Spring and summer activities — indoors and outdoors, for children and adults — abound in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. For your convenience we’ve compiled an extensive list of the best ones here. For both the young and the young at heart, there is everything from magical train rides through the mountains to wildlife tours on foot … and everything in between.

Zip lines in the Blue Ridge Mountains are incredibly popular and exciting, and some of the fastest and most thrilling zip lines in the nation are located right here in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Our list includes zip lines for all ages, with no experience required.

Whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and tubing are very popular, and can be enjoyed both rain or shine. You’ll find our extensive list of fun and exciting outdoor water sports and adventures here.

Professional fly fishing guides help both novices and experienced fishermen have more fun and catch more fish on beautiful public and private mountain streams, lakes and rivers.

Guided horseback rides offer an opportunity to explore the mountains in a fun way, and it’s a great activity for families and couples.

For a totally unique perspective, view the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains from the air in a hot-air balloon.

If you’re looking for a terrific golf experience, we’ve prepared a list of excellent mountain golf courses, all with challenging greens, beautiful layouts, scenic views, abundant wildlife, and great golf pros.

Two of the most popular attractions are Grandfather Mountain with its lofty altitude, beautiful scenery, mile-high swinging bridge, environmental habitats for native wildlife, nature museum, restaurant, gift shop, hiking trails, picnic areas, naturalist programs and more. …and Chimney Rock Park, with its 400-ft.-high Hickory Nut Falls, nature trails, newly renovated elevator and Sky Lounge, guided hikes and rock climbing, workshops and many other special events.

Adults enjoy the many wineries, vineyards and craft beer breweries located near their inns and resorts. And some lodging facilities provide free transportation for guests.

Those who enjoy two-wheeled touring will find motorcycle rental firms listed here.

Adults enjoy art and craft galleries throughout the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.

Day spas and shopping go hand in hand with vacations, so be sure to check out our lists.

Every vacation deserves great food, so our list of restaurants in the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains is guaranteed to wet your appetite and satisfy your palate, whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner, a hearty breakfast, a good lunch, or a fun family meal, you’ll find what you need here.

One of the most popular attractions in our area is the Blue Ridge Parkway and the many other scenic highways and byways. We’ve provided an extensive list of fun roads, with beautiful views and lots of curves and elevation changes. Clicking on each map will take you to an interactive Google map of the scenic road so you can zoom in or out, and get distances and other details. We’ve also created a list of live webcams, maps and other information for great rides in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

You’ll also find information on the best inns, resorts, and vacation rentals on our Accommodations page.

We hope you have a wonderful time this year in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!