The Wandering Disciple

The sounds of excitement fill the air as the wildest ride in the woods speeds through the Smokies. Opened in 2004, Thunderhead is a heart-pounding wooden rollercoaster featuring a 100-foot drop and 22 turns while reaching 54 mph. Named after nearby Thunderhead Mountain in the Smokies, the coaster was named the top wooden coaster in the country in 2005 and 2006 while maintaining a top 10 spot almost every year since its opening.  Thunderhead is one of ten coasters at Dollywood. The 150 acre park brings over fifty rides and attractions into the Smoky Mountains drawing over 3 million visitors annually.  You can see more photos from Dollywood here .  Taken: June 7, 2016 at Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN)

A short but challenging hike takes you to the stop of the smokies, Kuwohi. Formerly known as Clingmans Dome, the observation tower at the top of Kuwohi sits at an elevation of 6,643 feet making it the highest peak in park and the seventeenth highest peak in the country.  Kuwohi is located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Spanning Tennessee and North Carolina, the park spans 522,419 acres making it one of the largest protected lands in the country. It is the most visited national park, with millions of visitors trek to the park for hiking, wildlife watching and more outdoor adventures.  You can see this photos and more photos from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by visiting the gallery here .  Taken: June 8, 2016 at Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Bryson City, NC)