In August 2017, John and I embarked on our next National Park Trip, this time heading South to South Carolina and Tennessee. We flew into Charlotte, North Carolina and immediately started the one hour and forty-minute drive to Congaree National Park in Hopkins, South Carolina. We weren't sure what to expect entering Congaree, and what we got was a swamp and lots of bugs. We headed up the walk way to the Visitor Center and immediately encountered two massive spiders. easily the largest either of us had ever seen. We decided to walk along the boardwalk trail, where, when we weren't slapping mosquitos or gnats we were searching for remotely interesting things to look at in the swamp lands surrounding us. We had no such luck. We finished the trail and tried to make the best of it, but unless you share our goal in seeing all 60 Parks, do not bother planning a trip to Congaree. With that being said, we checked another Park off our list and continued on to Tennessee.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border and is the most visited U.S. National Park. It averages 9.5 million visitors a year. Popular options for lodging close to the park include Gatlinburg on the Tennessee side, and Pigeon Forge in North Carolina. John and I chose to stay in Gatlinburg during our visit. We decided to rent a small cabin up in the mountains (through homeaway.com) rather than somewhere on the main drag, which I am glad we did. Due to the park's popularity, Gatlinburg is quite a tourist destination, home to Ripley's Believe it or Not Museums, arcades, candy stores and more gift/souvenir shops than you can count. The sidewalks were constantly packed with people and the traffic was constant. John and I were happy to retreat to our small, quiet cabin at night.
 |
| In case you were wondering why they're called the Great Smoky Mountains.... |
Great Smoky is a very drive-able park, meaning you can see many of its attractions from inside your car. However, if you have the time I recommend getting out of the car and exploring the park on foot as well. Our favorite hike in this park was the Alum Cave Trail. It was a difficult, yet rewarding 4.4-mile hike, which leads you through a large rock arch on the way to the outstanding view looking out of Alum Cave. We also planned on hiking the Chimney Tops Trail (the most popular hike in the park) but, due to a recent forest fire, the entire area was closed during our visit. The trail up to Clingman's Dome is a short (.5-mile), but steep climb to the highest point in the park. The views are breathtaking, but be prepared for crowds and difficult parking when you go.
 |
| Clingman's Dome |
Cades Cove is a valley found within Great Smoky Mountains National Park which was first settled by European settlers between 1818 and 1821. Cades Cave Loop Road provides visitors an opportunity to see first-hand pioneer homesteads, barns, churches and mills restored to their 19th century appearances. The 11-mile loop road is a great way to spot white-tailed deer and black bears, as well. Great Smoky Mountain is the largest protected bear habitat in the East and is home to over 1,500 bears. While John and I were on a horseback ride in Cades Cove, a mother black bear and her two cubs casually walked across the trail right behind our horses. We were not too far yet from the busy barn or road, but the bears were not phased by us or the horses. It was a surreal experience. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is absolutely worth the trip, just plan on going into it with the mindset that it is going to be crowded.
 |
| Picturesque views from the Cades Cove Loop Road |
National Park Rankings:
1. Arches National Park
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3. Canyonlands National Park
4. Shenandoah Valley National Park
5. Capitol Reef National Park
6. Mesa Verde National Park
7. Congaree National Park
No comments:
Post a Comment