As I’ve mentioned, the greatest family vacations don’t always involve sandy beaches, luxurious hotels, and historic cities. As pleasant as these types of trips always are, some of the most enjoyable vacation experiences involve getting out into the Great Outdoors, being a little bit active, and seeing some natural beauty. The National Parks provide a great opportunity for this. One of my favorites is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I’m not alone, by the way. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited of all National Parks in America with over 9 million visits per year.

Because we have family in the area, we have spent a considerable amount of time in the Chimney Rock and Lake Lure areas of North Carolina. These happen to be great departure points for day trips into the mountains. If you are just interested in a casual excursion, your best option is a hike. With hundreds of trails, hikes in the Smokies never become repetitive, and even if you find a trail you like and hike it over and over again, the scenic beauty will be enough to keep it from feeling redundant. There is also zip lining and rafting if you want to get involved in something a bit more exciting than a hike. Smoky Mountain is also the home of a natural water slide – Sliding Rock.

If you are in nearby Asheville, NC, you might want to spend some time at the Grove Park Inn. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Grove Park Inn is over a century old, features breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and has hosted many notable people, including US Presidents (sorry to sound too much like a travel brochure, but it’s all true).

So, a trip to the Great Smoky mountains actually can be the best of both types of vacations I have mentioned here – at the Grove Park Inn you can luxuriously experience history while going into the Great Outdoors.