the Travel Enthusiast
- 03 Aug
itachan in Travel Planning | 1 COMMENTSummer travel in the Geat Smoky Mountains
photo by arsheffield
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the border between Tennessee and Northern Carolina is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the US, and not only a World Heritage Site but also an International Biosphere Reserve.
The park is huge, it is in the vicinity of several large cities, and it can be visited year round, so it is no surprise that it is one of the most visited national parks in the US. If you like spending time in the wild but yo don’t want to retreat into a remote corner of the planet, then the Great Smokies are just the place for you. Take advantage of what’s left of the warm season, and take a tour of this amazing place – so here are some tips for summer travel in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Weather, flora and fauna
photo by pfly
Some people might say that summer is not the best season to visit the Smokies because the weather tends to be hot and humid with occasional showers and even thunderstorms in the afternoon. However, if you are not bothered by a bit or rain now and then (and if you take a good raincoat with you, you won’t even get wet), summer is very pleasant in the Smokies, thanks to the incredible plant and animal life.
One tip to avoid the potential rain and dog days is to go to a higher altitude, where the weather is much milder.
Getting around
If you go by car, then you can visit parts of the park by car, but if you want to take full advantage of the scenery, walking is strongly recommended. There are countless trails in the park, and you can get maps of the park at one of the visitor centers (where you can check to see if there are any ranger-lead walks available too). You can walk along the Appalachian trail, but there are many more more miles of walking and hiking trails.
- Flights
- Hotels
- Packages
- Cars
- Cruises
travel search by Travelgrove (get this widget)Things to see and do
photo by Carl Wycoff
The greatest attractions of the park are, of course, the Smokies themselves. There are endless opportunities for hikes on the crests of mountains, sitting and watching the sun set over the peaks, visit waterfalls or explore historic areas.
The panoramas, rushing mountain streams, interesting flora and wildlife never get boring, but if you prefer to keep active then you can occupy your time with fishing, horseback riding or visiting historic buildings. If you are hoping to catch a glance of some wild animals, try Cataloochee and Cades Cove where you might see elks, black bear, raccoon, turkeys, or woodchucks.
You might also like
© Copyright 2004 - 2024 Travelgrove, Inc.
I would love to travel in this place sometime. It looks so refreshing and peaceful. This place is good for people who want to take a break from the cities busy life and just enjoy the beauty of nature.