A huge variety of outdoor programs and exhibits give visitors the chance to get up close and personal with the nature and beauty that define the mountains. While looking at the views can easily fill the hours, the interaction with the natural world provided by experts and learning about what you 're seeing can be one of the best memories of your trip.

Pick up a copy of The Smoky Mountain News - a free weekly news magazine found in the same locations where you picked up this travel guide - and flip to the Outdoors calendar in the back of the paper for a list of programs happening each week.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Park rangers lead natural and cultural programs, campground talks open to the public, and provide interpretation of historic buildings ad displays.

The national park visitor center is worth a visit to see exhibits about the park and the Smoky 's ecosystem. It also has a great book store. The park rangers behind the visitor desk are very knowledgeable and love to educate visitors about the park 's resources, so ask away. There are picnic tables, a walking path along a bold creek and a restored Appalachian Pioneer Farmstead complete with blacksmith shop and smokehouse. It is located at the park 's entrance on U.S. 441 outside Cherokee near the terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Call the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at 828.497.1905 or stop into the visitor center.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Waterrock Knob Visitor Center doesn 't have special programs, but between their displays and staffed information desk you could easily craft your own little interpretive hour. The visitor center is at milepost 451, between the Parkway entrance at U.S. 23-74 to the north and U.S. 19 to the south, Balsam and Soco gaps respectively. Here 's a hint for traveling the Parkway: the mileposts count up as you travel south. 828.298.0398.

Cradle of Forestry

This national forest interpretive site is an outpost in the middle of Pisgah National Forest for interpretive activities involving the natural world and cultural history of the region.

Nearly every Saturday, there are programs and activities revolving around special themes. It 's worth a visit to see the forest exhibits that tell the story of sustainable forestry in America and describe forest ecology. An interpretive trail leads past restored cabins where costumed volunteers portray early life. Several hiking trails lead out of the center. Scavenger hunts and compass trails are among the activities. $5 adults; $2.50 youth ages 4-17. The Cradle is on U.S. 276 four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 828.877.3130.

Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education

The free programs here are great, with fall programs ranging from bats to peregrine falcons to fly-fishing. There are also children 's programs multiple times a week focusing on a variety of nature topics.

The Center is an excellent destination regardless of the special programs. It has a variety of exhibits on wildlife and the natural environment, impacts of human interaction, and why these natural resources need to be thoughtfully and scientifically managed. Indoor exhibits include aquariums of creek life and forest ecosystem displays, plus a short film. An outdoor walking trail includes a tour of the hatchery and a chance for children to feed the fish in pools teeming with trout. Guided tours of the hatchery are held on some Sundays.

The Center is located on U.S. 276 about 10 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway 828.877.4423 or www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_08_education.htm

Great Smoky Mountain Field School

Experts lead a wonderful set of workshops and hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a wide range of topics: animal tracking, nature photography, geology, entomology, nature drawing, nature writing, fireflies, ferns, bears and archaeology.

All-day programs cost $49/adult. Call 865.974.0150 or go to www.outreach.utk.edu/smoky.

Highlands Nature Center

The Highlands Nature Center has a full line-up of educational programs and special exhibits, from weekly children 's programs to lectures by visiting scientists.

Thousands of visitors of all ages pass through the Nature Center 's doors each summer to view the displays and to participate in the programs. The Nature Center has been in operation more than 80 years. The Nature Center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free.

Visitors can view live reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Displays include regional flora and fauna, as well as the general environment, biodiversity and conservation of the Highlands Plateau. The Highlands Botanical Garden is adjacent to the Nature Center and is also free.

For more information, call 828.526.2623 or visit www.wcu.edu/hbs/summercamps.htm.