Great Smoky Mountain National Park : The national park, in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, encompasses 800 square miles of which 95 percent are forested.  Just miles from Whittier, through Cherokee  is the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  From there you can visit The Pioneer Village, Mingus Mill, The Visitors Station and Clingmans Dome.  Or head west and enter the park though Bryson City to visit Deep Creep National Park.  Enjoy three waterfalls and tubing.

Bryson City  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. 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.  We have cascading trout streams, biking and hiking trails and spectacular mountain views. We have beautiful mountain roadways, including the southern leg of the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can ride a historic steam-powered train. And you can experience the rich cultural heritage of the Cherokee Indians. You can go shopping, sightseeing or just stroll along Deep Creek with its three crystal waterfalls.

Harrah's Casino :Harrah's Cherokee Casino brings you all your favorite games in video format, like Double Diamonds, Red, White & Blue and Sizzling Sevens, all with the added skill feature of a second spin to win. Plus video blackjack, video poker and video craps.

Golf : Great Smoky Mountains golf is played in the Highlands where Western North Carolina meets East Tennessee. Here, the Great Smokys weave in and out of the Blue Ridge, creating the stage for a great game of golf; these 25 courses offer the best  in Tennessee & North Carolina golf.

Hiking :For anyone who loves the outdoors, North Carolina's abundance of public land is almost an embarrassment of riches.  Consider: This state is home to four national forests, covering a total of 2,954,000 acres. NC also has the Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores, sporting 126 miles of pristine beaches. NC shares with Tennessee the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC's share being 275,895 acres, or about 53 percent of the park.

Gem Mining :  Gem mining has been a favorite activity for visitors to the Franklin/Bryson City area for years. Here is a guide to get you started. 

White Water Rafting : Many people lack the equipment or skill needed to run the Chattooga River safely. Three companies are commercially licensed to operate on the Chattooga by the U.S. Forest Service.  Check out www.raftwithkids.com.

Trout Fishing

Tubing : Two (2) miles from Bryson City you will find nature's best water ride at Deep Creek National Park.  Deep Creek is part of the Smoky Mountain Parks system, and tubing is an activity the whole family can enjoy. Spend an hour or all day riding the waves on a cool, refreshing mountain creek in the Smoky Mountains. Shoot the rapids or float lazily along. Outfitters for Tube rentals are located near the Great Smoky Mountain Entrance.

Mountain Biking: This link will take you to a page that has most of the mountain bike trails listed for North Carolina.  Also, you may find more biking information here.

ATV Trails/Rentals:  Check out ATV Adventures, a member of the National Forest Foundation and operating under a Special Use Permit from the U.S. Forest Service, Appalachian ATV Adventures offers a unique, forest friendly riding environment that is both fun and educational.

Skiing, Snow Tubing:  Great skiing is Cataloochee's specialty. For over 40 years, Cataloochee skiers have enjoyed the best of North Carolina skiing with exciting slopes, winding trails
and a friendly, helpful atmosphere that makes the Cataloochee Ski Area experience unique.

Here families learn their skiing skills on special beginner slopes with their own chairlift. Then, they graduate to more difficult intermediate slopes like
“Lower Omigosh” and the “Rock Island Run.”  Finally, they advance to 5,400-foot Moody Top, with its 740’ vertical drop, while experienced
snowboarders can hone their skills in the newly relocated “Cat Cage” terrain park. The Rock Island Line quad lift opens more of the mountain to intermediate skiers than ever before. Together the slopes of Cataloochee present some of the most welcoming and challenging terrain in the Southeast.

Also, don't miss Tube World in the Valley for a slidin' good time!.

Fontana Dam  This is Fontana -- a dam and its lake, a community and its recreation, a story of courage and human endeavor.  The highest dam in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) system, Fontana ranks among the most beautiful in the world.  Surrounded by the extraordinary beauty of the Smoky Mountains, the adjacent national forests, and deep river gorges.

Blue Ridge Parkway : The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile recreational motor road that protects the cultural and natural features of the Blue Ridge while connecting Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. Designed as a "scenic drive", the Parkway provides both stunning scenery and close-up looks at the natural and cultural history of the mountains.

Maggie Valley : The list of what you can do while in the Smokies is virtually endless.  There is something for everyone, be it the thrill of a roller coaster ride on the edge of a mountain, discovering the perfect romantic getaway surrounded by mountain peaks, hiking along hundreds of incredibly scenic trails or riding a horse or a mountain bike along awesome ridges.

Smokey Mountain Railroad : With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy year-round scenic train journeys across fertile valleys, through tunnels and across river gorges in a spectacular region of eastern America called the Great Smoky Mountains. This section of western North Carolina offers a wide array of ever-changing vegetation and fantastic landscapes.

Horseback Riding Five drive-in horse camps provide ready access to back-country trails for equestrians in the national park. They are located at Cades Cove in Tennessee and at Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom and Towstring in North Carolina. Auto access horse camps are open. For reservations, call (865) 436-1231.

Pigeon Forge : We're the affordable family vacation spot with something for everyone. Begin your Pigeon Forge family vacation on our attraction-lined Parkway, with six outlet malls and dozens of craft stores. Then spend a day at Dollywood, for a Tennessee family vacation with rides and entertainment. At night, catch an exciting show celebrating our Appalachian mountain heritage.

Gatlinburg TN : What does Gatlinburg have to offer? You'll find it all here--everything you'd ever want to do in the Smokies and more! Discover up-to-date information on things to do, special events, shows and attractions, accommodations of all types, restaurants, shopping, weddings and even valuable local services that just may come in handy while you're staying with us.

Asheville:  Lift your spirit to the mountains. To the place where the Great Smokys and the Blue Ridge meet. To the city of Asheville. A place unlike any other on Earth. It's a place with more than its share of spectacular natural beauty. As well as a seemingly endless variety of interesting and exciting things to see and do.

Clingmans Dome

At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's highest point. It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the second highest point east of the Mississippi. Only North Carolina's Mt. Mitchell (6,684 feet) rises higher.

Juneywhank Falls

Deep Creep National Park

Bryson City, NC

JuneyWhank falls is said to be named about Junaluska "Juney" Whank, who is thought to be buried in this area.  The Hike to the falls is .8 round trip and moderate difficulty.  Height of the falls is 90'.

Mountain Farm Museum

Just North of Cherokee on Newfoundland Gap Road

The Davis House is just one of the structures at the Mountain House Museum.  The buildings, most dating back to around 1900, were moved from their original locations throughout the Smokys to this site to create an open air museum. 

Dry Falls

Highway 64

The drive down Highway 64 from Franklin is one of the most scenic in North Carolina.  Near Van Hook Glade State Park is the plunging tumult of water known as Dry Falls.  Accessible by a paved and fenced path, the rushing water falls 75 feet to the boulder-strewn river. The cascade is surrounded by schist and gneiss, rock that is estimated to be 800 million years old. The five-minute walk continues along the recessed ledge behind the not-so-dry falls. The freshness of the air and the cool spray of the roaring water is invigorating at this close range.

Highlands NC

First Presbyterian Church

National Register of

Historic Landmarks

Keep traveling on 64 to the quaint city of Highlands.  Interesting shops and wonderful restaurants are a great way to wile away an afternoon.

No trip to North Carolina would be complete without a visit to Biltmore Estate.  More than a century ago, George Vanderbilt created a larger-than-life country retreat in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Its centerpiece— Biltmore House— provided 250 rooms of hospitality to family and friends.

Today, Biltmore Estate continues to offer a gracious escape from everyday
life. Marvel at the grandeur of America’s largest home filled with Vanderbilt’s
collection of fine art and antiques. Stroll through gardens created by America’s
father of landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted. Enjoy estate-raised foods, and savor award-winning vintages at Biltmore’s winery.  Escape the ordinary—visit the extraordinary wonders of Biltmore Estate. Biltmore Estate is open seven days a week, 363 days a year. Biltmore is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.
 

Mingo Falls

The Spectacular Mingo Falls located in Cherokee, NC are over 120 feet high and are rated one of the most impressive falls in Western North Carolina. The climb is steep with approximately 170 steps that take you about 2/10ths of a mile up, then a short easy trail provides access to the falls. The hike to these falls is rated moderate, but for people with heart or breathing problems it would be strenuous.

From US 74, take exit 74, continue on US 441 north, for 5.2 miles. Turn right onto US 19 and continue 0.5 miles. Turn left at next traffic light in the direction of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (staying on US 441 N). Continue for 2.25 miles and turn right onto Big Cove Road. Continue for 5.25 miles. Turn right, straight ahead is a parking lot and trail.