Trip Types
Guides organized by the kind of trip you are taking: beach vacations, national parks, road trips, cruises and family travel, each planned hour by hour and dollar by dollar.
Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip
A five-leg Smoky Mountains road trip loop through Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, Cherokee, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, Chimney Rock, Sliding Rock, Pretty Place and Oconee…
Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville to Cherokee
The Blue Ridge Parkway’s southern 85 miles from Asheville to Cherokee, stop by stop, with drive time, tunnel count, and real road-condition notes from someone…
Best Things to Do in Townsend, TN
Townsend TN is the quiet western gateway to the Smokies — the Wye, Tuckaleechee Caverns, tubing on the Little River, and the fastest way into…
Things to Do in Cherokee NC
Cherokee NC is the Smoky Mountains’ quietest gateway and the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Here’s what to see, from Oconaluftee’s elk…
Smoky Mountains With Kids
The Smoky Mountains with kids works best with Cades Cove, the Oconaluftee elk field, and a Junior Ranger badge — here’s the plan that actually…
Best Time to Visit the Smoky Mountains
Fall color, spring wildflowers, or synchronous fireflies — here’s the month-by-month breakdown for timing a Smoky Mountains trip around what you actually want to see.
Caves Near the Smoky Mountains
Seven real show caves near the Great Smoky Mountains, compared on tour length, price, temperature, and which ones offer camping, verified on each operator’s own…
Craggy Gardens Hiking Trails
Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway has two short trails, a rhododendron bald, and a visitor center with the only water refill in the…
Mount Mitchell State Park
Mount Mitchell State Park hours, entrance fee, the three summit trails, camping and current restaurant status, all sourced from the park’s own site.
Gatlinburg vs Pigeon Forge
Gatlinburg is the walkable town at the park’s front door; Pigeon Forge is the bigger, cheaper base built around Dollywood. Here’s how to pick between…
Best Campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains
Every frontcountry campground in the Smokies costs $30 a night and books through Recreation.gov. Here’s how the ten compare, plus where to find weekly and…
Best Waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains
Ramsey Cascades, Grotto Falls, Rainbow Falls, Abrams Falls, Hen Wallow Falls, and Mingo Falls, ranked by length, difficulty, and height — plus why Laurel Falls…
