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A heritage journey in the Smokies takes you off the beaten path. Scenic highways and country roads offer magnificent views, but for a full helping of mountain heritage you can travel along trails, rivers and rails.
In the Smokies, how you get from one place to another is often more important than where you are going or how long it takes to get there.
No matter where you are in Western North Carolina, there's a nearby trail that plunges deep into the forest. Whether you prefer a well-marked trail or exploring unfamiliar territory, mountain trails hold the promise of new vistas and a chance to follow in the footsteps of the Indians and pioneers who first blazed them.
There are riding trails, hiking & biking trails and wheelchair accessible trails. And, there is the mother of all trails, the Appalachian Trail, which runs the length of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Rafting a whitewater river like the Nantahala is another
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great way to gain a unique historical perspective. Outfitters along the Nantahala rent rafts, kayaks, duckys & canoes and provide guided raft trips.
There are small mountain lakes and massive power lakes, like Fontana and Hiawassee, that are perfect for fishing, water skiing and boating.
Once you've hiked our trails and rafted the rapids, you can be carried through the Smokies by a steam locomotive. Scenic train rides depart from Bryson City and Dillsboro and follow the routes that carreid big city visitors to their summer retreats.
One of the most popular ways of traversing the Smokies is over scenic highways like Cherohala Skyway and the Blue Ridge Parkway, which snakes along mountain ridges up to 6,000 feet high.
Whether you prefer trails, rails, rivers or roads, the Great Smoky Mountains offer limitless experiences for the heritage traveler.
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FIND OUT MORE
To find out more about trails to hike or bike, rivers to raft and sites to see, contact the chamber of commerce or visitor's center in the area you are visiting. Their friendly, informed staff can offer maps and books and often make personal recommendations.
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