If you’re in the process of planning a family vacation, and especially one your entire family will enjoy, you might consider the Smoky Mountains. The Smoky Mountains are located in East Tennessee as well as part of North Carolina. The Smoky Mountains are considered a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains.

Along with being called the Smoky Mountains, sometimes they’re called the Great Smokies or just the Smokies.

The following are some things to know, reasons to visit, and tips for what to do when you’re in the Smoky Mountains.

Great Smoky National Park

Great Smoky National Park was established in 1934. It currently has more than eleven million visitors each year, and it’s the most visited national park in the country. The park spans for more than 800 square miles along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.

Despite how many visitors it attracts each year, you would never realize it.

It’s quiet, deeply forested and the smoky haze is its namesake.

You’ll find not only woodlands but river valleys and fields of wildflowers (depending on the season).

There are opportunities to spot wildlife, including black bears and elk.

There are so many specific places to go within the park that these could fill their own lengthy lists.

For example, there’s Caves Cove and the nearby Abrams Falls hiking trail. There’s the park’s highest point which is Clingmans Dome, and also Laurel Falls, which is an 80-foot waterfall.

Whether you like a trip that’s more relaxing or adventurous, the park will have something you’ll find appealing. There are easy and more advanced hikes, as well as paddling and white water rafting.

Fall Foliage

If you get the opportunity to visit the Smoky Mountains in the fall, take it. The fall is stunning in the Smoky Mountains—it’s among the best you’ll find anywhere in the country.

The leaves start to change in late September to early October, and the peak is usually by the start of November.

The fall is also the perfect time to enjoy some local festivals like the Smoky Mountains Harvest Festival.

The Smoky Mountains Harvest Festival takes place over five weeks, and it includes Oktoberfest and the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair.

If you want to escape the crowds and enjoy lower prices, don’t go in fall—go in spring instead. The Smoky Mountains spring views are beautiful as well, and in April and May, there are more than 1,500 species of wildflowers in bloom.

The weather is usually in the 70s, so it’s a great time to enjoy the outdoors.

The Arts Community

You may not know it, but there is an eight-mile loop that’s part of historic Gatlinburg that’s a designated Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. It is the largest group of independent artists and artisans in North America, with more than 100 artists studios.

You can watch craftspeople paint, carve, sew and more.

You can also purchase an original piece of art. 

Amusement Parks and Entertainment

There is no shortage of things to keep you occupied near the Smoky Mountains. Two of the most well-known attractions are Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country, but there’s a lot more than that.

For example, there is The Island in Pigeon Forge. The Island is a shopping and entertainment venue with the Margaritaville Island Hotel, the Great Smoky Mountain Ferris Wheel, and lots more family-friendly fun.

There are dinner shows, including the popular Hatfield & McCoy show, and there’s the Titanic Museum.

Also a big hit is the Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge. At this fun-filled attraction, you roll down a hill inside a big transparent ball, and it’s called zorbing.

Gatlinburg has its fair share of attractions much like nearby Pigeon Forge. There is Ober Gatlinburg, which is a longstanding amusement park that also has skiing and snow activities in the winter. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is in Gatlinburg, as is the Gatlinburg Space Needle observation tower.

Recently added was the Gatlinburg Sky Lift Park, where you can take a chairlift ride year-round to get stunning mountain views.

The Mountain Mall is located in Gatlinburg also. It’s an indoor shopping area where you can find themed retailers offering everything from candy to handmade jewelry. The Village Shops are another Gatlinburg shopping destination, and they’re designed to feel like an Old World European shopping venue. Again, the focus is on handcrafted items and southern hospitality and customer service, which are trends you’ll see throughout your time in the Smoky Mountains.

About the Author: Susan is an avid writer, traveler, and overall enthusiast. Follow her on Twitter.

The post The Top Reasons You Should Visit the Smoky Mountains appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Let your mind wander across the rolling mountains of Appalachia that once sprouted with settlements of the early American pioneers. The majestic mountains of rural America can be best witnessed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Head to the Great Smokies to see the wonders of Appalachia in Tennessee!
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Visit the old settlements founded by early pioneers that sprang up across the hills of Appalachia. In the Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee you can experience the earliest days of America from the viewpoint of natural wooded forests and farming homesteads. With over 4 million visits a year, Smoky Mountain National Park is the most popular national park in the United States. Many folks start with the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, an 8 kilometer one-way road that takes you through the most spectacular mountain scenery.

Stop in the Roaring Fork Trials to experience fantastic hikes through scenes of forest and wildlife. You may just spot a deer or even a bear, so keep a lookout on these old homestead trails! Take the scenic drive past the historic cabins and barns that paint the most beautiful views of rolling Appalachia forests. When traveling in spring capture photographs of bountiful blooms. The Great Smoky Mountains are simply irresistible beauty in the fall, when the foliage is lit up in the sun with deep reds, yellows, and shades of orange. Just before Loop Road, check out the daily 19th Century life at Noah Ogle Place. This house once the home to a family of an Appalachian farmer is a great place to get acquainted with pioneer life. Noah “Bud” Ogle was one of the first Euro-American settlers to reach Gatlinburg and set up a homestead with his family.

Mount Le Conte is a popular hiking area, so I suggest you camp inside! Start bright and early when the sun rises and spend the night in a cabin like the early pioneers. At LeConte, take advantage of accessible hiking trails and walk along the mountain streams and seek out the misty Rainbow Falls down the Rainbow Trail. Take another popular trail in LeConte, Alum Cave Trail to witness the splendor of beautiful vistas, quiet wooded areas, and a spectacular sunset on the horizon at dusk. Arch Rock is the perfect place in LeConte for a photograph. Cade’s Cove is another stunning area of Appalachia you won’t want to miss! Travel here to find the old sandstone chipped away to reveal a layer of young limestone left through weathering. But what makes Cade’s Cove the second most sought destination in the park is the well-preserved homesteads of settlers and beautiful mountain views all around. This 6,800 acre valley was occupied by Cherokee Indians long before the settlers came to Tsiyahi or “the place of the river otter.” Once the home for fantastic wildlife such as bison, red wolves and elk, these great beasts have since vanished from the land. Here is the place for mountain laurels, rhododendron blooms, wild turkeys and a world of abundant history. Wildflowers bloom across Cade’s Cove painting a valley over mountains of magnificent Appalachia.

A trip to the Great Smoky Mountains is not complete without a trip to Clingman’s Dome, the highest peak in the park. Hike to the top and stand in awe at the perfect panorama of the Appalachian Mountains. Catch it all in the afternoon after the misty fog settles over the Great Smokies and the endless rolling hills that meet North Carolina in the distance. This breathtaking view is a rare sight of an endless panorama of Appalachia. Before you set out within the park, it’s a great idea to plan ahead before your journey by starting with Sugarland’s Visitor’s Center first and foremost! Check out the museum and gift shop inside and talk to the knowledgeable park rangers within. They will help map out an unforgettable experience complete with comprehensive itinerary!

Be sure to stop in to the Visitor’s Center for all the tips and facts about the forests and trails. When you have hiked all the trials in Appalachia, let your mind be at ease knowing your car is waiting in Parking Heathrow .

Your Appalachian adventure starts today!

About the Author: Lucy West is a keen traveller, writer and often even dabbles in photography. Based in the beautiful Kent countryside she tries to takes time out and to write and is passionate about all things social media. You can contact her at lucy.west@parkbcp.co.uk

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