Watching the Solar Eclipse in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains are one of America's natural wonders. You can't help but feel a swell of patriotic pride when you drive through the forested roadways of the area. It's the ultimate place to get back to nature, beneath the rolling mist of the Smokies. If you've been looking to get away and enjoy a camping trip or a luxurious stay in a hotel, longing for the scent of the pines, this is your opportunity. The blooming flowers and woods teeming with wildlife have been a draw for travelers since time out of mind. There's nothing like getting back to the basics with a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Smokies are also a wonderful place to watch the stars come out, your only company the hooting of owls and the soft wind through the trees. There's a peacefulness to the region that relaxes and invigorates everyone who experiences the natural wonders of the mountains. In today's hustle and bustle lifestyle, we often forget to stop and smell the roses. A vacation in the woods is just the ticket for you and your family to recharge and reconnect. There's even a bonus: on August 21st, 2017, the total solar eclipse will be visible from the Smokies. This unique natural phenomenon does not appear very often and we are fortunate to be able to see it from such a perfect vantage point. The clear skies of the Smokies make it an ideal location from which to view one of the most incredible sights in the sky.

This will be one of the most memorable activities you and your family will have ever experienced. One of the best places in the United States for viewing is in the Smokies, watching the solar eclipse in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You're already surrounded by incredible natural beauty, and this rare experience is perfect to share with friends and family. This will be the first time since 1979 that the total eclipse of the sun was visible from Earth. There are only a few times during your life that a total eclipse will be visible, so it's important to see it when you can.

The entire western half of the park will fall under the totality of the eclipse, meaning that you will have some of the best opportunities for viewing it in the country. The enjoyment of this event will be complemented by the fact that you are in one of America's greatest landscapes. This is the kind of memory your children will cherish forever, because of the rarity of the event. Much like a viewing of Halley's Comet, this opportunity only comes around rarely. It's a good idea to make sure you've checked this experience off your bucket list. There's no telling when the opportunity will present itself again, and it's a great time to share with friends and family who may have not been alive yet when the last eclipse happened. Fortunately, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has prepared for the eclipse, offering some of the best opportunities to see the moon cross in front of the sun. You can decide which event you'd prefer to book from the National Park Service's website. There are several activities planned for viewing the eclipse. The following is a short run down of the various events happening in the park on that day.

If you've made the decision to join us in the Smokies to watch this incredible natural phenomenon, you have several options for viewing. There are group excursions planned by the National Park Service for viewing the eclipse at three different locations in the park: Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove and Oconaluftee. Clingmans Dome tickets are currently sold out, but there are still some available for the other locations. NASA will be livestreaming from Clingmans Dome and the event will also feature storytellers, scientists and other attractions to make the experience of the eclipse unforgettable. For Cades Cove and Oconaluftee, guided tours by staff will be available and the event will be free of charge. The park will be selling a limited amount of glasses, so they recommend bringing your own. The park further recommends finding a good place for viewing the eclipse early so that you have enough space for viewing. It's also a good idea to be in place before the eclipse starts, because it can get as dark as night.

Solar eclipses are described as a strange experience. When you see the sun blotted out in the sky, it is a very interesting feeling. Ancient cultures feared them because having the sun disappear from the sky and the stars come out in the daylight seemed like the end of the world. The intensity of this experience is heightened by the cold weather that follows, reminding us of our place on earth and in history. The total solar eclipse is a rare and majestic thing to witness, and where better to do it than the Smokies, where you are surrounded by nature and wildlife? The Smokies are the perfect place to experience this natural phenomenon.

Since many people will be visiting to view the eclipse, it's a good idea to book early to avoid disappointment. If you have your eye on a particular place or type of experience, time is of the essence given the rarity of this event. Campgrounds and hotels will fill up quickly, so if you would like to experience seeing the solar eclipse in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you should find a place to stay as soon as possible. There are multiple options within the park depending on the kind of vacation you are looking for. From traditional back to nature style campgrounds to the most beautiful wooden lodges in the wilderness, there will be a place for you to share this amazing experience with your friends and family. All of you will be sure to enjoy witnessing the total eclipse, and you will all remember the journey for years to come.