My Smoky Mountain Guide Hosted by Marc & Ann Bowman

Marc W. Bowman, Ann G. Bowman

Marc and Ann Bowman live near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Each week they go to one of the areas top attractions in one of the gateway cities, then tell you all about their experience. Find out what to expect the next time you plan a visit to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or one of the areas other vacation hot spots! Marc & Ann also share upcoming current events, answer your questions, and provide helpful information so you can you plan your next visit. Hear all the latest about attractions, important dates, where to buy tickets, and learn about trails, campgrounds, and more!

  1. 22 MAG

    #12 Tennessee Bible Museum

    Marc, Ann, and Jane spent three days in Wears Valley, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg celebrating Ann and Jane's birthday. The twins had a list of places they wanted to visit and high on the list was the Tennessee Bible Museum. What an amazing place! The paid tour highlighted the history of the Bible with an emphasis on how it was translated into English. Heartland Cabin Rentals provided an amazing cabin for our stay in Wears Valley. We cannot say enough about the hospitality they showed. The three restaurants we chose for the main meal of our day was Alamo Steakhouse, JT Hannah's Kitchen, and Sloppy Hog Burger Joint. We recommend all three. My Smoky Mountain GuideHeartland Cabin RentalsTennessee Bible MuseumGatlinburg Arts and Crafts CommunityAlamo SteakhouseJT Hannah's KitchenSloppy Hog Burger Joint

    31 min

  2. 21/09/2024

    #11 Wine, Shine and Cider

    East Tennessee has a long history of producing moonshine. Until recently, it was distilled in illicit stills (illicit because they refused to pay the tax) in hidden coves of the Appalachian Mountains. In 2009,  the Tennessee state legislature passed a law legalizing moonshine in Tennessee. Soon after, in early 2010, Ole Smoky Moonshine of Gatlinburg became the first legal distiller of moonshine in the state. While the area is known, correctly, for family fun, the elephant in the room is that a new version of an old industry has burst onto the scene. Marc and Ann visited more than twenty establishments in Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley, and Townsend to see what all the hubbub is about. These twenty are just representative of the many distilleries, wineries, and hard cider producers in the Smoky Mountains. Below is a list of the establishments we visited. Some have more than one location. You must be at least 21 years of age to enter these websites: My Smoky Mountain GuideOle Smoky MoonshineJunction 35 SpiritsSmith Creek MoonshineTennessee Shine CoTennessee Homemade WinesShine GirlCades Cove Cellars (Marc’s favorite winery to date. “I haven’t visited them all!”)Company DistillingOld Mill DistilleryBootleggers Homemade WineElkmont WineryGatlinburg WinerySmokin BanjoSugarlands Distilling CompanyTennessee Cider CompanyTennessee Stud Cider Co

    50 min

  3. 27/07/2024

    Episode 10: Bluff Mountain Adventures

    Bluff Mountain Adventures maintains one of the largest offroad adventure experiences in the Pigeon Forge area. By that we mean that they own more than 6,600 acres of mountain terrain overlooking Knoxville, Maryville, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding area. The miles of offroad trails are ready to be explored via UTV or ATV. In this episode, Marc and Ann talk about the offroad adventure they enjoyed while celebrating their wedding anniversary. Bluff Mountain Adventures lives up to its name. My Smoky Mountain GuideBluff Mountain AdventuresOld Mill Pottery House Cafe & Grill

    29 min

  4. 20/07/2024

    Episode 9: Bryson City, North Carolina

    NOTE: We recorded this episode in June 2022. Before posting it, two sudden and unexpected serious medical conditions, one after the other, derailed (pun intended) our plans to continue recording and posting new episodes. However, after two years, we are back! We thank God for His continued care for us and allowing us to do this podcast, which we love. Thank you for listening. Bryson City, North Carolina is “small town America,” packed with big outdoor fun. In this episode, Marc and Ann talk about their day trip to Bryson City to take the historic “1702” steam engine train roundtrip to Nantahala Outdoor Center. Listen as they describe the sights along the train route, the experience of riding and old-fashioned steam engine powered train, and visiting the train museum. My Smoky Mountain GuideGreat Smoky Mountains RailroadDillsboro Chocolate FactorySmoky Mountain Trains MuseumFly Fishing Museum of the Southern AppalachiansNantahala Outdoor CenterIron Wok

    25 min

  5. 13/07/2022

    Episode 8: Cherokee, North Carolina

    Marc and Ann recently spent four days exploring Cherokee, North Carolina. They visited the Qualla Boundry, the home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee is a historic location and is a gateway city to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Their discussion includes the outdoor play, Unto These Hills, the longest running outdoor drama in America. More than 5,000,000 people have seen this Cherokee interpretation of the Europeans arrival in America and the stormy relationship that ensued. In addition, they talk about the outdoor village museum, Harrah's Cherokee Casino, eating in Cherokee, outdoor activities, and their hotel experience. My Smoky Mountain Guide Podcast Stonebrook Lodge, Cherokee, NC

    27 min

  6. 05/09/2020

    Episode 7: Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud Show and Adventure Park

    Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud Show and Adventure Park is on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The show is a live competition between real lumberjacks competing for bragging rights. Audience participation is enthusiastic and a real fun part of watching the show. The jokes are somewhat corny, but that is part of the family fun in this 1.5 hour show. Authentic lumberjacks perform agile stunts throughout the competition. Some stunts include chainsaws while others involve buck saws or 30 feet tall poles. Another competition involves the lumberjacks walking on spinning logs while trying to knock their competition into the water.  The theater is part of Paula Deen's Adventure Park where guests can try their skills at log rolling, ax throwing, speed climbing, or navigating a ropes course high above the ground. In our opinion, the Flying Ox, a combo zip-line/roller coaster type ride, is the best. We describe all this and more in the podcast as well as let you know how to get discount tickets.

    24 min

  7. 27/08/2020

    Episode 6: Titanic Museum Attraction & Gatlinburg Skylift Park

    When the Titanic sank in the Atlantic back in 1912, more than 1,200 people died in an icy cold sea. The "unsinkable" ship sailed only 5 days on its maiden voyage to New York before slamming into an iceberg. The Titanic Museum Attraction houses the largest collection of Titanic artifacts in the world. John Joslyn, the museum's owner, was the explorer who led the expedition to recover the artifacts from the ship's resting place. The original artifacts, worth more than $4,000,000.00, are beautifully displayed. The interactive museum gives guests an opportunity to see how the ship was built, ascend the grand staircase, dip your fingers into 20+ degree water, and imagine traveling as a passenger. The most famous artifact on display is the Hartley Violin. Hartley and his small ensemble played hymns while the ship sank in an effort to give peace to passengers. The 56,000 piece Lego replica of the Titanic is also on display. Marc and Ann talk about their visit to the museum, lunch at Hard Rock Café, and how you can get discount tickets. A bonus ending includes a conversation with Ann's sisters about their recent trip to the Gatlinburg Skylift Park.

    42 min

  8. 08/08/2020

    Episode 5: Anakeesta

    Anakeesta is one of the newest attractions in the Smokies. Located in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this 70+ acre, mountain village is not going to disappoint. The Chondola takes you to the top of Anakeesta Mountain where you will experience Firefly Village with its gifts shops, the Cliff Top Grill & Bar, Aunt Pearl’s Pie in the Sky (ice cream and fried pies), and several other shops. For those of you with an aversion to heights, like Marc, you can take the Ridge Rambler to Firefly Village. The Ridge Rambler is a 42 passenger monster truck that takes you through the forest on the ground, rather than high above on a cable! But the real draw to Anakeesta is that it is an outdoor adventure park with zip-lines, a mountain coaster ride (the Rail Runner), and the world’s longest tree canopy walk, with more than 16 bridges hanging 40 to 60 feet above the ground below. Recently, Anakeesta opened AnaVista Tower, a 60 feet tall tower with amazing views of Gatlinburg and the surrounding mountains. Vista Gardens, where the tower is located, is a beautifully landscaped area with manicured gardens and pathway. The views are perfect for selfies overlooking the mountains. Seth Mulder & Midnight Run entertained the crowds on the Saturday we were there and they did a great job of playing bluegrass music on the Plaza stage. FYI, they are misidentified as The Tennessee Travelers in the podcast. Coming in the Fall of 2020 is a new restaurant, more fire pits, a family water play area, and updates to many of the adventure features.  Mentioned in this EpisodeMy Smoky Mountain GuideAnakeestaSeth Mulder & Midnight Run (misidentified as The Tennessee Travelers)Ripley Entertainment

    32 min
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Marc and Ann Bowman live near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Each week they go to one of the areas top attractions in one of the gateway cities, then tell you all about their experience. Find out what to expect the next time you plan a visit to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or one of the areas other vacation hot spots! Marc & Ann also share upcoming current events, answer your questions, and provide helpful information so you can you plan your next visit. Hear all the latest about attractions, important dates, where to buy tickets, and learn about trails, campgrounds, and more!

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