And if you get tired of rolling on wheels, step outside and explore one of Great Smoky's "Quiet Walkways" on foot. These quarter-mile (0.4 kilometer) paths lead you into what signs describe as a "little bit of the world as it once was," away from the motor-loving crowds.

Hiking
Whether you're an experienced climber or a novice trekker, you'll definitely find somewhere to explore along the more than 150 hiking trails that cover 850 miles (1,368 kilometers) of the park.

Mount LeConte
This 6,593-foot (2,010 meters) mountain is the park's third highest peak. Reach its summit via Alum Cave Bluffs Trail, the shortest—and steepest—climb.

Smoky Mountain Field School
Notable day hikes led by experienced instructors include "Waterfalls of the Smokies," a tour of the cascades that tumble down steep mountain slopes. You can also join the "Cataloochee Ghost Town Hike," which takes hikers to a remote area of the park to view the early settlement and tombstones that chronicle Union and Confederate activity during the Civil War. Nearby you'll see a population of elk that was reintroduced into the park after a 150-year absence. Fees are around $50. Overnight hikes are also available. Register online or by phone at 865-974-0150.

Ranger-led Programs
Join a tour with an experienced park ranger to find out what's killing the fir trees on top of Mount LeConte, how to become a "nature detective," or to simply enjoy an open-air hayride at Cades Cove.

Fishing

The 2,115 miles (3,404 kilometers) of streams found within the park provide plenty of opportunities for fishing. Licenses are required and must be purchased outside the park in North Carolina or Tennessee. Brook trout fishing—prohibited for more than 30 years—has recently been reopened under experimental park regulations. So cast for a brookie, the park's only native trout species.