If your goal for opening parks, like the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, was to create an idyllic place separate from the commercial hamster wheel we’re constantly running on, where nature and humankind can interact in unique ways, you’ve absolutely succeeded.
The first thing I noticed, from the moment I entered the park, was the awe-inspiring views. A forest of vibrant leaves dotting an immense mountain range dipped in a gray haze surrounded me. The second thing I noticed was the silence. The absence of car horns and ringtones allowed for bird songs and the crisp crunch of fallen leaves. The air was pure—unpolluted—and the lack of cell service truly puts you off the grid, allowing for complete freedom from the outside world.
As a college student and millennial, I like many others, am tethered to my phone, computer, and various social media accounts. I’ve become a slave to deadlines, alarm clocks, and the stress that comes with them. I didn’t realize how much pressure I put on myself to succeed and keep checking things off my lists until I had the opportunity to step back and slow down by escaping to the Smokey Mountains.
From the bunny slope of hiking, (aka trails anywhere from 1 to 2 miles with minimal inclines), to the black diamond, (aka trekking the Appalachian Trail or any of the 6+ mile hikes), this spacious park offers something for everyone. If hiking isn’t something that particularly appeals to you the park also offers an array of auto tours that showcase a lot of the land’s history and splendor.
Some highlights from my recent visit include Cade's Cove auto tour, Clingman's Dome, the Appalachian Trail, and Laurel Falls.
The park is expertly run and maintained. The Smokey Mountains National Park is a place certainly worth a revisit and I hope to make it to the parks I’ve yet to experience like the Bad Lands and Sequoia National Park. I want to offer a huge thank you to the National Park Service for their work in preserving and restoring such magnificent pieces of our country. They do such great work and grant the opportunity for people of all ages to experience and celebrate nature.
Help celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th year of operation buy visiting a National Park or donating. Happy Birthday National Parks and thank you for your service!
