I-40 and Cades Cove Loop Road

Roads Reopened!

We're happy to inform you that two major roads are now open through the Smokies.

The Cades Cove Loop Road that goes to and through Townsend in Blount County is now fully available to the general public. This means visitors can get to and from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Cades Cove area and see what millions of people come every year to see: A national treasure.

I-40 is also open again! Both east-bound lanes and one west-bound lane are open where Tennessee meets North Carolina. One west-bound lane is still closed, but this should make it much easier to get in and around.

If you've been waiting to get to the Tennessee side of the mountains, now's the time! It's still just before the summer rush and there's plenty to do and see here! The roads are open, so come on by!

In the news for Gatlinburg this April, 2010.

The Wildflower Pilgrimage! April 21-25! Nothing short of the cornerstone of Spring for the city and THE major natural exhibit and event for the Smokies, this is a major tradition for our neck of the woods dating back longer than before most of us were born, and as such, it attracts a huge number of visitors who come as yearly as possible!

And with a huge turn-out dictating they must give the audience something to see, you can expect 4 solid days of everything Flora and Fauna of the Smokies. Lectures, guest speakers, exhibits, walks, hikes, stuff for the kids and more than can be detailed here. Heck, most of the time people come back year after year so they can do the things they missed out on the years before!

That said, you shouldn't miss out on any of it! Make your plans to stay with Highlands so you can stay close to the action on April 21-25th!

In other news...

The Ripley's Aquarium in the Smokies turns 10 years old in just a short period of time, and to commemorate it, Ripley's is building a brand new 4,000 sq.ft. Penguin exhibit!

Penguins?

In the Smokies?

From Africa?????

Apparently, yes. Black-footed African Penguins are the brand new guests of honor for the Smokies at the Ripleys Aquarium! Come see them play in their underwater crawl tube, gliding across aquatic surfaces, swimming under glass floors and more!

Take some time out of your Spring schedule to see the new Penguins at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies!