Families and couples alike will find the region overflowing with things to do—from hiking the Great Smoky Mountains to dancing to live music, riding Dollywood's many roller coasters to an all-day shopping spree. Here, every kind of adventure awaits you.

Across the region, there is a great pride in the history and heritage of the mountains. On a land once dominated by Cherokees, then white settlers, the Smoky Mountain region has been witness to conflicts between Native Americans and settlers, as well as Union and Confederate soldiers. But throughout the years, the community has fostered their mountain heritage above everything else, which is reflected in the culture, museums, music and theater across the region.

So come see what the locals are so proud of—the beautiful and majestic Great Smoky Mountains. The national park, created in 1934, used to be a haven for the logging industry. In fact, timber was the main economic engine of the area. But intervention came just in time—only 20 percent of the forest remained uncut at the time of the park's inception. Now, tourism has replaced timber, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, beating even Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.

Straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, the park offers a world-renowned natural landscape with endless forests, an awe-inspiring diversity of plants and animal life, and the quiet beauty of the ancient mountains, towering above.

Some 1,600 bears roam the park, as well as hundreds of other animals, insects and plants. In fact, the Smokies have the most biological diversity in any area of the world's temperate zones. To the regular hiker, that means a glorious amount of life surrounds you as you meander through the tall trees.

There are more than 800 miles of hiking trails, all well-marked and for all types of hikers from casual to expert. Hundreds of streams and tributaries meander through the National Park providing great fishing for Rainbow and Brown trout, bass and other varieties. Hike, camp, fish or just sit and enjoy the beautiful outdoor oasis.

The park is the heart of the Smoky Mountain region, and visitors and locals find solace in the underdeveloped Mother Nature, where the buzz of the freeway and ring of a cell ph one can be left far behind. Of course, surrounding areas are also teeming with ways to enjoy the outdoors, such as white water rafting on the Pigeon River, horseback riding, underground caverns, fishing and more. In the winter, head up to Ober Gatlinburg, Tennessee's only lace for skiing and snowboarding.

Of course, there are many attractions that don't involve nature, as well. Dollywood, the famous theme park owned by legendary country singer Dolly Parton, offers the thrill of roller coasters paired with unbeatable live entertainment and events. The music, crafts and food around every corner echo the spirit of the Smokies.

There are also loads of museums—from Ripley's 1.4-million gallon aquarium and Believe It or Not! Museum, to Cades Cove, an open-air museum that preserves the history of 19th-century settlers, there are several options that will keep you and your family engaged for hours on end.

But if your idea of entertainment is shopping, you're also in luck. Choose from dozens of outlet malls, hundreds of shops, and thousands of bargains. Find everything from designer brands to handmade crafts, beautiful art to unique holiday decorations. Be sure to check out the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, the largest group of independent artisans in North America. The 8-mile loop of studios and galleries allow visitors to watch artisans create their wares.

Of course, one of the most popular ways to spend a day or night in the Smokies is to sit back and be entertained. Top quality shows, from comedy to country, Gospel to Elvis, are constantly entertaining audiences. Find breakfast variety shows, religious spectacles, gospel harmonies, supper shows and more. Be sure to check out our guide to live shows on this web site.

In addition to all of the daily entertainment, the Smokies hosts several events and festivals throughout the year.

As you can see, the Tennessee Smokies is never lacking in things to do. So get out there and enjoy your stay! We know you'll be coming back for more.