Category Archives: US/Canada national parks

Big reward for little effort at Great Smokies

October is a peak season at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most heavily visited national park in the country, with more than 9 million visitors a year. Despite all those people milling about, it’s still amazingly easy to get … Continue reading

Posted in Environmental, Family travel, Road travel, Tennessee, US/Canada national parks | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

In the Smokies, a magical hike through time

A “step back in time” is such an overused phrase accompanying many a historic town or exhibit. But in the Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, it’s truly possible. The descendants of Cataloochee, who … Continue reading

Posted in Environmental, History, US/Canada national parks | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A joy ride, complete with pain

At 74 years old, our beloved Blue Ridge Parkway has its problems. But it is still a glorious 469-mile joy ride along the Appalachian Mountains, from Virginia to North Carolina. Next year, during the 75th-anniversary hoopla, there will be the … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, Environmental, Road travel, US/Canada national parks, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments