Anyone been to Smoky Mtn National Park?

[matmar]

Have any good tips on what to avoid, see?

[klook]

1. Cades Cove is beautiful

Info here.

Depending on what time of year / week you go, I might suggest avoiding Clingmans Dome, as it can get clogged with tourists during high-traffic times.

If you have time to take a little side trip, the Carl Sandburg home and museum in Flatrock, NC, near Hendersonville (50 mi. from the GSMNP) is a great destination. And as long as you've gone that far, check out Asheville, one of the nicest cities in the U.S.

[RebelOne]

7. Been there. Yes, it is.

But the traffic around the cove can be heavy at times.

[klook]

11. Yeah, that is a drawback at times (n/t)

[Denninmi]

2. Be sure to bring clothing for many types of weather.

I was there in July, just for one night, passing through on our way to S.C. and then Florida. It was a blistering hot day, sticky and humid.

We were camping. Woke up freezing early in the morning, temperature had dropped from the low 90s to 37 degrees. And, we didn't really pack any heavy clothing -- after all, we were in the South in July, who needs heavy clothing?

[ohiosmith]

3. And mosquito repellant. Lots of it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. If you are looking for a place to stay

this is a gorgeous old country inn with great food....if splurging is possible

http://www.prospecthill.com/

[pamela]

5. I'll second Cades Cove

There was a small Native American museum in Cherokee that I enjoyed. Just driving around and exploring the park is nice.

[rrneck]

6. Avoid Gatlinburg. If youre going there

through Nashville try to stay in Rugby.


http://www.historicrugby.org/

[RebelOne]

8. Oh, but I loved Gatlinburg. So many great places to shop. n/t

[rrneck]

9. Well, it's been a long time for me

so maybe its better. Of course, after having lived in Nashville and dealt with a lot of "tourist kitsch" I may have an unfair bias as well.

The restaurant in Rugby had the best slice of lattice top cherry pie I have ever eaten. And since I am on sort of an informal quest to find the best cherry pie in the world, my bias probably shows there too.

[SCantiGOP]

10. every fall

Actually, our annual pilgramage to see the leaves turn is on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which begins at the very edge of the Smokey Mt Park. Asheville is a very cool town, very bohemian with a huge art community. Reminds me of Boulder CO, which is unusual for the Carolinas. Dillsboro and Waynesville on the west end of the parkway are nice towns with several small hotels and B&Bs and excellent restaurants. Check out this site: http://www.blueridgeparkway.org Give it a few seconds and it will load some video of the park and surrounding area.
One of the few redeeming values of living in Columbia SC is that I can be at the beach or the mountains in 2 hours.