Recreation+Gardening
Featured
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Armadillos make a home in the Smokies
With their tough, leathery shells, unique digging habits, and pattern of giving birth to identical quadruplets, nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are full of quirks.
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On the Trail in the Smokies
“Something for everyone” is often an overused phrase, but when it comes to recreation in the Deep Creek section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the expression seems to fit quite nicely.
Ben Anderson photo
On the Trail in the Smokies
Huskey Gap Trail is probably not on anyone’s list of must-do hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; its cozy trailhead parking area perhaps is evidence of that.
Aug 1, 2025
Photo by Holly Kays, courtesy of Smokies Life
Word from the Smokies
It’s not yet 9 a.m. on a weekday, but Alum Cave Trail is already bustling. With parking scarce, hikers might walk nearly a mile to reach the trailhead along Newfound Gap Road.
Aug 1, 2025
Photo by John Beaudet
Shedding Light on the Nature of Venomous Snakes
Since this is the year of the snake, I’m excited to see what thrilling glimpses of snakes the warm season may afford me. But not everyone shares my enthusiasm for elongated, limbless reptiles.
Jun 1, 2025
A Dedicated Daughter of the Great Smoky Mountains
Volunteering for Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable activities in my life for the past 30+ years.
Jun 1, 2025
Photo by Nick Nichols
Word from the Smokies
The mountains exert a powerful spell—but too often, that spell is broken by the sight of plastic bottles and candy wrappers scattered beside trailheads and overlooks.
Jun 1, 2025
Beyond the Beaten Path
Graham County is a hiker’s paradise. From towering ancient forests and picturesque waterfalls to wildflower-blanketed balds and shimmering lake views, these trails aren’t just walks in the woods—they’re your pathway to adventure.
Jun 1, 2025
Wild, Wonderful, Waterfalls
As the only state fully engulfed in Appalachia, West Virginia has always stood out for its wild and wonderful expanses that include 1.5 million acres of parks and public lands.
Jun 1, 2025
The Appalachian Way
The Appalachian spirit is one of resilience. Generations of people who have called these mountains home know how to weather storms, rebuild, and come back stronger.
Apr 1, 2025
