Located in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove is an open-air museum that preserves some of the material culture of those who last lived there.

The first Europeans settled in the cove sometime between 1818 and 1821 and, by 1830, the area's population swelled to 271.

Cades Cove offers the widest variety of historic buildings of any area in the national park, with many historic buildings dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries scattered throughout the cove.

These include a gristmill, a variety of barns, three churches and a marvellous collection of log homes and outbuildings.

Deer seen in the fields and the chance to spot bear, wild turkey and fox.

The Cades Cove Loop winds for 11 miles through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Many trails start here, including the five-mile roundtrip trail to Abrams Falls and the short Cades Cove Nature Trail.

Longer hikes go to Thunderhead Mountain and Rocky Top.

Useful links

www.tnvacation.com/local/townsend-cades-cove

www.smokymountains.com/park/cades-cove/scenic-drive

www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm

www.tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org