7 Fun Things To Do In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Dec 29, 2023

Last Updated on: Feb 13, 2025

Destinations

Located in the rolling hills of the Southern Appalachians, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a haven of natural beauty and a treasure trove of outdoor activities. Spanning across Tennessee and North Carolina, this national park attracts millions of visitors each year, drawn by its lush forests, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural history. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, a wildlife enthusiast, or just someone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, the Great Smoky Mountains offer something for everyone.

From scenic drives to tranquil hikes, the park’s varied landscapes promise unforgettable adventures. In this article, we’ll explore seven fun and exciting things to do in this majestic national park. Each activity is a doorway to the unique charm and splendor of the Smokies, guaranteeing an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Exploring Cades Cove

One of the park’s most beloved areas is Cades Cove, a verdant valley surrounded by mountains and steeped in history. Here, visitors can take a step back in time as they explore the preserved homesteads, churches, and barns of early settlers. The 11-mile, one-way loop road around the cove offers stunning views and is perfect for a leisurely drive or bicycle ride, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when wildlife is most active. You can often spot deer, black bears, and wild turkeys in this area, making it a prime spot for wildlife viewing. Additionally, several trails, such as the Abrams Falls Trail and the Cades Cove Nature Trail, offer more intimate encounters with the area’s natural beauty. Whether you’re capturing the scenic landscapes with your camera or simply soaking in the tranquility, Cades Cove is a must-visit destination within the park.

Hiking To Clingman Dome

Another highlight of the Great Smoky Mountains is Clingman Dome, the highest point in the park and all of Tennessee. Standing at 6,643 feet, it offers panoramic views that are simply breathtaking. The journey to the top begins with a steep half-mile walk on a paved trail, which, though challenging, is rewarding with its sweeping vistas.

At the top, the observation tower provides 360-degree views of the smokies, with visibility up to 100 miles on clear days. The cool, spruce-fir forest that surrounds Clingmans Dome is a refreshing change from the lower elevations and is home to a variety of birds and plants unique to the area. The best times to visit are either early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds and to fully embrace the serene beauty of the mountains.

Experiencing The Appalachian Trail

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a proud part of the famous Appalachian Trail, a long-distance footpath that stretches over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. Within the park, the trail spans about 70 miles and offers a range of hiking experiences. For those not ready for a multi-day hike, day hikes to Charlies Bunion, a rocky outcrop with exceptional views, or to the Max Patch, a bald mountain with 360-degree mountain vistas, are great options. Hiking on the Appalachian Trail is like walking through a living museum of natural history. You might see blooming wildflowers in spring, hear the song of warblers in summer, or watch leaves change colors in fall. It’s a must-do for hikers, offering a chance to connect with nature and experience the beauty of the mountains.

Wildlife Watching Opportunities

Wildlife watching is a favorite activity in the park. The national park is home to a diverse range of animals, including black bears, elk, white-tailed deer, and numerous bird species. Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley are excellent spots for wildlife viewing, especially in the early morning or late evening. Remember to keep a safe distance from all wildlife and use binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens for a closer look. Spring and fall are particularly good times to see animals as they are more active during these seasons.

Enjoying Picnicking And Camping

Picnicking and camping in the Great Smoky Mountains are great ways to immerse yourself in the park’s natural beauty. There are several picnic areas throughout the park, many of which are beside streams or rivers, offering a peaceful setting for a meal outdoors. For a more extended stay, the park offers a variety of camping options, from developed campgrounds with amenities to backcountry sites for those seeking a more rustic experience.

Camping under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of nature, is an excellent way for families and friends to connect and create lasting memories. Make sure to book your campsite in advance, especially during peak seasons, and always follow the park’s guidelines for storing food and waste to protect wildlife.

Horseback Riding Adventures

For a different perspective of the park, consider a horseback riding adventure. Several stables within the park offer guided horseback rides, which typically last one to four hours. Riding through the forest on horseback is a relaxing and enjoyable way to explore the park’s natural beauty. You’ll pass through lush forests and cross streams and maybe even spot some wildlife along the way. No prior horseback riding experience is necessary, making this a great activity for the whole family. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for a safe and comfortable ride.

Visiting Historic Buildings And Museums

The Great Smoky Mountains are not only rich in natural beauty but also in cultural history. The park preserves numerous historic buildings, including log cabins, barns, churches, and grist mills, which offer a glimpse into the life of early Appalachian settlers.

The Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill near Cherokee and the historic buildings in Cades Cove provide educational and interesting experiences for visitors of all ages. Walking through these historic sites, you’ll feel a connection to the past and gain an appreciation for the early settlers’ way of life. These sites are easily accessible and provide a perfect opportunity to learn about the park’s history and culture.

Wrapping Up

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a place of endless wonder and exploration. From the historic trails of Cades Cove to the breathtaking heights of Clingmans Dome, this park has something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat in nature or an adventurous exploration of the outdoors, the Smokies offer a unique and unforgettable experience.

Remember to respect the park and its inhabitants, preserve its natural beauty, and, most importantly, enjoy the incredible experiences it offers. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not just a destination; it’s an adventure that calls you back time and again.

Read Also:

Share on Social Media

Barsha Bhattacharya is a senior content writing executive. As a marketing enthusiast and professional for the past 4 years, writing is new to Barsha. And she is loving every bit of it. Her niches are marketing, lifestyle, wellness, travel and entertainment. Apart from writing, Barsha loves to travel, binge-watch, research conspiracy theories, Instagram and overthink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

title-img Related

READ MORE Peaceful Holidays Abroad

7 Things To Take Care Of To Ensure Peaceful Holidays Abroad

BY  Barsha Dec 20, 2023

Traveling abroad for the first time is truly an unmatched experience. Not only are you surrounded by a completely different culture, but you also encounter new people, try peculiar dishes, hear unique languages, and visit various locations you’ve never seen before. While going overseas is a great way to spend holidays, you should be aware of possible safety concerns before you depart. After all, safety is a key element of any peaceful journey. Here are some essential tips to consider for an adventure you’ll never forget. Purchase A Suitable Travel Insurance Like many people, you probably have basic health insurance already. Thus, you might ignore the fact that it will not cover even a fraction of possible costs abroad. Unfortunately, any traveler can get injured or face a sickness. It’s possible to encounter other issues, too, like theft or fraud. Chances are, none of these are under the insurance you use domestically, meaning the coverage will cost a fortune in a new region unless you have travel insurance. In case you’re traveling for work, ask your company to pick a proper coverage plan for the term of your journey. If not, insure your life and belongings yourself before you leave to have peace of mind throughout the trip. Prepare Copies Of Your Documents You need your documents and other essential items when traveling abroad. That includes your passport or any other identification card, travel insurance, tickets or booking papers, and visas. It’s recommended that you leave the originals somewhere secure in the hotel room or Airbnb, opting to carry a photocopy with you. This way, if your phone runs out of battery, you still have access to important documents on hand without compromising the physical originals. Additionally, make sure you create the electronic copies and store them in your email inbox – it will allow you to log in and retrieve them at any time from any spare device. Get A Doctor'S Checkup And Important Vaccinations  Don’t ignore physical checkups before you depart for your destination. Even with health insurance, you still have to make sure you’re in the right condition for a long holiday journey. Depending on your country of choice, you might need to get a few vaccinations required for entrance. Shield Yourself As You Surf The Internet  Download a reliable antivirus software or update it if you already have one. In addition to the classic firewall protection, it will let you access any website or service securely. In the case when you’d like to be even more shielded, opt for a VPN for travel. It will allow you to use all sorts of unprotected free WiFi networks without any hassle, encrypting your connection through a third-party server. Not only will you hide your IP address, but you will also be able to reach location-restricted data. For example, watch shows from other regions on streaming platforms. Pay Attention To Your Belongings It’s generally recommended to not wear any expensive or flashy clothes, jewelry, or similar belongings when you travel. The same goes for high-end technology like phones, cameras, and other devices. Although you’d want to have incredible pictures from your destination, it will attract unwanted attention, especially that of pickpockets. And they already target tourists in busy areas regularly! If you still want to show off a little, be aware of your surroundings. Don’t put any important items in your back pockets. Avoid wearing backpacks, or try to wear them in the front. Opt for bags with several closures, prioritizing zippers. Keep your purse close when taking public transportation and moving through a busy street. When traveling, you’ll be moving around fairly quickly, from restaurants and attractions to coffee shops and hire suits. It’s common for people to leave their stuff behind on accident. Every time you change locations, look behind and observe whether you’ve got everything you need. If possible, leave your bags on your body while walking around the destination until you’re back in the hotel. Be Smart With Your Money Creating a budget for holidays goes without saying. Yet, you should be careful with the ways you store and handle the finances you prepare. First of all, if needed, carry only a small amount of cash with you, while the rest stays in your hotel room. Secondly, don’t withdraw large amounts of cash in a busy street and hide your login information when you do so. And third, use only legal and well-known currency exchange funds and ATMs. If you only use cards, choose a credit card instead of debit. Credit cards help you save more and are a lot safer if you’re ever a target of identity theft or other data breaches. In that case, you’ll be able to keep the amount of credit even if the investigation doesn’t go as planned. Using a debit card, on the other hand, can result in losing access to your funds for up to a month. Prepare For The Case Of Data Breach While you should get your documents ready in an electronic format and send them to your email as a backup option, don’t keep them in your device folders. Before going on a trip, delete all personal information, including photos of identification documents and financial PINs, and turn off access to saved passwords. Preferably, choose a good password manager to hide that data in the case of a breach or theft. Turn on two-factor authentication for all profiles and services. Thanks to this feature, cybercriminals won’t take control of your information even if they eventually find your password. They’ll still need a personal confirmation from you (in the form of a second unique code) to log into the account since a password alone won’t be enough. Finally, Are Ready To Travel Abroad At last, you are completely safeguarded. Your sensitive data is encrypted online; you know how to keep your belongings safe, what documents to take along, and how to prepare yourself for a trip abroad. After following all seven steps, you’re all set for a peaceful journey just in time for the holidays, with no hassles arising. Now, you can be sure neither your money nor personal information will be stolen, be it in person or online, as both are fully guarded by your thorough approach. Read Also: Vrbo.com – Best Review By Users In 2022 Hotwire.Com – Best Review By Users In 2022 Where To Stay In Key West? | Tour And Travel Guide [2022]

READ MORE card-img

The Perfect Destination For Adventure Enthusiasts In Jamaica- Yaaman Adventure

BY  Abdul Aziz Sep 22, 2020

Introduction Are you looking to have a fun-filled time with your family on your next trip to picturesque Jamaica? Do you know that Yaaman Adventure boasts of some great fun-filled activities, which you can do with your entire family? Have you tried shore excursions, or swimming with the dolphins, or even a camel ride in your life? Whenever we go for a vacation, we always expect that the destination should be able to satisfy everyone. This means that whether you are traveling with friends, family, or with your partner, you would always want to create memorable memories. Most of us who plan travel to exotic destinations often feel let down on this front. Either you end up spending hours and hours on the beach or relaxing at the hotel spa. If you are lucky, you might get access to some water sports. In this article, we are going to look at one of the hottest and most exciting additions to Jamaica’s idyllic tourist landscape- Yaaman Adventure. We will discuss why the destination should be a top priority for you when you are planning your next travel vacation. Yaaman Adventure: What is it? Spread over a thousand acres in the Jamaican town of Ocho Rios, Yaaman Adventure is an agricultural cum adventure resort. In a very few years, it has emerged as the chosen destination for things to do in Jamaica for thousands of families from the USA, Canada, and other parts of the world. Originally built as a vast agricultural estate, the adventure park boasts of vast plantations of coffee, banana, sugarcane, allspice, and cassava among others. If you are someone who loves to be one with nature, you will love Yaaman Adventure. However, when we travel with our families or friends, we have often seen that individuals have different interests. While you might be someone who loves sitting back in plantations and slowing things down, others might want to do something. Which pumps their adrenaline. Yaaman Adventure has got you handsomely covered on that front as well. Whether you want to go trekking on thousand acres on a camel ride or do some mud buggy rides or want to enjoy some cuddles with dolphins, Yaaman Adventure has you covered. List of Fun-Filled Activities at Yaaman Adventure In this section, we will breakdown some of the best activities, you and your family can do at the highly famous adventure destination. 1. ATV and Mud Buggy Adventure Rides- Do you enjoy the thrill of sliding sideways in high horsepower ATVs? If that is something, which gets your adrenaline pumping, you should definitely visit Yaaman Adventure. The resort boasts of a great dirt trail for you to send ATVs and Mud Buggies into small dirt hills at high speeds. This is definitely one of the top activities in Jamaica for friends traveling. 2. Secret White River Cruises- Imagine proposing to your would-be-wife or your future husband, going down a scenic river late evening with the moon and the stars for company. The White River is one of the most exotic attractions at the Yaaman Adventure Park. It is serene, magical and the perfect way to explore the natural beauty and the tropical paradise, that is Jamaica. 3. Swimming with Dolphins- If you have ever been to a Dolphin show at the local aquarium, you will love Yaaman Adventure. This is because, at the park, dolphins move around and swim with you in a very natural habitat. This is quite unlike the small spaces that you see at aquariums and water parks. Children love interacting, cuddling, and spending time with these majestic creatures. 4. Tractor Trail Explorations- Whenever we travel, most of us want to leave the busy developed city life behind. This is why Yaaman Adventure allows you to explore a thousand acres of its rustic wilderness onboard a tractor. Go through forests, hills, dirt trails, and explore the length and breadth of the park on top of a tractor. This is an experience you have to live to believe. 5. Food and Cooking Tour- Most of us have at some point or the other loves and tried Jamaican Jerk Chicken. However, what if we get a chance to prepare the same on a pristine white sand beach from the locals themselves? Yaaman Adventure has a secret trick up its sleeve for people looking for a surreal gastronomic experience. Experience Jamaican cuisine at its best at the park. In addition to the above experiences, bird watchers will fall in love with thousands of species of exotic birds, which call the resort their home. You can also take a trek on camel-back and explore the island in all its rustic glory. In addition, there are multiple shore excursions in Jamaica, which you can be a part of. The Beauty of Nature at Yaaman Adventure: Have you ever paused to think about why we seek out naturally beautiful destinations for our vacations? While some of us like to visit bustling cities with great nightlife, others seek out nature’s solitude. As a travel destination, Yaaman Adventure has been able to blend the needs and fulfill satisfaction levels of travelers of both kinds. If you want to do something exciting, high on adrenaline and adventurous, there are many attractions on the island to satisfy your cravings. However, if you want to relax, sit back, unwind, and enjoy a paradise-like idyllic experience, the park offers you that as well. This is what has consistently made Yaaman Adventure the most sought after destination for families. Even if you are traveling with your friends or your girlfriend, the park offers a lot of interesting attractions for everyone. The locals are friendly, hospitable, and invite you to learn more about their culture, traditions, food cuisine, entertainment, and a host of other things. The Final Word If you are planning your next getaway, you should definitely take a serious look at the magical Yaaman Adventure Park. It is also important to point out that the management of the park pays very close attention to safety and hygiene during COVID-10 times. You can rest assured that all hygiene and sanitation facilities are paid heed to down to the last detail. There is only one thing you will be disappointed about after you leave Yaaman Adventure- the sadness of the vacation at the park coming to an end! Read Also: 7 Key Points Remember While Planning Your Honeymoon Trip 3 Ways To Enjoy Spring At Zion National Park Top Ten Southern Africa Off-The-Beaten-Path Adventures Planning A Hunting Trip To Africa – Here’s What You Should Know Top 12 Amazing Sahara Desert Animals You Need To See

READ MORE Christmas Helicopter Flight Experience!

47% Off Wonderdays Exclusive Christmas Helicopter Flight Experience

BY  Ankita Dec 15, 2023

In the spirit of the festive season, Wonderdays offers an unmatched treat for the daredevils and explorers. Get ready for a thrilling 12-mile helicopter trip that you can now have at 47% discount off. Discover the sky this Christmas and make ever-living dreams. That’s what makes flying during the holiday season exceptional. What is more exciting than flying over the scenic panorama while watching below a world in its winter’s glory? Wonderdays, the leading curators of unique life experiences, invites you to an excursion of a lifetime. Exclusive Spectacle To Matchless Offer Undoubtedly, a 12 mile helicopter flight experience is not an ordinary experience. It’s an avenue for being exposed to how life is perceived from the outlook of the daring and adventurous world. This is more exciting with the Christmas Special offer by Wonderdays. For those who would like to explore this exciting adventure at a reasonable price, you can enjoy a huge 47% discount on this thrilling escapade as you prepare to celebrate this holiday season. Immersive Journey Through The Skies This journey starts as you are taken up to the skies in a modern aeroplane by experienced pilots. Your departure into the air above is a loud roar and the hum of the rotor blades excitedly. In the landscape lies winter’s grace, its frosted fields, sparkling rivers, and snow-draped forest below you. The helicopter gently hovers over legendary places giving you a view that is seldom seen. A rush of pure excitement runs through your heart. The wintry backdrop offers a canvas for natural beauty that ranges from the majesty of rolling hills to the serenity of winding rivers from each moment. The experience is more than a flight, it is a symphony of sights that you will never forget. Unforgettable Memories, Unmatched Value However, this Christmas special offer from Wonderays is not only about getting this cheap price- it is about creating lasting memories. It’s not simply about giving up material gifts, but rather about having an experience bigger than any present could be. It is a chance to seize the heart-remembered moments that last forever to re-echo jubilation of celebratory days. This is an exceptional chance whether you’re a thrill-seeking adventurous or looking for an extraordinary gift. Now, the twelve-mile trip is calling for a Christmas experience that is beyond ordinary but memorable. Book Your Skyward Adventure It is simple to secure your place for this magical experience. To book a flight using Wonderdays visit its official website or reach out to authorised partners and agents. Have an unforgettable Christmas by choosing one of the vacant slots. Conclusion: Elevate Your Festive Celebrations Lift up this festive season celebration with 47% off at Wonderdays’ 12-mile helicopter experience. Ditch the old-fashioned way, and fly over the winter paradise. Do not overlook this chance to indulge yourself or your loved one with a venture that elevates the ordinary. This Christmas, let the skies be your playground. Book now! In summation, Wonderday’s Christmas special offer for the 12-mile helicopter flight is more than just adventure; it’s a memory that never ends after the festivity dies up. Read Also: November Trips In 2023: From London To The World Zanzibar Or Oman: Which Do The Hungarian Tourists Like?