Experience Fireflies, Crafts and Concerts

The Townsend community always has new adventures to experience. This year see the Synchronous Fireflies or venture into town to see concerts and arts and crafts at the Townsend Visitors Center and the Clayton Center for the Arts.  The Synchronous Fireflies are one of 19 species of fireflies that live in the Great Smoky Mountains, but it is the only species in America that can synchronize their flashing light patterns. People from all over the world have come to watch this spectacular event that only happens once a year. This year, the event begins June 6 and goes through June 13. The Clayton Center for the Arts is offering A Festival of Horns and Drums June 28 through June 30. This event hosts many different bands from around the country. It’s a great night to move through the Clayton Center and listen to bands you’ve never heard, while enjoying food and drinks and dancing under the stars! For more information on this concert visit Clayton Center for the Arts. The Townsend Visitors Center is also hosting Diana Dearen’s Jewelry & Art Exhibit and an Arts & Crafts Festival July 2 through July 4.  Come and enjoy all that Townsend has to offer this summer!

If you wish to attend the Synchronous Fireflies event be sure to reserve your parking pass at www.recreation.gov.  For more information on this event, visit Synchronous Fireflies. If you would like more information on the Arts and Crafts Exhibits in Townsend call 800.525.6834.

The Color Yellow

As spring moves along and our waters warm, dry fly fishing in the Smokies proves to be a great way to enjoy a day streamside. There are a number of flies that will make an appearance on our freestone streams. There are many different types of flies that will leave the stream bottom to take flight from now through the summer months. Mayflies, stoneflies, and caddis make up the majority of these aquatic insects, and in fact nearly 500 different species of such flies have been identified inside the borders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, it has long been known that while picking the perfect size and shape of a fly might be important, the best color is yellow in the Smokies. Within each of the mentioned species of flies there are bugs with yellow bodies. Sulfur mayflies, light yellow caddis, and our local favorite, the yellow sally stone fly will grace the skies over the streams of the park sporadically from now through the summer. When in doubt, use a yellow fly in the Smokies. Our guides have a few favorite patterns whether the fish are looking for yellow or not. From beginner to novice, the Smokies have something to offer anglers of all levels. Let’s go fishing! 

Alex Quick, Activities Guide

April Showers Bring May Flowers

The saying has held true and as we now enter full blown spring, many of our wildflowers are in full bloom. In fact, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 1,500 flower plants, making the Smokies the most diverse National Park in the country when it comes to flowers. May is a great month to see many of the varieties of flowering plants in the Smokies. Several types of trillium line the trail sides along with fire pink, spring beauty, and Solomon seal, to name a few. These flowers can be seen from the road or trail. A drive through the park or a leisurely bike ride is a great way to view many of the spring treasures. However, there is probably no better way to see the full variety of the forest floor than from the trail. Follow one of our guides on one of our local favorite wildflower hikes. A half day experience, the hike to White Oak Sinks is known for its wildflowers, and we know the way to this unmapped wildflower garden. The Sinks make for a great picnic spot and is home to a spectacular small waterfall that’s disappears under the ground.

Alex Quick, Activities Guide

Mother's Day Brunch on May 12

Give mom a special Mother’s Day this year by treating her to brunch at Dancing Bear Lodge & Restaurant to start off her day! From classic dishes such as biscuits and gravy to regionally inspired dishes like trout with Benton’s Bacon and grits, Chef Carter’s menu has been made especially with mom in mind! For more information or to make a reservation, please call (865) 448-6000.

Mother’s Day Brunch Menu

Snacks for the Table

Regional Cheese and Charcuterie Plate

In Jars

Bakery Plate

Entrées 

Fried Oyster Salad with Red Oak Lettuce

Cornmeal, Lemon and Ricotta Pancakes

Steak and Eggs

Cornmeal Dusted Trout with Benton’s Bacon and Grits

Biscuits and Gravy

Bacon, Chicken and Cheese Sandwich

Brunch Cocktails

House Made Bloody Mary

Strawberry Bellini

Mimosa

Get to Know the Little River

Our Townsend community has always been proud to call the Little River a favorite fishing spot teaming with trout. Fortunately, the Little River is located right across the street from our property and suits casters from all experience levels.

The Little River stems from 3 tributaries in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and flows to the Tennessee River. It is inhabited by brown and rainbow trout and free flows without the use of dams.

For Fly Fishing Weekend, let us know what parts of the Little River you would like to fish and enjoy with our Orvis-certified guides on May 10-12!

A Guide to Successful Family Reunions

The warmer season offers the best opportunities for family outings and reunions! For those planning family get-togethers, we understand that taking on the task of organizing a retreat may not sound appealing at all, but we would like to offer some helpful tips to make your job easier:

Pick a venue with plenty of open space and indoor facilities for different activity interests. Some of your family members may only be interested in outdoor games and sports, while others will prefer resting indoors nestled up by a fire. Also, be sure to choose a destination that fits your family’s travel and accommodation needs.

Create a Facebook page and invite your family members to join, rather than having to send several e-mails or make phone calls. On the page, include a section with up-to-date information on your reunion and share posts regularly with the information. Also, increase participation on the Facebook page by posting about what will be offered at the family reunion and what everyone is most looking forward to. Ask your family members to share old family photos and memories to get excited about the upcoming reunion.

Does your family have a special quote or “inside joke” they enjoy sharing while together? If so, have reunion t-shirts made with the quote and include your family crest or picture with it.

Do not forget to bring your camera and video camera! You can create an Instagram hashtag and ask your family members to post pictures from the reunion using the hashtag. After the event, print the photos off of Instagram, or create an online album of all the pictures.

Decorate for your family reunion using a color scheme throughout your venue in banners, tablecloths, streamers, and any prizes you give away. Does your family agree on a favorite sports team? Use the team’s colors to decorate with! Wanting to theme the reunion with the spring season? Incorporate pastel blues, pinks, purples and greens for a relaxing vibe!

Whether you are visiting with a few close relatives or seeing long-lost cousins, we are here to help you prepare for and enjoy every moment of your reunion!

Do you have any further suggestions or ideas for hosting family reunions? Feel free to let us know!

Trout Foolery in the Smokies

Fly fishing as a premise seems to be hard enough as it is.  Using a long, flexible lever to throw several feet of line connected to an almost weightless imitation of a bug tied out of feathers and fur. All of this to deceive the best sense a fish has his vision.  Whether it is dry or wet fly, or bamboo or graphite, the fly angler makes fooling the fish hard on himself.  The cast takes practice, tying flies is verging on an art form, and gaining the knowledge to do it all right can be a lifelong pursuit.  But the chance to bamboozle a trout at his own game is what keeps anglers of all kinds on the water.

Our experienced Orvis-certified guides at Dancing Bear are more than happy to share their stories of fly fishing adventures with you during the Fly Fishing Weekend held May 10-12! Fly fishing excursions and story-telling will occur at the lodge and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with several activities held throughout the weekend.

For more information on the weekend, visit http://www.dancingbearlodge.com/fly-fishing-weekend.htm