon Forge Axe House This is… Continue reading Pigeon Forge Update 2020! – Episode 019

The Smokies are Back! In Episode 108 join Chuck Schmidt, travel host for a journey through Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as surrounding communities in the aftermath of the COVID virus.  Learn about weekly updates for attractions, hiking trails, dining, shopping and road closures. Plus, up to… Continue reading Smokies Are Back! Area Update as of 5-21-2020

Smokies Reopening Update 5/14/2020, join Chuck Schmidt, travel host for a journey through Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as surrounding communities in the aftermath of the COVID virus.  Learn about the current status of attractions, hiking trails, dining, shopping and road closures. Plus, up to date information… Continue reading Smokies Reopening Update 5-14-2020

In Episode 016 – Smoky Mountains Area Reopening, join Chuck Schmidt, travel host for a journey through Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as surrounding communities in the aftermath of the COVID virus.  Learn about the current status of attractions, hiking trails, dining, shopping and road closures. Plus,… Continue reading Smoky Mountains Area Reopening

Hello Everyone- I’m Chuck Schmidt and I am the Outsider.  I wish I was talking about all the great things you can do in the Smokies Mountains area. In fact, I’m actually talking about the opposite this blog is about COVID-19 and the Smokies . Boy I wish I was talking about a happier topic. … Continue reading COVID-19 and the Smokies