Could there be a lovelier time of year to visit the Smoky Mountians?

As the amber glow of dusk settles over the expanse of peaks and valleys, night is falling on one of the most beautiful parts of our country, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on September 2, 1940, "for the permanent enjoyment of the people." As the National Park Service's website states, this park is "world renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture." It is no wonder that this is America’s most visited national park. A great venue for avid hikers, this park is also a must see for those longing for some quiet, but beautiful time away.

From high above the mountain towns below, Clingman's Dome is waiting for ambitious visitors to make the climb and experience one of the most breathtaking views you will ever see. The highest peak in the Smokies, the road to Clingman's Dome is open to visitors from April through November. A trip over the mountains through Newfound Gap, "has often been compared to a drive from Georgia to Maine in terms of the variety of forest ecosystems one experiences." Whether starting from Cherokee, North Carolina, or Gatlinburg, Tennessee, as you make this drive you will ascend approximately 3,000 feet. Along the trip you will see everything from hardwood, to pine-oak, to northern hardwood forest, and finally the evergreen spruce-fir forest at the Newfound Gap summit.

One of the loveliest spots in the park is Cades Cove, an expansive valley which can be traversed by way of an eleven mile, one-way road which opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. This drive will take a least two hours and can take longer should you decide to sightsee and really take in the scenery along the way. You are likely to spot wildlife along your drive ranging from deer to rabbits to possibly even a black bear. There are also lovely historical buildings to stop and view along the tour.

Autumn is the perfect time to visit the park, as the leaves are magnificent and the temperatures are cool. For photographers looking for a canvas of colors to capture on film, the grandeur of Great Smoky Mountains offers quite the variety of wonderful images. Many artists have made it their business to capture these images in drawings, paintings, or sculptures. These fabulous mountains have even inspired musicians to write some wonderful mountain melodies. Are you in need of some inspiration this fall? If so, maybe a drive through the Smokies is just the right prescription for you. For more information about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and about planning your trip, visit the National Park Service's official website.