Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Smoky Mountains' narrative begins in the prehistoric ages, when two supersized continents collided, forming a range of mountains that is now among the world's oldest. Over a billion years ago, some of the granite here developed at the bottom of an ancient sea and was subsequently elevated when the African tectonic plate banged against the side of North America.

Indigenous peoples have resided in the Smoky Mountains region since prehistoric times, and archeologists have discovered 10,000-year-old hunting projectiles and pottery dating back to 700 BCE. The Cherokee people resided in communities along the river basins when European immigrants came in the 17th century. Until the Trail of Tears pushed them out of the region, the Smokies were at the heart of their huge empire. Lumber firms arrived in the 1900s, nearly destroying the woodlands. Fortunately, a few imaginative people battled for the park's establishment in the 1920s, and it was ultimately completed in 1934.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now America's most visited national park. This is due in part to its proximity to many important cities, including North Carolina's research triangle, Knoxville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; and Washington, DC. It's also attributable to the park's early choice to make it eminently drivable, with a combination of roads and hiking paths that appeal to a wide range of nature enthusiasts, from casual history buffs and animal watchers to seasoned backpackers and thru-hikers. The cherry on top is that there are no admission fees or America the Beautiful passes necessary to visit this national park.

Location: 107 Park Headquarters Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738