The Smokies are gorgeous! I lived in Knoxville during all of the 90's and was about an hour's drive from them. That is where I began to love hiking and did a LOT of it. It's amazing in the autumn but it's one long traffic jam as everybody goes to look at the colours. There's a hike called Chimney Rocks where you get a breathtaking view. Very crowded trail in the autumn but still worth it.