Great Smoky Mountains Railroad beside fontana Lake
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| TRAVEL GUIDE TO BRYSON CITY AND THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | |
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Great Smoky Mountains Railroad beside fontana Lake |
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Places to visit IN THE SMOKIES With So Many Bryson City Area Attractions, No Smoky Mountain Vacation Is Long Enough Bryson City’s central location makes it the ideal home base for an event-filled Western North Carolina vacation. Here are some of the great things to do while staying in Swain County. |
Blue Ridge Parkway Association P.O. Box 2136 Asheville, NC 28802 The Blue Ridge Parkway begins in Swain County and provides spectacular views of the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains. An ideal place for picnics and bicycling. A vacation map and guide is available at the address above, or by contacting the Swain County Chamber of Commerce at 800-867-9246. 75th Anniversary events.
Saunooke Village Cherokee, NC 828-497-3211 The Museum highlights Cherokee’s past through displays of art and cultural items such as masks, crystals, the uketena and more. Includes a gallery of Native American crafts and art. Open daily April through November $2.50 (11 years and older), $1.50 (6-10 years), under 6 free. Cherokee Visitor Center US 441 North PO Box 460, Cherokee, NC 28719 828-497-9195 or 800-438-1601 An information resource on all there is to do in Cherokee. 61 Sequoyah Trail Cherokee, NC 28719 828-497-7384 Modern two-screen movie theatre with stadium seating and digital sound. Located at the intersection of US Highway 19 and Hospital Road in Cherokee. Check website for showings, showtimes, directions and online ticketing. Open daily. Hwy 28 west of Bryson City, NC 828-498-2234 (May thru September) or 828-498-2251 (off season) 480 feet high, Fontana is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States. Constructed by the Tennessee Valley Authority during the early 1940s to supply electricity to fuel the war effort during World War II. Open for visitors May thru September. Free.
Headquarters & Tennessee main entrance Sugarlands Visitor Center 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 423-436-1200 North Carolina main entrance
US 441 North Cherokee, NC 828-497-1900 With sixteen peaks over 6,000 feet and more than a
half-million acres of pristine primitive wilderness, the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park is the nation's most-visited national park.
Clingmans Dome —the highest point in the Smokies — and Cade's Cove
are the most popular landmarks.
PO Box 1490 Bryson City, NC 28713 828-586-8811 or 800-872-4681 The Nantahala Gorge Excursion from Bryson City is a 4 1/2 hours, 44 miles round trip ride. The train travels to the Nantahala Gorge and returns. This magnificent trip offers highlights like the Horseshoe Curve, Fontana Lake Trestle, Tennessee River and the Nantahala River. Passengers ride in comfortable, reconditioned coaches, crown coaches, club cars, dining cars, cabooses, and open cars, which are ideal for viewing and picture taking. Special excursions and group rates are available. Highway 19 Cherokee, NC 800-427-7247 or 828-497-7777 24-hour casino fun, featuring 2,700 video gaming machines, three great restaurants, live entertainment, a gift shop, a culturally-themed educational child care facility and all the friendly, first-class service that has made Harrah's famous. 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. A new 15-story, 252-room hotel opened in 2002. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Oconaluftee Visitor Center US 441 North Cherokee, NC 828-497-1900 An outdoor collection of historic log, farm buildings that is open year-round. Walk at your leisure through the house, barn, and outbuildings including a blacksmith shop and chicken coop. Gardens and orchards feature heirloom plants. Easy walking trail by the Oconaluftee River. There are 2 festivals each year, one in June that features the role women once played on mountain farms and The Mountain Life Festival in September. PO Box 1599 Cherokee, NC 28719 828-497-3481 By combining high-tech wizardry and an extensive artifact collection, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian is fun for the entire family and an exciting, educational event. Open daily at 9 am except closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children, and free for children under age 6. |
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10345 US Hwy 74 West The first Zip Line Canopy Tour in the Smokies of Western NC. Over half-mile of high flying fun over 22 acres of the Falling Waters Adventure Resort. Eleven sections and 5 sky bridges combine to provide three hours of the hottest adventure activity. Experience the excitement and beauty of sailing through the air amongst the trees! Two professional Canopy Rangers accompany the trip.
11900 U.S. 19/74 West Bryson City, NC 28713 828-488-3854 Professional Gem Stone evaluation and cutting is available onsite through our gemologist, Gene Elliott. Gene has received local and national recognition for his honesty, fairness, and expert craftsmanship. Season: Mid-May through Mid-October. Drama Road PO Box 398 Cherokee, NC 28719 828-497-2111 or 828-497-2315 Recreated Cherokee Village of the 1750s. Regular tours by Cherokee guides present history, crafts, early homes and mountain forest demonstrations of beadwork, pottery, blowguns, and much more in a beautiful forest setting. Open from 9:00 am until 5:30 pm daily, May 15th thru October 25th. Adults $13.00; Children: (6-13) $6.00. Hwy 441 & Drama Road Cherokee NC 28719 828-497-3103 Established in 1946, it serves mainly as a cooperative mutual for 300 Cherokee craftspeople, the facility has a large display area for those interested in historical baskets, masks, pottery, fingerweaving, wood carving and more. Hours - June through August 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. September through October - 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. November through May 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. No admission fee. 571 Wolftown Road Cherokee NC 28719 828-497-9191 Located 3 miles east of Cherokee on US 19. See Santa and his elves, browse through gift shops and exhibits, and visit the domestic and exotic animals in the zoo. Santa's Land also features rides, picnic facilities, and eating establishments. Open daily 9 am to 5 pm from March 31st through October 31st. $16.59, children under 2 free. 1300 Conleys Creek Road Nestled in one of North Carolina's most dramatic mountain valleys, surrounded by 5,000 foot peaks is Smoky Mountain Country Club, a golf and vacation destination convenient to the recreation and sights of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From valley floors to mountaintops, we provide a unique golfing experience at our 18-hole course. Practice facilities include driving range, putting green and chipping area. Free rental clubs. Open to the public. (Exit 72 off US Hwy 74 & follow signs) 22 Needmore Road Bryson City, NC 28713 888-900-9091 Our 12-passenger Jet Boats take all ages for an exhilarating and scenic ride on beautiful Lake Fontana. Along the way you will do the unique Hamilton spin, view a 50-foot waterfall and possibly a Bald Eagle or family of otters. Ask about our combination hiking trip in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Allow an hour. 100 Greenlee Street, Bryson City, NC 28713 Mission: To share the spirit of model railroading with individuals of all ages. Smoky Mountain Trains is more than an ordinary museum. With its collection of 7,000 Lionel engines, cars and accessories, impressive operating layout, children's activity center, and gift/toy shop, Smoky Mountain Trains has something for everyone. Open 7 days a week, schedule varies by season. Adults $9.00; children under 12 - $5.00; children under 3 - Free. Owned and operated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
121 Schoolhouse Road Located just 30 minutes west of Bryson City off Highway 28, the old Stecoah School has been given new life as an arts center. Experience the arts and culture of the mountains year 'round with festivals, concerts and an Artisans Gallery. In the Gallery you'll find original artwork and fine crafts from the Stecoah Artisans Guild. An Appalachian Evening, the summer concert series offers an ever-changing schedule of bluegrass, folk and old-time mountain music by award-winning artists.
Located on the Village Green, the Stone Creek Pool & Lazy River has quickly become the hot spot during those lazy days of summer. You can relax in the pool or catch some rays on a chaise lounge while the kids are tubing 'round the Lazy river or playing underneath the mushroom waterfalls. Admission is $5 each for day trippers to the Village. The poolside Stone Creek Grill offers casual sandwich-pizza-snack fare.
Mountainside Theater / U.S. 441 North PO Box 398 Cherokee, NC 28719 866-554-4557 Recognized as one of the top outdoor dramas in the United States with over 5,000,000 visitors since its opening in July 1950. The Drama tells the history of the Cherokee people from about 1540 through their forced removal from this area in the late 1830's. Shows nightly except Sunday. Preshow at 7 pm, drama begins at 7:30 pm. Performance runs 2 hours including intermission. June-August; check the website for exact dates. General admission seating: Adults $18 - Children (12 and under) $8. Family Pack: 2 free tickets for children ates 6-12 with the purchase of 1 adult ticket. . The Nantahala, Oconaluftee, and Little Tennessee Rivers
provide whitewater fun for all ages. The most challenging is the Nantahala
River, which is dam controlled and features Class III rapids. For a
list of Whitewater outfitters and other information, visit the Rafting section of this web site. |
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Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad 
Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tour
