| Is the beginning of hot summer with no relief in | | | | any utensil you care to cook with for $99 Sun |
| sight already putting you in the dog days of | | | | through Thursday night. The area was very |
| summer? How does cool mountain streams and | | | | private but within a 1 hour drive of almost |
| rivers and activities like tubing, fishing, kayaking, | | | | anything the park had to offer |
| white water rafting, hiking, camping or just a nice | | | | We drove up from Florida on Sunday and |
| picnic in a mountain meadow sound. Not a fan of | | | | departed on Friday. We spent a great deal of our |
| the outdoors? How about outlet shopping of high | | | | vacation in the park with the low admission price |
| line retailers,dining, excellent dinner shows, even a | | | | of FREE. There are very easy hikes for those |
| Harrah's Casino on the North Carolina side and an | | | | with children that offer some amazing views and |
| excellent theme park with water park. Expensive, | | | | some free museum/exhibit areas. The can't miss |
| right? | | | | areas include Cade's Cove, Clingman's Dome (the |
| The Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the | | | | highest point in the park) and Newfound Gap. |
| border of Tennessee and North Carolina is within | | | | I saw many enjoying the great outdoors in the |
| a one day drive from the majority of the East | | | | park, bicycling, horseback riding, camping, fishing, |
| Coast and the Midwest. This eliminates the travel | | | | kayaking, white water rafting and hiking. The |
| cost associated with most current vacations. | | | | evening brought several excellent dinners in the |
| Excellent lodging abounds from inexpensive motels | | | | quaint town of Gatlinburg at the north Entrance of |
| to 5 star resorts and private cabins. The lodging | | | | the park. Another 15 minute hop and we took the |
| bargain for our family on a recent vacation was a | | | | kids to a great dinner show (I highly recommend |
| 2 bedroom cabin with satellite TV, hot tub, DVD | | | | the Black Bear Jamboree if you have children) |
| player, game area with air hockey/ pool table, | | | | Overall the best value I have found with so much |
| Playstation 2 system and a complete kitchen with | | | | to offer within a one day drive. |
