The Great Smoky Mountains offer something for all kinds of travelers. If you are trying to unwind, the Smokies offer a great break from the fast-paced metropolitan life in major cities. If you are an enthusiast of nature, the Smokies are unrivaled in their natural beauty and biodiversity.
For those who are more adventurous, there are multiple hiking trails to explore and outdoor activities to enjoy here. Finally, if you are a cultural enthusiast, the Great Smoky Mountains offer the opportunity to observe the remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture.
It is a dream destination throughout the year, and this list will help ensure you have everything you need to make the most out of your Smokies experience.
- Make Sure You Take Out Time Specifically For Relaxation
There are many things to do at the Smokies, and for people coming for a short vacation, it will likely be impossible to fit all these activities into your schedule. Vacationers should come to terms with the fact that they can’t fully explore a region as vast as the Great Smoky Mountains instead of over-exerting themselves in fear of missing out.
The allure of the Smokies comes from the contrast it offers in terms of lifestyle for those coming from big cities. The latter is characterized by its frenetic pace and its crowded spaces. The Smokies, on the other hand, offers an opportunity to escape from the fast-paced and often exhausting lifestyle of these larger cities into a more tranquil environment.
Plenty of smaller mountain towns near the Smokies, like Gatlinburg, offer all the amenities found in major cities while offering the peace more commonly enjoyed in the countryside. Visitors can stay in world-class mountain resorts or even rent secluded cabins in Tennessee that offer a more relaxing experience closer to nature. No vacation to the Smokies is complete without dedicating time to unwinding and absorbing the natural beauty around you, so don’t miss out on this experience due to the worry that you will miss out on other things to do.
- Make Sure You Have Your Hiking Gear
The Smoky Mountain range is full of natural landscapes that are worth exploring. The vastness of the mountain range is such that it has a variety of hiking trails that vary in their difficulty and how much physical exertion they require. This means that there is something for everyone to explore, from those traveling with their family and small children to novice explorers looking for something that presents an adventure but isn’t too challenging.
There is the Gatlinburg trail for families, which is even pet-friendly and involves a route where the travelers get to explore part of the Little Pigeon River, encounter the remnants of an old homestead, and the burn scars left by the wildfire in Gatlinburg in 2016.
There is the Rainbow Falls Trail for those novices looking for an adventure. It is a 5.4-mile roundtrip hike, where you rise in elevation by 1500 feet. While tiring, the track is paved such that it is easy for visitors to traverse.
It is essential to pack in a way so you can enjoy hiking. What you need will depend on the difficulty of the routes you choose, but some essentials include having enough water bottles, proper clothes for hiking like track pants and hiking shoes, and a stick. If you are coming from outside the country, you must have a mobile service that enables you to access the internet and contact authorities if you are lost or in danger on any of these routes.
- Make Sure You Are Traveling During The Right Time
The Great Smoky Mountains are an attractive destination for tourists throughout the year, but the kind of adventures they offer vary depending on the season. It is crucial to research and decide beforehand what experience you are looking for and plan your trip accordingly.
In the summer and spring, the Smokies are ideal for vacationers looking to hike and explore the region for its biodiversity and unique species of flora and fauna that it houses. Spring is also great for spotting wildlife, especially newborn babies like elk calves and bear cubs. It is also the tourist season, so expect to be around more tourists if you are coming at this time.
Winter, by contrast, offers a more intimate experience. There will be fewer vacationers around you, and trails, while many may be closed, will usually be less crowded than they are in the summer. Winter is characterized by an opportunity to engage in different kinds of snow-based activities. You can visit Ober Gatlinburg for skiing, snowboarding, and various snow-based rides. It is also a time for one to enjoy the tranquility around them and get snuggly in their cabin, with hot chocolate around a fireplace that keeps them warm and comfy in the winter cold.
- Explore Outside The National Park
While the Smoky Mountains National Park is full of adventures, the different towns that house this vast landscape are also worth exploring. These towns often house unique arts & crafts communities such as the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts community, where local artisans create and sell work that cannot be bought elsewhere.
Finally, there are many festivals and activities, such as the Winterfest, where tourists can drive through Pigeon Forge, surrounded by millions of lights and decorations, creating a winter wonderland.
Exploring these great and historical towns will open you up to experiences of culture, art, history, and food, and it is a must-do on any visit to the Smokies.
Conclusion
There is a near-infinite variety of potential experiences for visitors at the Smokies. This seemingly endless list of things to do can seem daunting for those planning a trip; how can they fully enjoy their experience of such a diverse region within such a limited time? These essential tips will help you navigate this terrain. By planning, ensuring you have everything you need for outdoor activities, taking time out to relax, and exploring beyond the national park, you can guarantee a memorable experience that makes you want to come back and explore the Great Smoky Mountains even more.
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