We spent time in the Smoky Mountains when we workamped at a campground in Townsend, Tennessee, just outside the western side of the Park during the summer of 2013. If you are planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains, be sure to stay on the "peaceful side" of the park. We drove into Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg one day - it was so crowded and "touristy" we left as soon as possible. We ventured into the Park and visited mostly the western side. It's a long way around the whole park and we never did get to the eastern edge and thus did not see the lightening bugs or elk.
Alabama
Russell Cave National Monument ~~ Lives of Prehistoric people and their house in a cave
Georgia
Andersonville National Historic Site ~~ National Cemetery and prisoner of war museum;
Andersonville National Historic Site -- Visit to the POW Museum
Anna Ruby Falls ~~ Located within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Cumberland Island Museum ~~ A long string of barrier islands with no cars, but lots of wildlife
Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge ~~ 630 miles filled with swamp, alligators, birds, and pine forest
Kentucky
Mammoth Cave National Park ~~ A vast cave system with over 365 miles of surveyed passages, it is over twice as long as they known cave
Massachusetts
Springfield Armory National Historic Site ~~ Houses the archives, exhibits and world's largest collection of historic American military firearms
Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore ~~ Huge dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore ~~ Colorful rock structures that rise hundreds of feet above Lake Superior
North Carolina
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site ~~ Home to one of the first colonists from England
Pea Island Wildlife Refuge ~~ Habitat for aquatic birds and other animals along the Outer Banks
Smoky Mountains National Park ~~ The southeast side is home to lightening bugs and elk, neither of which we saw this trip
Wright Brothers National Memorial ~~ Located around Kitty Hawk where the Wright Brothers made their historic flight
Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley National Park ~~ This is a vast area surrounding the Cuyahoga River south of Cleveland with hiking trails, the Erie Canal and many other things to enjoy the area.
Pennsylvania
Flight 93 National Memorial ~~ Dedicated to the people who gave their lives sabotaging the hijackers' efforts to fly a plane into the Nation's Capitol
Fort Necessity National Battlefield ~~ The beginning of the French & Indian War and a young George Washington given the task of telling the French to leave
Gettysburg National Military Park ~~ Confederate and Union forces clash in one of the battles of the Civil War
Tennessee
Smoky Mountains National Park ~~ The Smoky Mountains hosts 28 monuments, including the grave sites of two signers of the Declaration of Independence
Alabama
Russell Cave National Monument ~~ Lives of Prehistoric people and their house in a cave
Georgia
Andersonville National Historic Site ~~ National Cemetery and prisoner of war museum;
Andersonville National Historic Site -- Visit to the POW Museum
Anna Ruby Falls ~~ Located within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Cumberland Island Museum ~~ A long string of barrier islands with no cars, but lots of wildlife
Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge ~~ 630 miles filled with swamp, alligators, birds, and pine forest
Kentucky
Mammoth Cave National Park ~~ A vast cave system with over 365 miles of surveyed passages, it is over twice as long as they known cave
Massachusetts
Springfield Armory National Historic Site ~~ Houses the archives, exhibits and world's largest collection of historic American military firearms
Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore ~~ Huge dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore ~~ Colorful rock structures that rise hundreds of feet above Lake Superior
North Carolina
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site ~~ Home to one of the first colonists from England
Pea Island Wildlife Refuge ~~ Habitat for aquatic birds and other animals along the Outer Banks
Smoky Mountains National Park ~~ The southeast side is home to lightening bugs and elk, neither of which we saw this trip
Wright Brothers National Memorial ~~ Located around Kitty Hawk where the Wright Brothers made their historic flight
Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley National Park ~~ This is a vast area surrounding the Cuyahoga River south of Cleveland with hiking trails, the Erie Canal and many other things to enjoy the area.
Pennsylvania
Flight 93 National Memorial ~~ Dedicated to the people who gave their lives sabotaging the hijackers' efforts to fly a plane into the Nation's Capitol
Fort Necessity National Battlefield ~~ The beginning of the French & Indian War and a young George Washington given the task of telling the French to leave
Gettysburg National Military Park ~~ Confederate and Union forces clash in one of the battles of the Civil War
Tennessee
Smoky Mountains National Park ~~ The Smoky Mountains hosts 28 monuments, including the grave sites of two signers of the Declaration of Independence