Cades Cove is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And for good reason! The scenic 11-mile loop road takes you past historic homesteads, rushing streams, and majestic mountains.

Drive to Cherokee and spend a day spotting elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These creatures are a link to the mountains’ past and a positive sign for the future–roaming freely here again, after nearly going extinct.

There are a lot of zoos all over the country, but Tennessee is home to some of the best. If you and your family have a lazy afternoon on your vacation schedule that needs filling, here are three of the best zoos in the Smoky Mountains. These zoos are the most popular options and for good reasons!