Summer is officially over in the Great Smoky Mountains, and I wish I were there right now.

Last October I spent two days hiking the Smokies; who can turn down a forest full of shimmering reds, oranges and golds? While redwood forests are showstoppers pretty much anywhere right now, a hike deep in the Smokies is a guaranteed smorgasbord.

What's sad is how many people simply drive through the area to satisfy their color-lust. Park Ranger, Mike Meldrum, told me that when you don't get out of the car, you miss that communion with nature. "When you're in the car, everything is framed by the windows," he said. "You need to become part of the landscape."

I took his advice and hiked a few trails during my visit. On one trail, the gentle rippling of Mill Creek punctuated our stroll. It was an easy hike, but it gave my partner and myself time to chat about all the little things we forget during our busy lives back home.

"Hiking in the mountains - even if you only do one mile of a five mile hike - is a good time to get to know the person you came with and remember why they're special to you," Meldrum said. I couldn't agree more.

Eric Plakanis, co-owner and operator of "A Walk in the Woods," taught me a few skills I'm pretty sure are unique to the Smokies. Apparently leaves from the sourwood tree cure thirst until you can get to water - and I love the minty taste. I'd always thought of hemlock as poison, but its roots - not leaves - are dangerous. The leaves are actually an excellent source of vitamin C - who knew? "Whenever we start feeling a little punky in the winter months, we brew a pot of hemlock and sidestep the flu," Eric said.

I left the Great Smokies with a hankering to come back and visit again, real soon. And since I have nothing planned for next weekend, I might just book myself a trip to the Smokies.

Where are you going for your color-fix?

• GETTING THERE: The Great Smokies straddle the ridgeline of the Appalation Mountains between Tennessee and North Carolina. Gatlinburg is 43 miles north of Knoxville and five miles south of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville (Dollywood Adventure Park and many factory outlet stores).
• ACTIVITIES AND ADMISSIONS: A Walk in the Woods (www.awalkinthewoods.com) is priced according to the length and difficulty of the hike. Choose from a 1-2 hour to an overnight adventure. Prices start at $20 per person. If you prefer to hike on your own, pick up a copy of  Scavenger Hike Adventures (http://www.smokymountainscavengerhike.com/description.html). Enjoy the Big River that flows through town while shopping or take the 11-mile driving loop at Cades Cove and enjoy looking at what life was like on the mountains one hundred years ago.
• CONSIDERATIONS: Most outdoor recreation is available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. If you're into soft adventure, visit the Smokies during the day and head to Gatlinburg for the evening. Bears roam the hills freely, especially in the spring and fall.
• WEATHER: Temperatures are moderate to warm during the day, and cool at night. Sporadic showers are common, so bring along a poncho just in case.
• LODGING: Park Vista Resort offers a panoramic view of the city - www.parkvista.com. Other lodging options can be viewed at: www.gatlinburg.com.
• FOR MORE INFORMATION: Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce: www.gatlinburg.com or (800) 588-1817

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