Cades Cove
Eight to ten million people per year visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making it the most visited national park in the United States. Having grown up in the mountains near the Smokies, I’ve had the opportunity to visit the park many times. The beauty of this mountain range has never ceased to amaze me. With each trip, I’ve always seen something new.
Cades Cove, located within the park has always been one of my favorite places to visit. There are several ways to get to Cades Cove. but I prefer the route from Gatlinburg, TN. It’s a 27 mile trip that follows the scenic Little River to the cove. The cove, itself, is a broad and fertile valley surrounded by mountains. Settlers began to move into the cove around 1821, and lived in this secluded valley until the National Park Service took over in 1936.
Cades Cove provides a wide variety of historic treasures such as log homes, barns, churches, and a working grist mill. To fully enjoy the cove, the park service built a one-way 11 mile loop road that circles the valley. You can pull your car off the loop at any point and walk around the historic sites. If you choose, you may also hike any of the several walking trails. Wildlife is abundant in the cove. On almost all of my visits there, I’ve seen bears, deer, wild turkey, and at night, coyotes.
A visitor’s center is located at the half-way mark on the loop road, and a campground with 159 campsites is available and open all year. The campsites accommodate tents and recreational vehicles up to 35 feet in length.
If you’ve never been to the Smokies, be sure to put it on your list of destinations. Respect the few safety rules of the park, and enjoy all these majestic “smoky” mountains have to offer.
read moreSummer Mountain Vacation with your Family
When planning your family mountain vacation, do not rely exclusively on weather forecasts. Nothing is as unpredictable as the weather. You do not want a not-so-friendly weather to mess up your family vacation so always pack prepared for varied elements and know the rules of mountain travel. You can have the best family mountain vacation that your family members will treasure forever. Together with the whole family, choose the best location, come prepared, and you will soon realize that a family mountain vacation can be a real paradise on earth.
Planning family mountain vacations is really great to keep family members connect with each other, especially if they are living separately from each other. You have to find way that can reunite your family back again as one and make sure that your family will really enjoy the summer vacation. So, if you are planning on taking a family mountain vacation, there are helpful tips that can really make your family vacation a very memorable one. Watch what you wear, especially if you are going to be spending most of your mountain vacation out on the slopes or doing something athletic. Invest in a water-wicking stand garments that absorb sweat and wick it away from your skin. These polypropylene-based garments make progress easier and more comfortable and they no longer come in store with a high price. A cotton-based garment for this kind of outdoor activity is not recommended. Drink lots of water and be sure to bring with you an extra bottle during your trek to the mountains.
Your body needs, though it doesn’t always need for more liquids, especially if you are in high altitude. It is very necessary that you refill moisture your body loses through sweating. You can also save yourself from experiencing height sickness by drinking lots of water. Consider the location from all angles keeping in mind the safety and comfort of older and younger family members alike. It is important to choose the location that the older ones can appreciate and enjoy as well as for the younger ones to have some fun.
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