Near Cherokee, North Carolina, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is an ideal starting point as you enter the park's South District. Explore cultural history exhibits. Enjoy ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Peruse the park bookstore and shop. Find public restrooms and drink vending machines. The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn crib and others. (from NPS.gov)

This dome is the highest point in the park, sitting at a lofty 6,643 ft above sea level. At this overlook, get epic panoramic views of the surrounding area, with the view on clear days extending to 100 miles. The road leading to this overlook is closed winters, and parking can be difficult.

Sitting at 5046 ft in elevation, this stunning overlook offers not only amazing views of the surrounding views, but also offered restrooms.

Offering panoramic views of the surrounding park, this gorgeous overlook is one of the most famous and popular in the park.

The Alum Cave Bluffs are 2.3 miles from the trailhead. It's hard to believe how dry the ground is underneath the bluffs when the air and ground outside of it are wet. Many visitors turn around at this point, but continuing on the trail to the summit of Mount Le Conte will reward you with sweeping vistas seen from exposed cliffs that the trail follows to the top. (from NPS.gov)

From this gorgeous overlook, get a view of the Chimney Tops - twin peaks that cap 2,000-foot-high cliffs.

Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is a short half-mile loop, which is family friendly... more of a nature walk. This paved trail is one of the only trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that is designated to be accessible for all, so bring everyone!

Near Gatlinburg, TN, Sugarlands Visitor Center is an excellent starting point as you enter the park's North District. Learn about the park's plants and animals with natural history exhibits. Enjoy ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Peruse the park bookstore and shop. Access public restrooms and drink vending machines. The Backcountry Permit Office is here, too. (from NPS.gov)

Maloney Point Overlook is absolutely worth it to visit. Offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Cumberland Mountains and the Powell River Valley.

This short 0.8 mile loop is an easy trail to take the family on, a loop which takes you along the river and back.

Laurel Falls Trail leads to the 80-foot high Laurel Falls, named after the mountain laurel shrubs that bloom along the trail and near the falls in May. The waterfall has an upper and lower section, divided by a walkway crossing the stream at the base of the upper falls. It is a popular destination in the park, but parking at the trailhead is limited. Expect higher crowds on weekends year-round and on weekdays during summer. (NPS.gov)

This picnic area offers 122 sites and a reservable pavilion.

This historic building, built around 1832, was one of the first 3 churches in the area.

Formed due to a split in the Primitive Baptist Church, this church was formed in 1841. This building was finally built in 1894.

Likely the most picturesque place in the Great Smoky Mountains, The Sinks formed where a river makes a big S-turn, creating gorgeous natural pools as a result.

John Oliver & his wife, Lucretia, the original builders of this historic cabin, were the first permanent white settlers in the area. They moved to Cades Cove in the 1820s, when the only road into the cove was a dirt trail and there was not any working infrastructure.

The main cabin is a dog trot style cabin, and in addition to that, the homestead includes a corn crib, smokehouse, springhouse, and barn. The springhouse is a unique feature since it is the only one remaining in the cove.

The Cable Mill which was built by John Cable in 1867, is one of the most popular landmarks in Cades Cove. In the late 1800s, this mill provided homesteads with a place to turn corn or wheat into flour for making bread. In addition to converting grains into flour, the mill was used to mill lumber. In fact, the farmhouse a brief walk away was made out of lumber cut on this very mill. (from NPS.gov)

Originally constructed in 1856, this cabin features both sawn lumber and hewn logs - it also featured a modern chimney made out of bricks. This cabin is a mix of old and new building styles.

The Tipton Place homestead was initially settled by Revolutionary War Veteran William “Fighting Billy” Tipton in the 1820s. He was able to procure the land under the Tennessee Land Grant program. The two-story cabin that remains on the property was initially constructed by Fighting Billy’s relative and Civil War Veteran Colonel Hamp Tipton. He built the large cabin in the early 1870s. (from smokymountains.com)

When Will Sparks built this cabin around 1880 he had no way of knowing it would still be standing nearly 150 years later and be one of the most photographed buildings in a national park. It’s easy to see the charm of this small cabin from the road, tucked behind a few trees in a forest clearing with a stream out back. (from NPS.gov)

This city is the middle of everything - it offers a vibrant dining and shopping scene, and is the perfect basecamp for your exploration.

A culture, a people, and a place that's actually a sovereign nation, Cherokee is located right in the heart of Western North Carolina. It's also base camp for hiking in the Great Smokies, arts and crafts shopping, native elk herd viewing, hours of fishing fun, and home to a history that spans millennia. Ready? Let’s go. (from visitcherokeenc.com)