TRAVEL JOURNAL

A Driver’s Weekend in the Smokies, Based out of Townsend, TN There’s something about waking up in Townsend that feels different. It’s quieter. Slower. The kind of place where the morning air is crisp, the roads are empty, and the day ahead feels wide open. That’s exactly what makes The Parkman Hotel such a strong home base for a car-focused getaway. You roll out early, coffee in hand, and within minutes you’re entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park. No traffic, no stopl

The great Smoky mountains Forgotten Places (and Why They’re Worth Finding) At The Parkman Hotel, the closest hotel to Cades Cove, you are not just near the Smokies. You are positioned to uncover the stories most visitors never even re alize exist. Beyond the scenic overlooks and well-known trails, the Great Smoky Mountains are layered with remnants of a past that quietly lingers if you know where to look. Start with what is no longer there. Tucked deep in the woods near Sugar

Hidden Corners of Cades Cove You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner Everyone knows Cades Cove for its iconic loop, open meadows, and wildlife, but beyond the well-traveled road lies a quieter, more intriguing side of the Smokies. Start with the unexpected. Just off the main drive, subtle landmarks like Mollie’s Butt, a uniquely shaped ridge visible from the loop, offer one of the most overlooked photo moments in the Cove. Nearby, the Pearl Harbor Tree stands as a quiet tribute planted d