Discover the Smokies by Trail, Train or Tube To walk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is to follow in the footsteps of the Cherokee Indians; living on this land for more than 14,000 years. Because of the great efforts of many, today the 520,000-acre Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GSMNP) is protected forever. And today all of us can stand atop Clingman’s Dome and see the same
See why our mountains create the biggest bouquet of flowers you may ever find. The lush forests and temperate weather of Asheville's mountains create a mind-boggling kaleidoscope of flowering plants. And many of them cannot be found anywhere else in the world! For an interactive look at what flowers are blooming when, see our Asheville wildflower bloom schedule. Here are some of my favorite
Pack a Picnic for Cataloochee Valley A quick trip to the gorgeous Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains offers big rewards. The biggest is getting a close-up view of the majestic elk that weigh up to 900 pounds, making them the largest animals in the park. The large meadows by the roadside allow for easy watching as the elk roam, graze and interact. Elk roamed the Appalachian Mountains
George Masa, Horace Kephart and the History of Great Smoky Mountains National Park There was drama in the mountains of Western North Carolina back in the 1920s and 1930s, and it had nothing to do with prohibition and moonshine. One need only read Serena , Ron Rash’s riveting novel set in the region’s rich timber country (or see the movie starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence)
Waterfalls for All Occasions With hundreds of beautiful cascades near Asheville, where do you begin? Here’s a quick sampler to get you started. These 10 locations represent a diverse range of options, so there’s something for everyone. Tallest: Upper Whitewater Falls Walk a quarter-mile paved trail (accessible for wheelchairs or scooters) to see the mighty Upper Whitewater
Pair Your Picnic With Delicious Vistas Feed your eyes with spectacular views and your ears with serene sounds of nature with an al fresco meal that you will never forget. Before you head out to the great outdoors for your picnic, pick up a picnic basket from The Rhu or Asheville Picnic Company, and treat yourself to a charcuterie spread to-go from Gather 'Round Charcuterie. Asheville
