Get Outdoors in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina

Spring has sprung, and everyone is anxious to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Well, there are so many ways to do this. You can go on a picnic, hiking, camping, swimming, or just got to the mountains and have family fun.

In East Tennessee we are famous for our Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Let me tell you, if you have never been, you are missing some great fun.

From grist mills to churches to schools, barns, and homes of early settlers there are seventy eight structures of historic nature to see.

With over 800 miles of short and long stretches of hiking trails, the park is a hiker's paradise. Yet, if hiking is not your thing, there is car camping, fishing, touring by automobile, picnicking, and/or just viewing the wildlife.

The Smokies have the most biological diversity of anywhere in the world's temperate zone. This means that they have anything from large animals (bear...of which there are over 1,500; deer; elk et cetera) down to the very smallest of microscopic organisms.

If you are not really into the animals, you may want to check out the wildflowers that grow in the park. There are over 1,660 flowering plants known to be growing in the Smokies. This is the largest number than any other national park in Northern America. The best part is that blooming flowers can be found almost all year round in the Smokies.

The elevation of the Smokies range from 800 to 6,643 feet and is known to have a moderate climate from mild winters to hot and humid summers. However, due to the large difference in elevation range, the weather can really be effected. 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit can separate the temperature from the base to the peak of the mountain. Thus, sun at the base does not mean sun at the peak.

One of the most popular attractions in the Smokies is Cades Cove. Cades Cove has beautiful breath taking mountains surrounding a lush green rich valley. If you wish to see deer, here is the place. There is hardly ever a time they are not seen in the fields in Cades Cove. Another attraction to find here is buildings dating back to the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Cades Cove is an 11 mile one way loop and is very highly traveled in summer and fall and all year round on weekends.

If you are not interested in sitting in a car to do your touring, then take a horse. Guided horseback riding adventures are available from mid-March to late November. There are four horseback riding concessions to choose from. The rides generally take 45 minutes to several hours.

If you do not want a sore behind and would rather eat, then take a picnic and Frisbee and visit one of the following places: Cades Cove, Chimney Tops, Big Creek, Deep Creek, Metcalf Bottoms, and other sites to sit and enjoy a picnic with your family and friends. Some of the sites remain open year round while others close in the winter.

Now to work off that wonderful food from the picnic, you may want to go hiking. One of the most popular hikes is 8 miles long (round trip) and is located on the Appalachian Trail and ends up in what is known as Charles Bunion.

If none of this sounds appealing, there are a lot more activities to be found in the Smokies. Just simply visit www.nps.gov for more information, schedules, hours of operation, and other helpful tips and advice.

Have fun!

Source: Personal knowledge and www.nps.gov