If you’re anything like us, you absolutely love the Great Smoky Mountains and everything that has to do with the Smoky Mountain area. We put together 3 things you probably don’t know about the Smokies, though. Check out these facts:
Wildflowers
Many people make a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains throughout the spring and early summer months to take a look at the abundance of wildflowers. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park holds the world’s most diverse collection of wildflowers, having over 1,500 kinds of flowering plants. This is more than any other national park in the entire world. Even if you don’t visit to see the spring flowers, the national park has flowers throughout the year, some of the most beautiful found in the fall months when the trees change from deep green to bright reds and yellows.
(See Related: Top Places for Wildlife Viewing in the Smoky Mountains)
Salamanders
The Great Smoky Mountains are known as the ‘Salamander Capital of the World.’ Believe it or not, the National Park Service even claims that the majority of backbones animals (including human visitors) in the park on any given day are salamanders.
Distance
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located within a day’s drive of ⅔ of the United States. So, if you’re looking for a reason to get away and take a vacation to the Smokies, just know that you can probably drive to the mountains in a single day. This saves plenty of travel time, making it perfect for a spontaneous trip!
Since you’re probably only a few hours away from the Smoky Mountains, it’s time you start planning that vacation you’ve been dreaming about. At Alpine Chalet Rentals, we have the best accommodations near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Featuring a variety of accommodations, like hot tubs and game rooms, you can find a chalet or cabin in Gatlinburg for any size group or family. Give us a call at (800) 235-2661 to speak with our friendly vacation specialists about booking your stay in the Smokies.
Photo Credit: National Park Service