Biltmore Estate - America's largest private home sits among 5,000 acres of elegant parklands landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same man who designed Central Park in New York City. Built in the 1890s by George Vanderbilt, the "house" has numerous breathtaking interiors among its 250 rooms. The exterior has been featured as a stage setting in several films and TV productions. A restaurant is housed on the estate in some former dairy buildings, plus a vineyard and winery have been established on the grounds. Plan to spend the better part of a day exploring this amazing home. / Asheville, NC / 1-800 - 624-1575 / $

Fontana Lake & Fontana Village - At 481 feet, Fontana Dam, on the southern border of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, is the highest dam east of the Mississippi. Fontana Village is adjacent to Nantahala and Joyce Kilmer National Forests. The village was built in the 1930s to house workers who came to construct Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River. / Fontana Dam, NC

Ghost Town In The Sky - Relive the days of the wild west in this Ghost Town theme park atop the Smoky Mountains. Shoot outs and shows are staged along the main street. Cherokee Indians perform authentic re-creations of time-honored ceremonial dances. Plus the Red Devil Roller Coaster and multiple thrill rides are all a part of this mountain-top Ghost Town scene. Open May through October. / Maggie Valley, NC / 828-926-1140 / $

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - A one hour drive from Gatlinburg and years into the past, a locomotive train journeys through the glorious mountains from Dillsboro, NC to Bryson, NC and back, for a day of scenic railway adventure. Weekend excursions include Dinner Trains and "3 in 1" Railfan Weekends. / 1-800-872-4681 / $

Mount Mitchell - Northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway is Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern United States. At 6684 feet, it is only forty feet higher than Gatlinburg's neighbor - Clingman's Dome, however with its situation on the eastern side of the mountain range, clear day vistas can be quite amazing. / Mt. Mitchell State Park / North Carolina /

Museum of Appalachia - It may appear that one man's collection has gotten way out of hand, but this vast assortment of Appalachian artifacts includes memorabilia from all over the region. Among the finds are household items, folk art, tools, clothing, musical instruments, several log cabins, a few barns, a schoolhouse and even a church. All were saved from destruction and lovingly moved to this one site within a half hour's drive of Knoxville. Children will enjoy the live farm animals, descendants of species once seen throughout the area. Occasionally, live musical entertainment is offered on weekends and holidays. / Off 1-75 north of Knoxville / Norris, TN / 423-494-7680 / $

Lost Sea Caverns - At Lost Sea, a cavern tour culminates with a glass-bottom boat ride along America's largest known underground lake. The section of the cave that contains the lake was not discovered until this century. Up to that time, the cavern was known to have been previously occupied in turn by Native Americans, Civil War soldiers, bootleggers and during a stint in 1920s, a portion of the cave was used as an underground Speakeasy! / Sweetwater, TN / 423-337-6616 / $

Oak Ridge, Tennessee - Only a 30 minute drive west of Knoxville is Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a place once known as America's secret city. During World War II, the town was built literally overnight for workers and their families involved in the construction and testing of components for a new experimental weapon. Situated between two mountain ridges, the location was kept secret from the American public and was not included on any maps of the region. Today, we know that it was here the Manhattan Project constructed the first atomic bomb. The Department of Energy offers seasonal bus tours of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Nearby an informative and educational science center, American Museum of Science & Energy is FREE and open to the public and has innovative exhibits geared to all ages. From the history of Oak Ridge and other scientific discoveries, to the geology of the Tennessee Smokies, all is explored in this wonderful facility./ AMSE - 423-576-3200 / Oak Ridge, TN /

Tennessee Aquarium - Home of the largest fresh water aquarium in the world, Chattanooga offers a great day trip for a family. Besides offering unique glimpses into many of the fresh water habitats from around the world there are also salt water tanks, including a Gulf Coast simulation. Nearby are several associated attractions including the Aquarium's IMAX®3D Theater and the Creative Discovery Museum for Children. / Chattanooga, TN / 800-262-0695 / $

Tennessee Valley Authority Lakes - Within an hour's drive of the area are several of the TVA lakes which offer multiple recreational opportunities. The dams which created the lakes were originally built to control flooding in the narrow river gorges that used to cause wide destruction. These dams are also designed to provide electricity to the region. The closest lake to the area is Douglas Lake, just north of Sevierville. Other lakes within an houršs drive are Cherokee Lake, Ft. Loudoun Lake, Norris Lake, Tellico Lake and Watts Bar Lake.

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