Are You a Traveler or a Tourist When You Visit the Smoky Mountains?

When you’re on vacation to the Smoky Mountains, you can be a traveler, a tourist – or both! Being a tourist or a traveler isn’t about traveling more often or spending more money, it’s about your personality while you’re traveling to the area. Which are you carrying – a selfie stick or a camera? Are you following the most popular trails in the national park or taking a hike off the beaten path? Are you staying in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains when you visit to get the true experience of the mountains?

Here’s a few key differences between travelers and tourists:

Travelers

Travelers, on the other hand, really gets involved in the culture of the area – normally not standing out like a tourist. Travelers explore the “less popular” areas, so in the Smoky Mountains, a traveler will go off the beaten path instead of sticking to the most popular attractions.

Travelers tend to try new things to experience different things while they’re away from home. Travelers also seem to spend more time interacting with locals and finding the local places to spend time.

Tourists

Being a tourist is great, especially in the Smoky Mountains. Tourists are generally easy to spot by the guidebooks in their hands and the selfie sticks they’re using for photos near popular attractions.

Often times, tourists stick to what they’re most comfortable with which may mean visiting the most popular attractions, or even attractions they’ve visited before.

Are you a traveler or tourist when you visit the Smoky Mountains? Tell us in the comments below!