This is the 2nd leg of my journey from Virginia Beach to Atlanta, GA. I am very sad that I will be late for b bbq, and the skylight will cost me 1.5 to 2 more hours (nc-11 is currently closed). I can't do those 2 on this trip, and I am extremely disappointed.

Same as the first leg.

I am looking for some good local food place.i heard bbq in North Carolina is great. Is there any good local bbq place on my route? Any other recommendations are fine.

I heard that bbq sauce in North Carolina is awesome. I want to buy some to bring home as a gift.

I also hear that North Carolina has some good alcohol. Is it bourbon? Is it for bbq? I dont mind getting both bbq goodness and drinking goodness.

Me and my gf have a trip planned in December 12-19th to gatlinburg and pigeon forge. We were planning on saving around 2k for the trip, I felt like maybe closer to 3 would be enough but she did the math so we agreed on saving about 2k for it. Just curious how much would/did you guys spend there with 2 ppl?

Hello! I'll be in the Sevierville area between 8/20-8/23. I would love to hop on some shows while I'm in the area. I'm willing to travel a ways for the right conditions. Looking to do anywhere from 5-60 minutes.

My wife and I are staying in a cabin on a small creek. The creek is shallow but it has a couple of deep pools. We decided to put on swimsuits and chill in the creek. Something ate our butts up. We literally had welts on our butts and a couple on our legs. What kind of critters are floating around up here? It felt like ant stings, does the Smokies have underwater ants?

^(This is a follow-up to the previous threads:)

• ^(Update 1: Collective action on prohibiting black bear interactions)
• ^(Update 2: Collective action on prohibiting black bear interactions)
• ^(Update 3: Collective action on prohibiting black bear interactions)

Friends and locals,

I attended today's Smokies BearWise Task Force meeting and wanted to report back to you all on the current situation. Per the city of Gatlinburg, there has been a 130% increase in nuisance bear calls in the past year - with a 203% increase this August compared to the previous August.

The TWRA is working overtime with some members maxxed out on hours. 45 bears have been removed this year, and each captured bear takes 5 hours to move. Despite the bear-resistant dumpster program being a renown success, littering is at levels previously unseen, trash receptacles/carabiner locks are not being used properly, and people are still directly feeding bears.

The city has spent over $3 million on dumpsters and $500k on facilities only to discover this is no longer a trash problem, but a population problem. As evidenced in this video from Monday, an unintended consequence of securing our garbage from bears means they are going to break into the next available thing: cars and homes. The GPD reported 5 bear break-ins just this last Friday.

But this isn't only a problem here, it is nation-wide. Parks in Nevada, Florida, Asheville, Yosemite, and Yellowstone are all experiencing a surge in break-ins. This year Tahoe has reported both record home entries - and subsequent euthanasia cases. Cubs are learning this behavior by watching, and once it has been taught it cannot be unlearned. Dan Gibbs from the TWRA floated the possibility that more drastic measures, implying euthanasia, may need to be taken in the future. But what is to stop bears from re-learning this behavior once again?

There is also concern over the fact that the forest is overdue for a Mast Failure; an ecological ripple where fruiting trees and shrubs all underproduce seeds to conserve energy - the last one having occurred all the way back in 2011. A lack of natural food would spur what one could perceive as a crime spree of break-ins this fall. According to officials, we will know what to expect by mid-September.

Some people have been hurt; at least one person with permanent facial injuries, but these incidents are not being reported in the news. The main reason why deaths don't occur more often is because of how tolerant black bears are. The financial damage from vehicle break-ins is leading others to swear off ever visiting the Smokies again. The city has identified this as a serious problem and is looking to outside agencies for advice.

Bear-resistant waste management and education needs to be a county-wide effort but from what I'm hearing, the Sevier County government has no interest in reducing human/bear conflicts. The BearWise Task Force is at a loss for influential allies.

^(I emailed Bryan McCarter about BearWise and encounter prevention on December 2, 2025. He never replied.)

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On a positive note, as of now the City of Pigeon Forge is providing only bear-resistant commercial dumpsters and has switched residential polycart brands to bear-resistant, Kodiak products.

Gary from Duck River GCE was also at the meeting. He has been hard at work building his premium Bear Boxes and recently installed 45 new boxes in the Parkside Resort community, with more on the way. As a result, there has been a visible reduction in litter around the area.

Duck River Bear Box

Gary's Bear Boxes are IGBC tested and certified. They have metal flags to indicate to sanitation workers when they need servicing, and automated lighting features are in the works.

Paw Flag

I also spoke to Gary about the possibly of him producing hard covers for hot tubs to cut back on destructive vandalism, but he turned that down (no easy, universal fit). He stands by the use of electrified unwelcome mats as a proven solution. He could produce his own mats, but there isn't enough demand.

For the time being, anyone wanting to purchase a mat must order them online out of Tahoe, Nevada where they are used more commonly. This is where companies like DollyWood get their mats as well; I believe through Tahoe Bear Busters.

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Complacency kills. Ultimately, we need more education on how to use bear-resistant dumpsters, trash can straps, and carabiner locks. We need to be proactive against littering, and relentless against feeding bears.

If you are coming to visit, please clean out your vehicles thoroughly. As soon as you get to your hotel or cabin, take any food inside immediately. Those first 5-10 minutes are often critical moments. Also consider taking any child seats inside or placing them in the trunk - bears are starting to recognize them as sources of crumbs and sugar stains.

^(In the words of Marc Maron,) ^(more later)^(.)

Looking for recs for road trip to Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains. Thinking 5 days. Best route? easy hikes? Best places to stay along the way? Fly into Asheville out of Gatlinburg, vice versa, or in and out of one City?

Does anyone have any recommendations for a tattoo studio in or near pigeon forge? Looking to get one while I'm on vacation in November

hi all!! im going to WatS in a couple days with my fam and I was wondering if there are any tourist traps I should know about? and what are the best places to go to, whether its restaurants or activities?

i also want to know, are bears REALLY just walking around all the time everywhere?? im from SE Wisconsin so ive never seen a bear in my life. i keep seeing videos of bears walking around from recently and it's a little scary but mostly cute.

thanks guys! if theres anything else i should know that i didn't ask about lmk! 😛

Hey everyone! I’m looking for a ride from Gatlinburg, TN → Greer, SC on August 14.

I’m happy to pay for gas / split the cost. I can be flexible with the departure time and pickup location around Gatlinburg.

If anyone is heading that way or knows someone who is, please DM me. Thanks!

My friend is moving to Gatlinburg in a week for her new job. Her work is closer to smoky mountains area and wants to get accommodation close by.
Any leads or suggestions?

Are there any gyms in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge that have day passes that I can go do my workout in? I do not want to drive 45 minutes away just to goto a Planet Fitness

Looking for the opinions on the best mountain coaster in the area that is open at night. Not concerned with price. Duration and views are what's most important. All adults going. Thank you in advance.