We are absolutely thrilled to bring you this very special episode all about one of our favorite organizations in the Smokies, Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend, Tennessee!

Celebrating 30 years of volunteer-powered bear rescue, ABR is doing incredible work saving orphan cubs, rehabilitating them with minimal human contact, and releasing healthy bears back into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They truly are the gold standard.

On a beautiful Saturday we were invited on one of their exclusive behind-the-scenes tours (only four small groups were allowed that day, we felt so honored!). We finally got to see the secluded facility where the magic happens, tucked way back in the county so the bears stay wild and never get used to people.

After the tour we sat down right here at our home with the brand-new Executive Director, Greg Greico. What a genuine, passionate guy, perfect for the job! We talked for over an hour about his wild journey into bear work, the history of ABR, why these bears matter so much, and what the future holds.

You’re in for a treat, this one is full of hope, history, and a few “wow” moments.

Learn more at My Smoky Mountain Guide Podcast

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

Marc, Ann, and Jane spent three days in Wears Valley, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg celebrating Ann and Jane's birthday. The twins had a list of places they wanted to visit and high on the list was the Tennessee Bible Museum. What an amazing place! The paid tour highlighted the history of the Bible with an emphasis on how it was translated into English.

Heartland Cabin Rentals provided an amazing cabin for our stay in Wears Valley. We cannot say enough about the hospitality they showed.

The three restaurants we chose for the main meal of our day was Alamo Steakhouse, JT Hannah's Kitchen, and Sloppy Hog Burger Joint. We recommend all three.

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• Heartland Cabin Rentals
• Tennessee Bible Museum
• Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community
• Alamo Steakhouse
• JT Hannah's Kitchen
• Sloppy Hog Burger Joint

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

East Tennessee has a long history of producing moonshine. Until recently, it was distilled in illicit stills (illicit because they refused to pay the tax) in hidden coves of the Appalachian Mountains. In 2009,  the Tennessee state legislature passed a law legalizing moonshine in Tennessee. Soon after, in early 2010, Ole Smoky Moonshine of Gatlinburg became the first legal distiller of moonshine in the state.

While the area is known, correctly, for family fun, the elephant in the room is that a new version of an old industry has burst onto the scene. Marc and Ann visited more than twenty establishments in Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley, and Townsend to see what all the hubbub is about. These twenty are just representative of the many distilleries, wineries, and hard cider producers in the Smoky Mountains.

Below is a list of the establishments we visited. Some have more than one location. You must be at least 21 years of age to enter these websites:

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• Ole Smoky Moonshine
• Junction 35 Spirits
• Smith Creek Moonshine
• Tennessee Shine Co
• Tennessee Homemade Wines
• Shine Girl
• Cades Cove Cellars (Marc’s favorite winery to date. “I haven’t visited them all!”)
• Company Distilling
• Old Mill Distillery
• Bootleggers Homemade Wine
• Elkmont Winery
• Gatlinburg Winery
• Smokin Banjo
• Sugarlands Distilling Company
• Tennessee Cider Company
• Tennessee Stud Cider Co

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

Bluff Mountain Adventures maintains one of the largest offroad adventure experiences in the Pigeon Forge area. By that we mean that they own more than 6,600 acres of mountain terrain overlooking Knoxville, Maryville, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding area. The miles of offroad trails are ready to be explored via UTV or ATV.

In this episode, Marc and Ann talk about the offroad adventure they enjoyed while celebrating their wedding anniversary. Bluff Mountain Adventures lives up to its name.

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• Bluff Mountain Adventures
• Old Mill Pottery House Cafe & Grill

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

NOTE: We recorded this episode in June 2022. Before posting it, two sudden and unexpected serious medical conditions, one after the other, derailed (pun intended) our plans to continue recording and posting new episodes. However, after two years, we are back! We thank God for His continued care for us and allowing us to do this podcast, which we love. Thank you for listening.

Bryson City, North Carolina is “small town America,” packed with big outdoor fun. In this episode, Marc and Ann talk about their day trip to Bryson City to take the historic “1702” steam engine train roundtrip to Nantahala Outdoor Center.

Listen as they describe the sights along the train route, the experience of riding and old-fashioned steam engine powered train, and visiting the train museum.

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• Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
• Dillsboro Chocolate Factory
• Smoky Mountain Trains Museum
• Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians
• Nantahala Outdoor Center
• Iron Wok

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

Marc and Ann recently spent four days exploring Cherokee, North Carolina. They visited the Qualla Boundry, the home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee is a historic location and is a gateway city to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Their discussion includes the outdoor play, Unto These Hills, the longest running outdoor drama in America. More than 5,000,000 people have seen this Cherokee interpretation of the Europeans arrival in America and the stormy relationship that ensued.

In addition, they talk about the outdoor village museum, Harrah's Cherokee Casino, eating in Cherokee, outdoor activities, and their hotel experience.

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Stonebrook Lodge, Cherokee, NC

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud Show and Adventure Park is on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The show is a live competition between real lumberjacks competing for bragging rights. Audience participation is enthusiastic and a real fun part of watching the show.

The jokes are somewhat corny, but that is part of the family fun in this 1.5 hour show. Authentic lumberjacks perform agile stunts throughout the competition. Some stunts include chainsaws while others involve buck saws or 30 feet tall poles.

Another competition involves the lumberjacks walking on spinning logs while trying to knock their competition into the water. 

The theater is part of Paula Deen's Adventure Park where guests can try their skills at log rolling, ax throwing, speed climbing, or navigating a ropes course high above the ground. In our opinion, the Flying Ox, a combo zip-line/roller coaster type ride, is the best.

We describe all this and more in the podcast as well as let you know how to get discount tickets.

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

When the Titanic sank in the Atlantic back in 1912, more than 1,200 people died in an icy cold sea. The "unsinkable" ship sailed only 5 days on its maiden voyage to New York before slamming into an iceberg.

The Titanic Museum Attraction houses the largest collection of Titanic artifacts in the world. John Joslyn, the museum's owner, was the explorer who led the expedition to recover the artifacts from the ship's resting place.

The original artifacts, worth more than $4,000,000.00, are beautifully displayed. The interactive museum gives guests an opportunity to see how the ship was built, ascend the grand staircase, dip your fingers into 20+ degree water, and imagine traveling as a passenger.

The most famous artifact on display is the Hartley Violin. Hartley and his small ensemble played hymns while the ship sank in an effort to give peace to passengers.

The 56,000 piece Lego replica of the Titanic is also on display.

Marc and Ann talk about their visit to the museum, lunch at Hard Rock Café, and how you can get discount tickets.

A bonus ending includes a conversation with Ann's sisters about their recent trip to the Gatlinburg Skylift Park.

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

Anakeesta is one of the newest attractions in the Smokies. Located in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this 70+ acre, mountain village is not going to disappoint. The Chondola takes you to the top of Anakeesta Mountain where you will experience Firefly Village with its gifts shops, the Cliff Top Grill & Bar, Aunt Pearl’s Pie in the Sky (ice cream and fried pies), and several other shops.

For those of you with an aversion to heights, like Marc, you can take the Ridge Rambler to Firefly Village. The Ridge Rambler is a 42 passenger monster truck that takes you through the forest on the ground, rather than high above on a cable!

But the real draw to Anakeesta is that it is an outdoor adventure park with zip-lines, a mountain coaster ride (the Rail Runner), and the world’s longest tree canopy walk, with more than 16 bridges hanging 40 to 60 feet above the ground below.

Recently, Anakeesta opened AnaVista Tower, a 60 feet tall tower with amazing views of Gatlinburg and the surrounding mountains. Vista Gardens, where the tower is located, is a beautifully landscaped area with manicured gardens and pathway. The views are perfect for selfies overlooking the mountains.

Seth Mulder & Midnight Run entertained the crowds on the Saturday we were there and they did a great job of playing bluegrass music on the Plaza stage. FYI, they are misidentified as The Tennessee Travelers in the podcast.

Coming in the Fall of 2020 is a new restaurant, more fire pits, a family water play area, and updates to many of the adventure features.

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• Anakeesta
• Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (misidentified as The Tennessee Travelers)
• Ripley Entertainment

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman

Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum in Sevierville, TN is home to more than 90 of the hottest muscle cars in history. Marc and Ann visited recently and talk about their favorites in the collection. Hear about the numerous Camaros, Mustangs, 442s, GTOs, Corvettes, Trans Ams, and a number of other cars on display.

The Tennessee Museum of Aviation is a 50,000 square foot building with a 35,000 square foot hanger, housing a number of American war planes from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, etc.. See these war birds up close and personal. Also you can see the Evil Knievel rocket used to jump the Snake River Canyon.

This museum is the only place you can see certain Hollywood plane props used in films and TV shows over the years. The smaller museum area displays artifacts from the USS Arizona bombed at Pearl Harbor, and hundreds of war related historical pieces.

The Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Airport is where you will find Sky High Air Tours. Marc Hightower is the owner/pilot of a vintage 1927 Waco Model 10 Straightwing biplane. Lean about the air tours available in this historical plane.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum
• Tennessee Museum of Aviation
• Sky High Air Tours
• Holston's Kitchen

My Smoky Mountain Guide, Helping you make the most of your time in the Smokies
© 2020-2026 | Marc & Ann Bowman | Maryville, Tennessee

Artwork by Ann Bowman

Recording and editing by Marc Bowman