As we celebrate our Nation’s Independence this week, we also continue our video share tribute highlighting several of our country’s fabulous national parks and featuring the beautiful film work of the Pattiz brothers. This month, we treat you to a glimpse of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which spans over 500,000 acres along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. The park encompasses the Great Smoky Mountains and part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, both of which are divisions of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain, believed to be among the oldest mountains on Earth, having formed some 500 million years ago.

Great Smokey Mountains National Park has a lot to offer, so it’s no wonder that it is the most visited national park in America, attracting over 11 million visitors per year. The park is full of streams, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife (bears, deer, elk, wild turkeys), and a great variety of trees and plants. In mid-April and early May, wildflowers bloom along the roadside, and pink and purple rhododendron blossoms decorate the area in June and July. It is also home to one of our favorite Virtuoso properties and one of America’s greatest hidden treasures, Blackberry Farm.

The Great Smoky Mountains region is a great destination all year-round, but many think the park is at its prettiest in autumn when the fall foliage turns colors. Indeed, this video by the Pattiz brothers is the culmination of two weeks exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park during peak fall color. Perhaps it will inspire you to start planning that fall foliage trip which, by the way, is just right around the corner. Either way, sit back, relax and enjoy this month’s Travel Video share, Smoky Mountains!

The Avant Team