The Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Driving down scenic highway is just beautiful. Though increase in the gas prices, still people prefer to go driving.No trip is complete without a visit to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, whether you’re just going to the visitor center, exploring a waterfall, finding a trailhead or simply country cruising the mountainous road, the park itself is a great place to enjoy an afternoon drive.

The most popular park in the United States, Great Smoky Mountains National park offers a taste of wilderness to more than nine million visitors annually.

Here are some of the few popular scenic drives around the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Cades Cove loop road is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This road opens at sunrise and closes at the dusk. The loop provides excellent opportunity to witness wildlife. Cades Cove Loop is also the access point for the popular day hike. From the loops you can exit early using scenic RICH MOUNTAIN ROAD of Great Smoky Mountain National Park which take you Towns end or Parsom Branch Road.The horses, which are trained notto gallop, provide a docile ride that is appropriate for children and inexperienced riders.

Enjoy the farm: Behind the Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s Oconaluflee visitors center is the mountain farm museum. It includes a collection of authentic, historic structures culled from farms throughout the Great Smoky Mountain. The museum included a log farmhouse, an apple house and sorghum mill and furnace. Rangers maintain the livestock and crop fields to show what farm life were like generation ago.

Picnic along a stream: Pack some food and take a meal break at Chimney Top Picnic Area, as striking smoky mountain flows through the site. Before and after your picnic consider stopping at the nearby chimney tops overlook, which offers dramatic view or hike the chimney Tops Trail and revel in the sights during  the steep ascent of Sugarland Mountain.

Gatlinburg is also a home to many scenic and accessible spots in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It’s a great way to relax and unwind during your vacation.

Back country campers need a free backcountry permit. They are availablestations and visitors centres. Anyone staying in the backcountry must camp a designated site or shelter. Over 100 sites and shelters are located in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Camper’s need to make a reservation to stay in all 16 shelters and 14 other sites.

Fishing:Anglers 13 years and older need a valid Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license to fish in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park doesn’t sell license.

Food and supplies: Limited food and supplies are available in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There is a small campground at Cades Cove. LeConte Lodge serves meals to overnight guest. Gateway communities around the Great Smoky Mountain National Park provide food services and supplies. The Cades Cove campground stores offers seasonal limited grocery, souvenir services as well as bicycle and helmet rentals.

Enjoy an exciting 6.5 mile raft trip down class 3 and class 4 rapids through the heart of smoky mountain. The certified guides will navigate your raft during the entire trip, by going splashing through the big waves, manoeuvring around rocks and enjoying the beauty of being in the great outdoors. Big waves, big drops and plenty of surfing will assure that you have the time of your life. Trips go rain or shine, but never fear the BIG PIGEON River. It is for the inexperience and experienced paddlers.

Food, wine and nightlifein Great Smoky Mountains national Park:Enjoy a 4 hour tour exploring moonshine and wine distilleries with your friendly and professional guide. This tour is a history lesson, a sightseeing tour, and a wine’n shine tasting tour wrapped up in a convenient package.