The Great Smoky Mountains, located along the Tennessee and North Carolina border, are part of the Appalachian Mountains and offers visitors a wealth of hikes and paddling trips. If this is your first time visiting the mountain range, often simply called the Smokies, consider stopping at a National Park Service station for a chat with a park ranger, who can serve as your Great Smoky Mountain travel guide to the abundance of hikes, paddling trips, and other outdoor adventures the park offers.
Things Not to Miss in the Great Smoky Mountains
• When you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, make it a point to wake up early at least one morning to witness the range “smoking”: the fog that gives the range its nickname hangs low in the early hours and is very picturesque.
• Both for your safety and your enjoyment, keep an eye out for local fauna, like white-tailed deer, elk, and black bears.
• Hike the park’s many trails that’ll take you to beautiful waterfalls, past wildflower fields, and through the old growth forests.
When to Go to the Great Smoky Mountains
The range, towering above its surrounding region, has a high annual precipitation, including quite a bit of snow, which can cause unexpected road closures that make Smoky Mountain travel difficult.
Spring, when all the snow has melted except on the mountain peaks and flowers are in full bloom, is the nicest time to travel to the Great Smoky Mountains. The fall is also a great time for a visit, when the leaves change.
-
You Can Hike (or Take a Lexus) Up to Your Luxury Cabin at This New Resort in the Great Smoky Mountains
Situated in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm has been synonymous with rural luxury since it first opened to the public in 1990.... Read More
-
The 25 Best Distilleries in the U.S.
Wine and beer may get more attention, but distilled spirits have a solid place in American culture and history. With how the industry has grown over the... Read More
-
The Top 10 Resort Hotels in the American South
The South is one of the rare places where the touristic clichés — a rich culinary history, warm hospitality, and picturesque scenery, from the loblolly... Read More
-
Hundreds of Mating Fireflies Put on a Dazzling Show in These U.S. Mountains Every Summer
It’s time to get your summer glow on.No, we’re not talking about your tan, we’re talking about fireflies. In the mountains of North Carolina and... Read More
-
13 Affordable Family Vacations to Take This Summer
Summer is right around the corner, and for families thinking of where to plan their next getaway, there are plenty of destinations that won't break the... Read More
-
Taking a Train Through the Great Smoky Mountains Needs to Be on Your Bucket List
If you've never been to the most visited national park in the U.S., you should make a train trip through the Great Smoky Mountains a priority.The... Read More
-
How to Find the Perfect Cabin in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Gatlinburg, Tennessee is one of the best spots to rent a cabin for travelers interested in seeing the Smoky Mountains up close. Positioned on the... Read More
-
Top Labor Day Destinations and What to Do in Them for the Best Weekend Ever
Labor Day is right around the corner, and even though that means fall's cooler temperatures are, too, the long weekend (if you've got it off of work) is... Read More
-
Rent a Cabin With a View for the Best Smoky Mountains Vacation
More than nine million visitors come to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year, and it’s not hard to see why. The Appalachian sub-range... Read More
-
America's Best All-Inclusive Resorts
“I just love having everything paid for up front,” says Renee Pagnani, who has vacationed at the same all-inclusive resort for six years in a row. “It’s... Read More
-
The Can't-miss Sights in 20 National Parks Across the U.S.
When brothers Jim and Will Pattiz visited their first national park four years ago, their lives changed forever.“Stepping foot inside a... Read More
-
This Crime Museum Has Death Masks, Whiskey Stills and More
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is unveiling its latest attraction this week in the form of a long-awaited crime museum called Alcatraz East.“It combines... Read More
-
Dollywood Is Donating $1,000 a Month to Gatlinburg Fire Victims
Dollywood, a theme park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, partially owned by Dolly Parton, announced its plans to set up a fund for victims of recent wildfires,... Read More
-
How to Help Those Affected by the Gatlinburg Wildfires
As wildfires continue to blaze in eastern Tennessee near Gatlinburg, some of the 14,000 people who were forced to evacuate their homes have begun to... Read More
-
Wildfires Tear Through Eastern Tennessee, Threatening Homes and Hotels
At least 14,000 people have evacuated Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and 100 buildings have been destroyed as wildfires continue to blaze across the eastern... Read More
