Smoke gets in your eye:
Looking out over the Smokies.

What they're after is understandable: some of the last remaining pristine wilderness in the East—specifically, thousands of acres of old-grown forest. It's a wilderness that climbs from 800 to 6,700 feet and attracts a wealth of diverse wildlife. As the mist rises through the Smokies, keep an eye out for bear, wild European boar, elk, and more than 230 species of birds.

True, you'll be sharing space with a healthy dose of human wildlife as well. But those millions of swarming outdoor fiends will be spread out over more than half a million acres, and outside the park, national forests like Pisgah and Cherokee give you even more room to spread out. In fact, the entire region is full of activities: Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina, are two towns as focused on enjoying the outdoors as they are on maintaining their southern charm.

So get out there! The preponderence of national forests and public lands make for a wealth of outdoor opportunity. From 6,643-foot Clingmans Dome to Douglas Lake, you'll find hiking, biking, paddling, and skiing opportunities to keep you busy for weeks.

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Take off today and explore the U.S. Top Trips of the Southeast — Hiking and biking with a touch of Southern charm. North Carolina Rambles — Wander the state, from mountains to ocean.

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