Situated on both sides of Tennessee and North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park still remains the most popular national park for every road trip planner. Attracting over nine million adventurers and sightseers every year, it is the most visited national park in the United States. This summer, grab your gear and head off to the massive Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Planning your summer road trip will make you realize that there are so many things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You would most certainly want to experience all of them. The size of the park might pose as overwhelming, but the Smoky Mountain Heritage Driving Tour will surely help you discover the park at your own pace on a self-guided automobile tour. Take your time driving yourself around to seek out landmarks, mountain culture and heritage, the captivating aura of the neighborhoods and, of course, the history of the Smoky Mountains.
If you are looking for a unique way to wander around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then the English Mountain Llama Trek is perfect for you. The llama treks also allow you to move at your own timetable as you are welcome to arrange them for varying lengths of time. You have the option to choose a trekking trip with a picnic or even an overnight stay at one of the cabins and/or campgrounds affiliated with English Mountain Llama Trek. Children six years of age and older can join the treks as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
You can also spice up your summer road trip with an adventurous biking tour around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smoky Mountain Bicycle Tour offers guided and self-guided tours to everyone. Mountain bikes and road bikes are offered for touring the mountains, the historical sights and other scenic areas in and around the park.
There are also horseback riding opportunities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Walden Creek Stables' Mountain Adventure Trail promises nothing but the best time. The four-hour ride will take you through the valley, across the streams and to the top of the mountains where you can enjoy the most breathtaking views.
Note: During the summer months, the horseback rides are scheduled as early as 9 a.m. Should you wish to take the tour at an earlier time, arrangements can be made prior to your desired schedule.
Dare to challenge yourself physically on this summer road trip by conquering the bubbly and frothy whitewater. Raft yourself away with Rafting In The Smokies, which offers you the chance to experience the waters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a very scenic and exhilarating way, even if you have no prior rafting experience. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the summer.
After the very exhilarating whitewater rafting experience, cool off and relax with the Smoky Mountain Angler, the oldest fly fishing guide and outfitter in Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountain Angler is authorized to give fly fishing guided services in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These services are offered to both professional fly fishermen and beginners.
The things you can do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park definitely spells out the words adventure and fun. You can bank it as one of the best summer vacations any road trip planner will have in his or her lifetime!
The Smoky Mountains or ?Smokies? are part of the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States and the whole area is steeped in history, folklore and is incredibly beautiful to boot!
The Smoky Mountain section of the Appalachians was called ?Shaconage? or ?Place of Smoke? (hence the name) by the native American Indians.
Like most places on the planet however the Smokies are not without the risk and threat of environmental damage (some of it caused by humans in the strangest of ways*) caused by either industrial Pollution drifting in the from the Industrial eastern seaboard of the United States and at some times of the year exacerbated by the pollution arising from the vast numbers of cars that drive through the National Park on a regular basis.
It has been said that one of the dangers threatening the Smokies is that they could be ?loved to death?
*The Park has a problem with Wild Boars and even this was caused by man. In 1920, it was alleged that more than 100 wild boars escaped from a private game reserve in Murphy, North Carolina and they have been causing havoc and tearing up the park ever since. In the early years of the 21st Century nearly 100 years later and the problem of the wild boars still has to be solved!
The National Park Service claim the Smokies attracts nearly 10 Million visitors a year and this makes it the most popular national park in the US.
The most popular time of the year and the busiest is the fall when hundreds of thousands of people drive up through the park to view the spectacular autumnal colours. Though not quite as high profile as ?New England in the fall?, the Smokies probably (in fact they do) attracts more visitors.
After the fall, the next busiest part of the year is the springtime. Thanks to the mild mountain air, the wildflowers and other warm weather attractions come into their own. The months of late April and early May are the best times for viewing the wild flowers.
For those wishing to view the spectacular blossoming of the vast amounts of Rhododendrons, then June and July is the time for you. July is statistically the wettest month of the year with sudden and torrential thunderstorms being quite common.
The range of temperatures experienced by visitors to the park is quite wide and it is well worth remembering that the higher you go (you can travel to an altitude of in excess of 6,000 ft) it can get quite cool whilst at the same time lower down (below 3-4,000 ft) the temperatures can regularly reach in excess of 90 degrees.
The park is open all year round and if you plan carefully and well ahead of the busiest weekends then a great and magical experience can be had by everyone.
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