In our "Travel Guide to the South" series, staff at Alliance partner hotels and others in-the-know give their recommendations on what to see, what to do and what to eat in the South.

Smoky Mountains: North Carolina and Tennessee

Renowned for their natural beauty and historic mountain culture, the Smoky Mountains are greatly influenced by Cherokee natives and colonial settlers. “History lives on here in the culture of the mountains, and in the resilience and self-sufficient people who call southern Appalachia home,” says Brooks Bradbury, general manager of The Swag outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

The creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1940 protected 500,000 acres of pristine forest, and has allowed the natural landscape to remain unchanged, says Brian Lee, director of guest relations at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.

Culinary Experiences

Bradbury describes the food scene surrounding the Smoky Mountains as simple and locally grown. He also notes it as home to the “best biscuits, collard greens, stone ground flours and grits, and fruit pies.” At Blackberry Farm, they say every row of vegetables in the farm’s abundant garden tells a story of the area and its people. Gardeners John Coykendall and Jeff Ross share these stories with guests through talks, cooking demonstrations and garden tours.

If You Had to Pick Just One...

Both Bradbury and Lee suggest a visit to Cades Cove, an isolated valley in the Tennessee section of the Smokies. “It was once home to more than 100 families,” says Lee. “Today, visitors will find log cabins, cantilever barns, a working grist mill and churches, which represent the true pioneer spirit of the people who settled the fertile mountain farmland.”

Five Must-See Attractions

1. Grist Mills: “There are two original working grist mills still in operation, and both are in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” says Lee.
2. Cataloochee Valley, considered the park’s best place to view historic frame buildings from the late 19th and 20th centuries
3. Museum of the Cherokee Indian:“The Cherokee culture continues here today, and visitors delight in learning about native history,” says Bradbury.
4. Appalachian Trail: More than 71 miles of the trail run through the park; visit its highest point, Clingmans Dome, at 6,643 feet.
5. Fireflies: “During the month of June, [the fireflies] put on an incredible synchronized display,” says Sarah Chabot, director of marketing at Blackberry Farm. “It’s completely unique to the area and has been a tradition of Blount County for the last century.”

This article was originally featured in the Traveler magazine.