When the Great Smokies come calling

Rajiv Bakshi 

You will be lucky if you spot a black bear during your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the eastern United States. The park, which was established in 1934, gets a footfall of around 11 million visitors every year. The park is more than 2,000 sq km and straddles two US states, North Carolina and Tennessee. To get full experience of the park, it will be a good idea to drive your own vehicle. It is called Smoky Mountains due to the ever-present morning fog. According to a legend, there is a hidden lake but no human being can see it.

The park is popular for its abundant wildlife, spectacular wildflowers and around 80 historic sites. A few names worth mentioning are Ogle cabin (1802), Cades Cove (1818), the Old Mill (1830), Walker Sisters Place (1840), Elkmont Ghost Town (1900). The Hollywood Wax Museum offers an opportunity to take selfies with wax statues of Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, and others!

There are four distinct seasons, each with their respective charms. Summer (June to August) is the most popular; that is the time for scenic drives, horseback rides, camping, listening to many birds, and observing wildlife. An added attraction is a chance to see around 1,500 black bears, which roam freely in this wildlife park. These are difficult to spot. The park has 200 species of birds, 80 types of reptiles, 67 kinds of fish, and around 17,000 types of insects. Other rare species found here are the white-tailed deer, groundhogs, and chipmunks.

Accommodation can be booked online, and with timely planning, one can get good discounts. Cabins rentals in the park have good facilities. You can even prepare your own meal as the kitchen has all necessary infrastructure: refrigerator, ice maker, coffee maker, toaster, microwave, and plenty of utensils. The cabins also have internet access, television, books, and games for children. In some cabins, there are billiards tables as well, besides a few packs of cards. On an average, the cabins cost  $400 per day. Honeymoon cabins are also in plenty.

There is no entry fee to the park. There is, however, fee for taking part in activities such as overnight camping. If you are going in for camping, do not forget to take tents, tarp, hiking poles, maps, first-aid kit, lighter and headlamps.

If you are looking for Indian restaurants, you will be disappointed. There is hardly any restaurant serving Indian food. You choices are limited to American,  Mexican, Thai and Chinese food. But the quality of food is quite good. The food costs around $30 per person. A quick tip here: In the US, most people avoid sharing food. So each person orders his own dish. 

There are three visitor centres  in Gatlinburg, Townsend and Cherokee. Located at the main entrances to the park, these are well managed. The helpful staff will provide you with maps and complete information. 

The cities close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. These offer a variety of entertainment options; various events are scheduled every month. These include magic shows, musical concerts and family theatres. The Dollywood theme park is another major attraction near the park. Don’t forget to try out the ice-cream and chocolates here.

Fact File

• How to reach: By air, or by car (which gives one the most freedom to move around the park). The nearest airport is Knoxville McGee-Tyson Airport in Alcoa, TN. It is around 45 minute drive from Gatlinburg Charlotte International Airport is 250km away.
• What to do: Trekking, spotting black bears, observing wildlife, camping and scenic drives
• Best time to visit: Summer (from June to August).
• A special note: Feeding of animals is strictly prohibited.