Standing at the top of Clingman’s Dome, being enveloped in one of the endless clouds, I was at the halfway point of my trip from childhood to adulthood. In August of 2021, my mother and I took the final drive away from my birthplace and home of central PA to take the 1500 mile voyage to College Station, Texas for my first year of college. A beautiful slice of America, one of the last, was the perfect resting point before continuing the journey.
Sincerely,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the country's most popular national park sites. It offers postcard-perfect views and plentiful wildlife.
State(s): North Carolina Tennessee,
Established: 1926
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Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mid-October, 2023—colors between Cherokee and Gatlinburg
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Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Even before my family and I reached the Smokies, I was in awe of the scenery around me. Tennessee’s vibrant forests framed the road on either side, and we drove along a glimmering creek that threaded through the trees. Later, after hiking up to Clingmans Dome, we watched the fog…
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