Dandridge

The small settlement of Dandridge, Tennessee is one of the oldest in the state and located near Douglas Lake in Jefferson County. A short scenic drive via the mountain resort of Pigeon Forge will bring visitors to the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most visited in the United States. The park contains some of the most majestic scenery in the whole 1,500-mile length of the Appalachian chain, including the largest old-growth forests east of the Mississippi, and has over 800 miles of hiking trails that allow hikers, mountain-bikers, and other nature lovers access to its wooded slopes, and rocky overlooks. Particularly impressive in the fall, but worthwhile all year round, the area also stands out for its varied fauna which ranges from bald eagles to salamanders and hummingbirds. Music lovers will also wish to pay their respects to a local legend at the Dollywood theme park.