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Life Author: Admin User
Summer travel in the Smokies Our U.S. National Park Service provides the most breathtakingly beautiful eco-getaways from sea to shining sea. Celebrate your independence and beat the heat by taking a local eco-getaway in any one of our magnificent U.S. National Parks, like the Great Smoky Mountains. The establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75 years ago was no small feat; it was a grassroots movement in the 1920s and ‘30s that was a true labor of love. Much of the painstaking work was accomplished by citizens in Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC who longed to see their mountains protected and local economies energized by having a "crown jewel" national park in their back yard. Unlike Yellowstone, the Smokies had to be purchased tract by tract from big timber companies and small farmers. The money to do so was generated from private contributions or grants from the states of North Carolina or Tennessee. While protecting over 800 square miles of mountains and rivers, and preserving a safe haven for more than 15,000 different species of plants and animals, Great Smoky National Park welcomes over 9 million visitors each year, more than any other national park. Water and higher ground often draws summer hikers as temperatures are a cool 10-15 degree F lower than our low-lying areas; rushing streams and waterfalls provide natural cooling on a sultry southern day. A triple-shot of waterfalls not to be missed can be found at the Deep Creek area: Juney Whank, Tom Branch, and Indian Creek. Located about 3 miles from downtown Bryson City, NC, the Deep Creek area provides miles of beautiful hiking trails, a campground, picnic area, mountain stream, and three pretty waterfalls. Beat the holiday crowds in one of their four hidden jewels: Look Rock tower and picnic area, with great views located just off the Foothills Parkway west, 18 miles from Townsend, TN; Heintooga Picnic Area, a mile-high retreat that guarantees a cool break even on the hottest of summer days located off the Blue Ridge Parkway, 21 miles from Cherokee, NC; Fontana Lake where you can access the Appalachian Trail and the Lakeshore Trail from the vicinity of the dam (a la Harrison Ford as the Fugitive); and Little Catahoochee historic area, accessible only by trail, this scenic valley includes historic homes along its 5-mile roundtrip hike. It's a Big Year for the Black Bear Thanks to an abundance of acorns in the park last fall, the bears were able to gain substantial weight and females gave birth to more cubs; the park officials currently estimate that approximately 1,500 black bears are living in the Smokies. Now one of the higher densities of black bears in the contiguous U.S., bears had nearly been stripped from the Smokies in 1934 due to over-hunting, trapping, and changes in land use practices. It has taken decades for the bear population to rebuild to its current level. Smokies to Receive $64M Fiscal Stimulas "This is about eight times what the Smokies receives in an average year for projects," Park superintendent Dale Ditmanson said. The bulk of the money is targeted for road work; however, the park's trails, cemeteries, public restrooms, and other buildings will benefit as well. Getting there: www.mapquest.com/maps Pack up the car and head out for a road adventure ~ this one is 10 hours, 10 mins and covers 5 States Where to stay: angelcabins.com/ Angel Cabins offers affordable cabins near the Cherokee Indian Reserve www.timberwolfcreek.com/ Maggie Valley Cabin Rentals was recommended by NC's Our State Magazine as one of the Top Places to Stay romanticcabin.com/cabin-rentals-nantahala-river-nc-activities.htm If you're looking for a romantic get-away, with adventure at nearby Nantahala White Water Rafting www.aboutcherokee.com/ Learn more about the Cherokee heritage before you go Travel safe, and mind the black bears!
Author: Traci Claussen Reader Comments |
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