Two weeks out of each summer people flock to Elkmont to see the famous synchronous fireflies flash their lights in unison. Elkmont is one of the few places in the world where you can see the Photinus carolinus, a firefly species that flashes synchronously. It has become such a popular event the park has had to take steps over the years to limit the number of people that could view the fireflies each night.  New this year, the park has announced a new reservation system for the Elkmont Firefly Viewing event.

For this year's viewing event, which runs from Saturday, June 2 through Sunday, June 10, a new on-line ticketing system, operated through Recreation.gov, will provide visitors with parking passes to guarantee they will be able to park at the visitor center, but without the inconvenience of having to arrive hours in advance.  A parking pass will be required for all vehicle and a reservation fee to receive the pass will cost $1.50. The number of passes issued for each day will be based on the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot capacity. Passes will be issued with staggered arrival times to prevent congestion in the parking lot.  Then the shuttle buses will begin picking up visitors from the Sugarlands Visitor Center at 7:00 p.m. and the cost will be $1 round trip per person and will be collected when boarding the shuttle.

The parking passes for this year's event will be on sale on-line beginning after 10:00 a.m. April 30.  Passes can be purchased here or by calling 1-877-444-6777, it's strongly suggested to use the online process since there will be lots of additional information.  New to the synchronos firefly phenomonon? Catch up and read more about the fireflies!

If you can't get married in the Smokies try the next best thing! A honeymoon in the beautiful Smoky Mountains! There are plenty of secluded cabins for a romantic getaway in the mountains and plenty of other lodging options that are a little closer to what's going on in Pigeon Forge! Whether you want to spend quiet time in the mountains or have an action packed trip full of Pigeon Forge fun we've got it all!  


Ready to start your planning? Hop on over to PigeonForge.com and start planning your Smoky Mountain Honeymoon today! We've got everything you need from great lodging options to the best things to do to all you need to know about the Smoky Mountains!  We can't wait to see you! 

The Chimney Tops Trail will be closed Mondays through Thursdays from April 30 - October 18, 2012 for trail improvements.  The trail will only be open Fridays through Sundays. The Chimney Tops Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Smokies because of its length and spectacular views.  So why close it? The Trails Forever Crew will be completing highly technical trail reconstruction projects to improve and stabilize the trail.  This investment will ultimately protect the resources and enhance the visitor's experience.  



The project will include installing: 

• trail drainage - waterbars, inside drains to catch seeps, removing the outer edge of the trail trench and/or recontouring the trail to allow water to shed
• new handrail systems on the trail bridges - constructed out of locust wood material
• elevated turnpikes - two sided structres that riase the trail surface and allow water to flow around and under them
• rock steps and staircases - using big rocks as the steps and the trail surface

See more of what the plans are for this project over on the National Park Service website. 

We're happy to be one of the first to announce that there is a new zipline coming to Pigeon Forge! It's called Adventure Ziplines of Pigeon Forge and they are set to open next month! Adventure Zipline has the longest zipline in the USA and is expected to be a pretty awesome experience! 

The stress of planning a large wedding with lots of people and ultimately lots of money just isn't for everyone.  Sometimes a small and simple wedding in the mountains is just what a bride and groom are looking for and the Smoky Mountains are the perfect place for just that! Below are just a few inspiration photos from other small weddings.