Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border, with the state line running right down the middle of its more than 520,000 acres. These misty, forested mountains have been home to people for thousands of years, from early Native Americans to the 19th-century settlers whose cabins, churches and mills still dot the valleys. Today it's the most visited national park in America, welcoming well over 10 million visitors a year.

Take a scenic drive through the historic valley of Cades Cove, where deer, wild turkeys and black bears are often spotted, or wind along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail past old homesteads and waterfalls. Pack a picnic and hike to Abrams Falls or Rainbow Falls, cast a line in a mountain stream, or bike the Cades Cove Loop on Wednesdays from May through September, when it's closed to cars. Visit the historic Cable Mill area and stop at the Sugarlands Visitor Center for wildlife exhibits, a park film and souvenirs.

The park requires a parking tag for vehicles stopping longer than 15 minutes. I'll plan your route, timing to beat the crowds and a cabin near Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge or the quieter North Carolina side.