Hey y'all,

I'm planning a solo road trip to the Smoky Mountains, and I could use some suggestions on what to see on the way, as well as what not to miss while I'm there. I'll be starting in Houston and plan to drive northeast across Arkansas to Memphis, then head east across Tennessee to Gatlinburg. I'm planning about a week round-trip, with at least 3 full days in the national park.

I'm not too big on big city attractions, so I'll probably just drive through Nashville or bypass it altogether (or maybe come up through Birmingham into Chattanooga, as has been suggested to me). I'm hoping to take a somewhat scenic route since I've never been to that part of the country and check out the scenery. I'm really interested in any cool natural landmarks, scenic spots, hiking, waterfalls, historical sites, and good local places to eat.

If any of you Tennessee folks wouldn't mind helping out a Texan just passing through, send me a PM! Any suggestions are much appreciated!

EDIT: Y'all are awesome! Thanks for all the info!