Great Smoky Mountains National Park

We might have take a wrong turn… Okay, we definitely took a wrong turn on our way to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ended up on the Foothills Parkway, a very scenic and chaotic byway.

The twisting turns give this road its nickname: The Tail of the Dragon.

Once we made it through the byway, we entered Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This park does not require a pass to enter but you do need to pay for parking. You can get a pass at a visitor center.

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls is a 2.4-mile out-and-back trail with great views and a waterfall at the end. This hike was really easy and a great introduction ruin to the park’s landscape. We hiked in the afternoon (after our long drive) and the trail was fairly busy.

Hike where I did: Laurel Falls Trail — AllTrails link

Next we hit the Sugarlands Visitor Center. I got my park souvenirs, map and stamp here.