Before the Great Smoky Mountain area was turned into a park, Cades Code was home to many of the frontiers first settlers. Of course I’m talking over a hundred years ago… but what makes Cades Cove (located in Tennessee) so spectacular is that many of the original settlers’ cabins, stables, and churches are still standing. Today Cades Cove is the single most popular destination for visitors to the park, attracting over two million visitors a year.

Cades Cove is known for an 11-mile loop that takes you through the entire region. It is a one-way paved road that is accessible by car, bike or foot. By car, you can expect to travel the entire loop in one to two hours, depending on how many stops you make to admire the settlements and abundant display of wildlife. I recommend you travel through Cades Cove via bicycle. Bicycles can be rented for $3.25 an hour at the Visitors Center at the beginning of Cades Cove.