Area Attractions
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Below are Just Some of the Activities in the Surrounding Areas |
Bryson City / Swain County Visitors Center210 Main Street www.greatsmokies.com A visit to Bryson City will take you back to a simpler, less-complicated time. Yet you’ll have lots to do in the Swain County area of Western North Carolina. We’re home to much of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including its highest peak, Clingmans Dome. We have the Nantahala River, one of the nation’s most popular whitewater venues, and beautiful Fontana Lake with the highest dam east of the Rockies. |
Bryson CityGreat Smoky Mountains Railroad www.gsmr.com 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. Smoky Mountain Trains www.smokymtntrains.com 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 Monday-Saturday 8:30am-5:30pm. (Closed Sundays) January & February: Open Fridays & Saturdays only. Children under 3-Free. |
Great Smoky Mountain National ParkGreat Smoky Mountain National Park www.nps.gov/grsm Half of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in North Carolina, and most of that is in Swain County. Popular areas include Deep Creek, Lakeview Drive (“The Road to Nowhere”), Mountain Farm Museum, Mingus Mill, Smokemont, Clingmans Dome, Cataloochee Valley and the north shore of Fontana Lake. Headquarters & Tennessee Main Entrance North Carolina main Entrance 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 is the highest point in the Smokies and Cade’s Cove are the most popular landmarks. Deep Creek entrance The Deep Creek area is celebrated for its streams and waterfalls. Hikers can choose from several loop hikes leading to the waterfalls. Mountain bikers can take advantage of one of the few park trails where bicycles are permitted. Tubing is popular and fun experience. |
Whitewater RaftingThe Nantahala, Oconaluftee, and Little Tennessee Rivers provide whitwater fun for all ages. The most challenging is the the Nantahala River which is dam controlled and features Class III rapids. For a list of Whitewater outfitters and other information, click here. www.greatsmokies.com/rafting.asp |
Smoky Moutain Golf Country Club1112 Conleys Creek Road www.CarolinaMountainGolf.com
Whittier, NC 28789
800-474-0070
Nestled in one of the area’s most dramatic mountain valleys, surrounded by 5,000 foot peaks, is Smoky Mountain Country Club, a golf destination convenient to the recreation and sights of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region. From valley floors to mountaintops, Smoky Mountain Country Club provides a unique golfing experience – one we’re pretty sure anyone in the “flatlands” has never experienced. The first three holes follow the valley floor before your mountain experience commences. Beginning with the 4th hole, all the way to your final put on 18, you will not play two consecutive holes at the same elevation, as the golf couse rises and falls spectacularly through the Great Smoky Mountains.
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Cherokee Indian Reservation
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Fontana DamHwy 28 west of Bryson City 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. |
Blue Ridge ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway Association www.nps.gov/blri 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 1-800-867-9246. |
Harrahs Cherokee CasinoHighway 19, Cherokee, NC 28719 800-427-7247 or 828-497-7777 www.harrahs.com/casinos/harrahs-cherokee/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml 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. New Hotel: A new 15 story, 252 room hotel opened in 2002. |
Nantahala Gorge Ruby Mine, Inc.11900 U.S. 19/74 West, Bryson City, NC 28713 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. |
Santa’s Land Fun Park and ZooRt. 1 Box 134-A, Cherokee NC 28719 www.santaslandnc.com 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.; Weekends only through November 25th. Children under 2 free. |
Whittier Historical Center29 Main Street, P.O. Box 1237, Located in the original Old Whittier Grocery Store, this exhibit includes a replica of the original town of Whittier c.1890’s-1910, as well as memorabilia, old photos, and a Who’s Who of over 300 family names. The mini-museum is free to the public, operating by donations and through the sale of post cards, maps, an Historical newspaper, The New Whittier Record, and other souvenir items. Open year-around, Monday thru Saturday from noon to 5 pm. |
