Tennessee and North Carolina: Great Smoky Mountains
The East and West coasts do not have a monopoly on domestic adventure travel — there are plenty of wild destinations in other parts of the country, as well. None are more popular than the Smoky Mountains, the most-visited national park in the U.S. The wider Smoky Mountains region across Tennessee and North Carolina, between the city hubs of Knoxville and Charlotte, is a hotbed for outdoor adventure companies. Activities include canopy tours, ziplines, hot air ballooning, guided fishing trips, and rafting expeditions. Plus, there’s the more relaxed option of booking a quiet bed-and-breakfast for a weekend of forest hikes and bike rides.
Fall foliage is a huge draw in the region, coupled with climbs to waterfalls and mountaintop viewpoints. Spring through fall, whitewater rafting is one of the most popular adventure activities in the Smokies, with tours available from companies such as Smoky Mountains Outdoors and River Rat along the Pigeon River. Trips range from kid-friendly paddles (or innertube floats) to adrenaline-pumping day trips through Class IV rapids in the upper sections of the river. For flat-water fans, Douglas and Fontana's lakes provide ample space for fishing trips, jet skiing, and wakeboarding.
Location: Swain & Haywood counties in North Carolina; Sevier, Blount, & Cocke counties in Tennessee, United States
