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Don’t Just Take Our Word For It…

Bryson City’s attractions, activities and businesses are frequently featured in the media. Here are a few examples of what journalists are saying.

If you see something in the news that we don’t have noted here, we’d love to hear from you at updates@greatsmokies.com.

Media Reviews of Bryson City

Explore More NC logoExploreMoreNC.com – “35+ Things To Do In Bryson City” including breweries, holiday season actiities, lodging, outdoor activities, annual events and restaurants. (August, 2023) Read the article

Mens Journal logoMensJournal.com – “The Best Mountain Towns in America and Beyond” (November, 2022) Read the article

Money Inc LogoMoneyInc.com – “The 20 Best Places to Visit in July in the US” – Bryson City is a beautiful place to visit in July. The weather is warm but not too hot, and the wildflowers bloom. (October, 2022) Read the article

USA Today LogoUSAToday.com – “10 Best – SE Mountain Towns Getaways” (September, 2022) Read the article

Southern Living LogoUSAToday.com – “It’s Time to Visit Bryson City” (July, 2022) Read the article

SouthPark LogoSouthPark Magazine – “Off The Beaten Path – Bryson City.” (April, 2021) Read the article

Yahoo logoFinance.Yahoo.com & AOL.Com – “10 Affordable and Remote Locations in the US That Could Be Worth a Visit This Summer – Bryson City Ranked #1.” (May, 2021) Read the article

WanderlustWithLisa.com – “15 Things to do in Bryson City, NC” (May, 2021) Read the article

NC Tripping logoNCTripping.com – “Things to do in Bryson City NC.” (October, 2020) Read the article

Wiki.ezvid.com – “Unforgettable Places to Visit in North Carolina” (October, 2020) Read the article

Mens Journal logoMensJournal.com – “5 American Road Trips That Will Restore Your Sense of Wonder.” (August, 2020)

Road Trippers logoRoadTrippers.com – “An Insider’s Guide to Hidden Gems in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.” (June, 2020) Read the article

iExplore LogoiExplore.com – “The Smoky Mountains Best-Kept Secret is Bryson City…If you’re looking for more of a quiet mountain town with a big personality, chances are Bryson City, NC needs to be on your radar.” (July, 2020) Read the article

Far And Wide logoFarAndWide.com – “America’s 35 Best Small Towns in the Mountains.” (July, 2020) Read the article

Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide – Top 20 Blue Ridge Mountain Towns.” (June, 2020)

Trips With Pets logoTrips With Pets – “Top 5 Dog Friendly Mountain Getaways in North Carolina” (January, 2020. “For those looking for a truly dog friendly vacation, Bryson City welcomes pet parents and their pups.” Read the article

Parents magazine logoParents Magazine & Parents.com – “Spooktacular Places to Visit for Halloween.” Highlights the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch, Cherokee storytelling the train museum, and hiking in Deep Creek as well as a stay at Watershed Resort. (September, 2019) Read the article

OnlyInYourState.com – To truly appreciate the beauty of North Carolina, lace up your hiking boots and hit one of the state’s many trails. The Deep Creek Loop Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains is one of our favorites. (September, 2019) Read the article

Travel Channel logoTravelChannel.com – “10 Great Places to Go Leaf Peeping Down South”, includes Bryson City and great fall activities on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and hiking in the National Park. (September, 2019) Read the article

AAA logoAAA Go Magazine (print and online) – Carolina Road Trip Planner 2 items: Freedom Fest listing and Freedom Train listing with photo. NC & SC members, (June, 2019)

Real Trends – “The 10 Best Small Town 4th of July Celebrations Across the U.S.” (June, 2019) Read the article

Reader's Digest logoReadersDigest.com – “The 15 Best Small-Town July Fourth Fireworks” in the USA features Bryson City’s FreedomFest day. (June, 2019) Also picked up by MSN. Read the article

New York Times logoThe New York Times featured the Nantahala Outdoor Center  in an article in both online and print. NOC was one of only four locations chosen for an article entitled “Camp Getaways for the Whole Family.” (June, 2019) Read the article

WFMY News logoWFMY News / CBS Greensboro  feature: “Yes, There Is A Real ‘Road To Nowhere’ In North Carolina And Its History Is A Real Saga.” (May, 2019) Read the article

Atlanta Magazine logoAtlanta Magazine & Southbound magazine. A great article about a road trip through Western North Carolina featuring Bryson City, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, and the Everett Hotel. (April, 2019) Read the article

Charlotte Five featured a lengthy article on a trip to Bryson City: “Your Bryson City Bucket List.” Charlotte Five is an online lifestyle publication for the Charlotte area. (April 2019) Read the article

Oprah Magazine logoOprah Magazine – “12 Most Scenic Train Rides in the US.” That’s well-deserved high praise. featured Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. (April, 2019) Read the article

Reader's Digest logoReaders Digest – “The Most Magical Christmas Train Rides In America”! The travels through the Smoky Mountains to the North Pole and back to the Bryson City, NC depot.(December, 2018) Read the article

Narcity (Canadian media) – “Fifteen North Carolina Towns That Become Magical in Winter” includes Bryson City. (December 2018) Read the article

Travel Channel logoTravel Channel online — “How to Celebrate a Merry Smoky Mountain Christmas.” “The Smoky Mountains are a traveler favorite in the warmer months, but countless Christmas festivities also make the region a must-visit winter destination… Asheville and Bryson City are big draws on the North Carolina side. Here are 12 ways you can experience an idyllic mountain Christmas in the Smokies.” (December 2018) Read the article

The Blue Ridge Digest featured an article entitled “Fun Things to do Surrounded by Fall Color” in their Fall 2018 issue.

Travel & Leisure logoTravel and Leisure named GSMR one of ten top fall foliage train trips. Board the train in Bryson, North Carolina, which is not too far from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Read the article

Leisure Group Travel included Bryson City’s own Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Nantahala Outdoor Center and Lakeview Drive in an August article entitled “North Carolina’s Mountain Playground.” The article appeared in print and online.(  August, 2018) Read the article

Charlotte Parent magazine logoCarolina Parent and Charlotte Parent magazines. “Three Must-Visit North Carolina Mountain Towns” includes Bryson City. (July 2018) Read the article

Fodor's Travel logoFodors.com chose Bryson City as one of “America’s 15 Best Small Town Fourth of July Celebrations” (July, 2018). Read the article

Only In Your State –  13 of the very best places to go in North Carolina this spring (3/29/18) “This small town in the Smoky Mountains is the perfect place to call home during a family excursion in the mountains. Check out some of the fun attractions located in, and near, Bryson City.” Read the article

USA Today logoUSA Today – Feature story of 10 surprising, spooky and inspiring American road trips (taken from The Road Trip Book: 1001 Drives of a Lifetime.) In this collection of 10, USA Today names The Dragon as ‘the best ride in North America.’ (March 2018) Read the article

Expedia.com – “Americans pick their favorite destinations.” Bryson City lands a spot in Expedia’s top 20 vacation spots as a result of a recent travel survey of 1,000 Americans to determine their favorite medium and small towns to visit in the US.(March, 2018) Read the article

USA Today – “20 best places to buy a vacation rental.” Report of information from Rented.com, which ranked markets using criteria such as housing prices, popularity of the rental market, cost of insurance and real estate taxes and more. Read the article

Blue Ridge Outdoors March 2018 issue features 8 favorite trout towns. Of Bryson City, the writer says, “In all of my wanderings throughout Western North Carolina, I’ve yet to find a community that more genuinely deserves the moniker of ‘Trout Town’ than Bryson City.” Read the article

OnlyInYourState.com – The Tiny Town In North Carolina That’s In The Middle Of Everything. “If you’re seeking to have a big vacation in a small town, then North Carolina’s Bryson City is a superb location to make it happen. This small town of approximately 1,500 people is full of irresistible charm and gracious hospitality.” (Feb 2018) Read the article

Bryson City - Swain County
Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 509
Bryson City, NC 28713

Karen Proctor
Executive Director

828-488-3681

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