It’s been a “smokey” month here on the English blog, from the post about the Great Smoky Mountains to the recent one about Smokey the Bear. Well, here’s one more for you! The most visited national park in the entire United States, the Great Smoky Mountains can be visited in two states – Tennessee and North Carolina. Take a short tour of the park and then a drive on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in this short video.

“The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in two states – Tennessee and North Carolina. Plan your trip in the Smokies inside the visitor center. Here, you can learn about the geography, wildlife, and history of the most visited national park in America. Begin your day with a stroll around the Mountain Farm Museum. This open-air museum has many farm buildings from the 1900s that visitors can explore. Step back in time and see how families lived over a hundred years ago here. You can even pet the pigs. Before going back to your car, take a walk along to Oconaluftee River Trail. This is an easy, mostly flat trail with nice views of the river.

While you can walk through the park, most people will drive. Pull over at various points to take in the amazing scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you’re up for it, you can take the walking path to the top of Clingman’s Dome. At 6,643 feet, it is the highest point in the park and in Tennessee. Unfortunately, the Smokies are known for foggy weather. The view that you get from the top may not be as good as the one in the picture. The Appalachian Trail actually goes through the park, so you can hike a bit of it while you’re there. It’s nice to take a short walk on the AT – the whole thing is over 2,000 miles long.

When driving to or from the park, you can use the Blue Ridge Parkway. This national parkway is one of the country’s most scenic roads, and there are many interesting places and scenic views to stop at along the way. It runs for 469 miles in North Carolina and Virginia. A great place to stop along the parkway is the Pisgah Inn. Enjoy the view from the deck with a drink and then grab a table inside and settle in for an epic meal. Sample a North Carolina craft beer and dine on grilled salmon and baby back ribs. Make sure you leave room for dessert! After such a big dinner, you may want to go for a short walk at Graveyard Fields. Follow the trail down and then relax by a stream and check out some waterfalls. Of course, there’s so much more you can do in the Smokies and on the Blue Ridge parkway that you’ll just have to come back another time.”