A River in the Smokey Mountains, taken summer 1985. The Smokey Mountains is one of the largest protected areas in the Eastern United States. World renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and the depth and integrity of its wilderness sanctuary, the park attracts over nine million visitors each year. Once a part of the Cherokee homeland, the Smokies today are a hiker's paradise with over 800 miles of trails.

Smoky Mountain Host of North Carolina is the destination marketing organization for the seven far western counties of North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary of the Cherokee Indian Reservation. North Carolina counties represented through Smoky Mountain Host are Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain. The North Carolina Smoky Mountains offer a family vacation value with extensive opportunities for experiencing the cultural history, outdoor adventure, mountain crafts and stunning vistas of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.

Text taken from yahoo travel