Man I tell ya, that is the best vacation spot in the country. My wife and I went for our honeymoon and are going back again in October. While everything happens the short drive to Gatlinburg where the strip is, but that whole area of Gatlenburg, Townsend, Pigeon Forge, ect is one big national park. If you like outdoors, that is the place to be. Go to the Gatlinburg official website at http://www.gatlinburg.com and request a vacation packet. They'll get it to you fast. It's filled with brochures and stuff for everything that there is to do/see out there.