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Come Play in the Great Smoky Mountains Centrally located, Maggie Valley is the perfect place to shop, stay & play and/or relax, refresh & rejuvenate, while planning to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway and/or day trips to Asheville, Cherokee, Tennessee & more. Discover why Maggie Valley Festival Grounds is the perfect location for your unique-sized event.
June 6 - 8 Ole Smokey Antique Tractor Club Spring Farm Fest - Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 8am to 5:30pm daily. Contact Damon Swanger at 828-734-1510 or schramm125@aol.com. Fun for all ages! June 13 & 14 Maggie Valley Bike Fest & Swap Meet Open Friday & Saturday, 10am to 11pm daily. Motorcycle Rally, Swap Meet, Concerts and Bike Contests. Visit maggievalleybikefest.com for more information.
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June 21 & 22 PlottFest Mountain Music & Heritage Festival, our NC State Dog the Plott Hound and featuring Balsam Range both days, open 9am – 7pm Saturday and noon – 6pm Sunday. For details call 828-506-7137 or visit www.plottfest.org. Fun for all ages!
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June 27 - 29 Maggie Valley Swap Meet & Car Show - $5 Admission Daily for ages 13 & up; Open Friday & Saturday from 8am - 6pm, Sunday, 8am - 4pm. Contact Rodney Buckner @ 423-623-2723 or 423-608-4519, rodneybuckner@att.net or visit www.maggievalleyswapmeet.com.
July 4 Backyard 4th Come celebrate Independence Day in throwback style at Maggie Valley F e s t i v a l Grounds. Gates Open at 6PM. Bring your blanket, chairs, picnic basket and yard games! An alcohol free event. Enjoy our great fireworks at dark! Visit www.townofmaggievalley.com or call 828-926-0866 for more details July 12 & 13 Maggie Valley Summer Arts & Crafts Festival – Free event! Chainsaw demonstrations and a variety of foods on site. Open both days 9am - 5pm. Contact Teresa Smith at 800-624-4431 or visit www.maggievalley.org for more information.
July 18 & 19 Southeastern Gas & Petroleum Expo, Vintage Show – 8 am – 6pm daily. For more information, contact
Rodney Buckner at 423-623-2723 or 423-608-4519, rodneybuckner@att.net or visit southeasterngasandpetroleumexpo.com.
July 25 & 26 Smokin’ in the Valley - WNC BBQ Festival 2014 Open Friday, July 25 from noon - 9pm & Saturday, July 26 from 10am - 8pm. For more info contact Teresa at 800-624-4431 or visit www.maggievalley.org. August 1 & 2 Hillbilly Woodstock 2014 - Open to the public: Friday 4pm – 11pm, Saturday 11am – 11pm. Price of admission $6 per day or $10 for both days. Special Guest - Big Juicy from Lizard Lick Towing. Email br1951@charter.net for more information. New for this year Car Show! For details contact Robbie Honeycutt @ 423-483-4295.
www.maggievalleyfestivalgrounds.org 828.926.0866 • mvfestivals@townofmaggievalley.com
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August 15 –17 Maggie Valley Summer Motorcycle Rally -
Gates: Friday, 3pm – 11pm, Saturday, 9am – 11pm & Sunday, 9am – 5pm. Contact Sonny at 336-643-1367 or 336-580-1638, sonny@maggievalleyrallys.com,
Charlie at 423-465-5855, charlie@autoshows.cc or visit www.maggievalleyrallys.com.
August 22 & 23 The 33rd Maggie Valley Moonlight Run - Night 8k Race on US Hwy 19. Register on Friday, 3pm - 6pm & Register/Race Saturday, 2pm - 11pm. Contact Glory Hound Events @ 828-400-5868 or visit www.maggievalleymoonlightrun.com. August 30 & 31 Maggie Valley Labor Day Weekend Craft Show Saturday & Sunday, 9am - 5pm daily. For more info: 828-497-9425, Maggie Valley Craft Shows, PO Box 1208, Maggie Valley, NC 28751 or visit www.maggievalleycraftshows.com.
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WNC TRAVEL GUIDE Spring & Summer 2014
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Welcome to the WNC Travel Guide Welcome to the most recent edition of Western North Carolina’s most comprehensive travel guide. We invite you to visit our distinctive downtowns. Throughout the mountain, our small towns — Waynesville, Sylva, Bryson City, Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Cherokee, Highlands and Cashiers — continue to attract entrepreneurs opening new dining and retail establishments to accompany those that are already flourishing. Choose your destination and you’ll find craft breweries (three in Waynesville, two in Sylva, one in Bryson City, and one soon to open in Franklin), live theater, concerts by both local and national performers, and the traditional hospitality this region is known for. And don’t forget the outdoors. The mainstay of mountain tourism — the rivers, backcountry trails, gorgeous waterfalls, and sweeping vistas are always there. Whether your sitting at a sidewalk café or standing atop a mountain bald, the views can’t be beat. If you have access to the Web, visit our online edition. Everything in this issue and information from out past editions is at WNCTravel.com. Have fun, be nice to Mother Nature, and come back. — Scott McLeod, Publisher
Inside the Guide Mark Haskett photo
All about the mountains Rolling down the river . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Reeling in Appalachia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Traditional Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Cataloochee Ranch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Music in the mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Farmer’s markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Shelton House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 WNC Festivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Slab Town Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Mahogany House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Great Smokies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Blue Ridge Parkway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Mountain Towns Waynesville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Canton + Clyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Maggie Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Editor/Publisher: Advertising Director: Art Director: Graphics: Writing/Photography Advertising:
Distribution: Bookkeeping:
Scott McLeod Greg Boothroyd Micah McClure Travis Bumgardner Emily Moss Garret K. Woodward Whitney Burton Amanda Bradley Hylah Smalley Scott Collier Amanda Singletary
info@smokymountainnews.com greg@smokymountainnews.com micah@smokymountainnews.com travis@smokymountainnews.com emily@smokymountainnews.com garret@smokymountainnews.com hc-ads@smokymountainnews.com jc-ads@smokymountainnews.com hylah@smliv.com classads@smokymountainnews.com smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com
If you’d like bulk copies of the WNC Travel Guide to distribute at your business, email your request to classads@smokymountainnews.com or call Distribution Manager Scott Collier at 828.452.4251.
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For more information about WNC: • Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce 36 Montford Ave., Asheville, NC 28801, 828.258.6101 www.ashevillechamber.org • Cashiers Chamber of Commerce PO Box 238, Cashiers, NC 28717, 828.743.5191 www.cashiersnorthcarolina.com • Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PO Box 1838, Cherokee, NC 28719, 877.433.6700 www.cherokeesmokies.com • Cherokee Visitor Center PO Box 460, Cherokee, NC 28719, 828.497.9195 www.cherokee-nc.com • Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce 805 Highway 64 West, Murphy, NC 28906, 828.837.2242 www.cherokeecountychamber.com
Sylva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Dillsboro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Highlands + Cashiers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Bryson City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
• Clay County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 88, Hayesville, NC 28904, 828.389.3704 www.claycounty-nc-chamber.com • Downtown Waynesville Association PO Box 1409, Waynesville, NC 28786, 828.456.3517 www.downtownwaynesville.com • Franklin Chamber of Commerce 425 Porter St., Franklin, NC 28734, 828.524.3161 www.franklin-chamber.com • Graham County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1206, Robbinsville, NC 28771, 828.479.3790 www.grahamchamber.com • Haywood County Chamber of Commerce 28 Walnut St., Waynesville, NC 28786, 828.456.3021 www.haywood-nc.com
On the cover: A popular event each summer in Western North Carolina, the Mountain Street Dance series in downtown Waynesville showcases traditional Appalachian music and dance. Locals and visitors alike are encouraged to participate in the dance, and learn what it means to be part of these majestic mountains.
Margaret Hester photo Contents© 2014 The Smoky Mountain News. All rights reserved.
• Haywood County Tourism Development Authority 44 N. Main St., Waynesville, NC 28786, 828.452.0152 www.visitncsmokies.com • Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center Located in the historic Partridge-Rice-Thurmond house at 269 Oak Street, Highlands, NC 28741, 828.526.2112 www.highlandschamber.org. • Jackson County Chamber of Commerce 773 W. Main St., Sylva, NC 28779, 828.586.2155 www.mountainlovers.com • Maggie Valley Area Visitors Bureau PO Box 279, Maggie Valley, NC 28751, 828.926.1686 www.maggievalley.org • Swain County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 509, Bryson City, NC 28713, 828.488.3681 www.greatsmokies.com • Great Smoky Mountains National Park 107 Park Headquarters Rd., Gatlinburg, TN 37738 865.436.1200 www.nps/gov.grsm
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for All Generations Special Occassions and everyday fashions.
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The Woman's Boutique Where the Focus is You! 121 N MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC (828) 452-3611 Spring & Summer 2014 1432-21
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Rolling down the river
Shane Williams knows exactly when he’s reached the essence of a river. “For me, it’s all about the glide,” he said. “If you’ve ever been on a raft, boat, canoe, kayak or paddleboard, when you come across that current and hit the glide, it’s pretty magical.” Owner of the Dillsboro Rafting Company, Williams has been specializing in guiding trips down the Tuckasegee River for the last 13 years. It’s a passion as deep and never-ending as the ancient waters themselves. “We’ve learned a lot over the years,” he said. “ We feel like we’ve got it really dialed in because if a family comes to us, and has no idea what to do or what’s going on, we can make them as comfortable as possible and give them a product and service that they’ll come back for again.”
Want to hit the water?
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Rafting, kayaking, canoeing and tubing are among one the most popular summer diversions in the WNC region. Visit the local chambers of commerce or visitor centers websites or stop by those location (see page 4) to find out more about rafting opportunities in whatever area you may be visiting.
Growing up in Oakboro, Williams spent his free time on the nearby Rocky River. It was a pleasant childhood, one filled with fishing, swimming and boating. “I spent a good bit of time on that river,” he said. “My uncles were trappers and canoers, so we’d always go out on the water.” That early love for the river influenced Williams to attend Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
Majoring in parks and recreation, he became a student employee for the school’s outdoors program. With Western North Carolina being a wilderness paradise, Williams found himself learning about guiding river trips, only to eventually become a fully trained guide himself. “Rafting is nice because it’s a quick path and an easy path to have a wilderness experience instead of having to climb to the top of a mountain or bike way out into the woods,” he said. “You just hop into the raft — it’s a very accessible path to fun.” Following graduation, Williams became a guide, then an instructor, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Located within the Nantahala Gorge, the NOC headquarters cruises the Nantahala River, one of the top waterways in the country to raft and experience. Williams soon found his way back to WCU and became a staff instructor and guide for their outdoors program. That door opened up other opportunities to lead rafting trips in Honduras, Panama and Jamaica. “It’s about meeting different people everyday, from all walks of life,” he said. Williams noted how impressive and storied the river system in Western North Carolina is, where one can find multiple avenues of aquatic adventure and unique characters ready to show you the way. “You get the best of both worlds here. Within a twohour drive you have Class 1 to Class 5 rivers,” he said.
“It’s pretty unique because in the springtime you have rivers like the Chattooga, Nolichucky, and French Broad that are rain dependent rivers. Come summer, the temperature goes up and those water levels drop, but then Tuckaseegee, Nantahala, Ocoee and Pigeon rivers pickup, and they’re all dam controlled rivers, so you’re in the prime area.” In 2001, Williams and his wife located a waterfront property in Dillsboro to start their own rafting company. What was previously the Carolina Mountain Outdoor Center, the couple started from scratch, purchasing piece by piece of equipment and attracting curious customers that have become loyal clients over the last decade. “We’ve got folks that have been coming back to us since year one,” he said. “And to watch their kids then at 4 and 5 years old, and to see them now all the way through into high school, into college — it’s amazing.” And with those returning families comes an array of new people, all of which excited to take on the Tuckaseegee River. That feeling of sharing his passion and skill set is something that never gets old for Williams and the Dillsboro Rafting Company. “It’s pretty wild watching folks when they first start out on the river,” he said. “They’re very apprehensive and out of their comfort zone, but by the time you’re at the bottom of the river they’re dialed in and they want to keep going.”
“For me, it’s all about the glide,” he said. “If you’ve ever been on a raft, boat, canoe, kayak or paddleboard, when you come across that current and hit the glide, it’s pretty magical.” — SHANE WILLIAMS, DILLSBORO RAFTING COMPANY
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seemingly dead-end situation became a life-changing moment for Alex Bell. “We came back to school from a tournament and they said our program had been cut,” he said. Owner/founder of AB’s Fly Fishing Guide Services, Bell was a basketball player at a college on the Florida panhandle in the mid-1970s. Once he found out
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Reeling in Appalachia classroom, principal in the administration and coach in the heat of competition. Upon his retirement, he knew he couldn’t just sit on the sidelines of life. “I spent 30 years in education and I never dreaded going to work a day in my life,” he said. “I’m not somebody who can just go sit on the porch and rot. If you do what you love, you’ll never really work a day in your life.”
AB Fly Fishing Services: • Call: 828.226.3833 • Email: alex@abfish.org • Visit: www.abfish.org
Throughout the week, Bell will guide numerous groups around the county, with clinics on Saturdays at the High Hampton Inn & Country Club in Cashiers. For him, it’s about the priceless look on a client when it all clicks, when the cast, the rhythm and the catch all fall into place for an unforgettable experience on the rivers of Western North Carolina. “Watching them get the cast right for the first time, catching their first fish, that look — it’s a gift,” he said. “I love teaching a parent/child combination, where you’re seeing something they can share, and share for a lifetime.” At the center of Bell’s love of fly fishing is his crowing achievement, which is establishing the WNC Fly Fishing Trail. Encompassing big rivers, small streams, easy access and backcountry hike-ins, the 15-spot trail was the first of its kind in the United States. As a co-creator of the trail, Bell made sure the map was a thorough and accommodating for fishing enthusiasts and the curious alike. “It’s really been a neat experience. We had no idea how popular this trail would become. It’s been beyond our imaginations,” he said. “And we’ll keep tweaking,
keep modifying it, so that it will always be new and fresh.” Reflecting on his journey from Florida to Western North Carolina, Bell is thankful for all of the unique and incredible experiences he and his family have crossed paths with in Jackson County. With world-class fishing, majestic mountain peaks and welcoming communities, he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. “Those who weren’t blessed enough to be born here, we came here on our own,” he smiled.
OUTFITTERS Hunter Banks Fly Fishing 178 Waynesville Plaza Waynesville, 828.251.9721 www.hunterbanks.com River’s Edge Outfitters 1235 Seven Clans Lane Hwy 441 Cherokee, 828.497.9300 www.riversedgeoutfittersnc.com Brookings Anglers 49 Pillar Drive Cashiers, 828.743.3768 www.brookingsonline.com
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the team had been eliminated by the school, he started looking around for another institution to not only play, but also acquire an education. He soon came upon Western Carolina University in Cullowhee and was hooked. “When I came up here for a visit, it was the first time I’d ever been to this part of the country,” he said. “I fell in love with mountain vistas first, then with the local people, then with the fishing.” Following graduation, Bell officially relocated to Jackson County and never looked back. An educator in the local school districts for the better part of three decades, he was a teacher in the
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Fly-fishing guide Alex Bell (left) specializes in trips around Jackson County.
An avid fisherman all of his life, Bell has spent a lifetime in search of the perfect river, perfect cast and catch to turn any day into a great one. As a child, he was either on the ocean or inland lakes with his relatives. That love of nature and family is something he’s carried with him into his Jackson County endeavors. “I don’t even remember not fishing,” he chuckled. “It was a great way to spend time with my father. It was all about that time with him, that time on the water — it’s very therapeutic. I just enjoy the whole aspect of casting, trying to improve, trying to fool a fish.” In 2008, Bell started the fly fishing guide service. Based out of his home, the company specializes in family, group and individual trips into some the most pristine and prized waters in the country. Each jaunt into the Southern Appalachian wilderness is tailored to the client’s skill level, expectations, requests and where the fish are most likely to cooperate. “This is a way I can share my passion for fishing and love for nature with other people,” he said. “I love teaching and coaching, so this is a combination of those two things. I tell people, ‘I’m still teaching and coaching, just that my classroom got a little more scenic.’”
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Traditional Hands Cherokee history bridged through his hands
General Grant knew from a young age he was an artist. “I was gifted, it was a gift from The Creator,” he said. “He gave me multiple talents and I was not afraid to experiment with them. Through my experimentation, I’ve become very good at this and have able to make a living doing it.” Owner/operator of Traditional Hands, an art gallery in Cherokee, Grant is a skilled silversmith who also specializes in wood, stone and bone carving. Opening this past June, the shop is filled with an array of jewelry, accessories and artistic items celebrating the Cherokee traditions. “Each piece makes a statement about who I am, what I am, what I’m thinking, and how I live my life,” the 68-year-old said. One of eight children, Grant grew up eastern Tennessee. His mother was a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, while his father was a Lakota Sioux. Grant was given the name “General” in tribute to General Ulysses S. Grant (who went on to become president of the United States following the Civil War). When he was a teenager, he relocated to Cherokee and became part of the tribe. “I grew up in a Christian world, “ he said. “When the Europeans came, they threw a big blanket our native culture and identity. And what The Creator gave us as individual people here in Cherokee was a philosophy and a way of life — I fell in love with that.” Grant eventually found himself working as a construction worker. That all changed in 1980, when he fell on a job site and was severely injured. While recovering from his accident, he kept his hands busy carving and honing his artisan skills. “To supplement my income, I began selling my art,” he said. By 1982, he made his passion a full-time career, traveling to numerous powwows and tradeshows General Grant around the country. He has received numerous awards for his pieces, including recognition from the Hunter Mountain Art Show, Mohegan Powwow, Pequot Powwow at Foxwoods Casino and White Wolf Presents. Besides the acclaim, what Grant enjoys the most is seeing all of the artwork being presented, where when he picks up a piece from another artist he’s looking at a reflection of their soul. “At these shows, you can see the love and compassion that come from each individual piece,” he said. “Sometimes it makes you want to cry because you see so much love exhibited in their work — our souls are absolutely in our work.” When he’s creating, Grant lets his soul move his fingers. While working on one project, he may feel inspiration to do another design. This leads to him taking on numerous projects at one time, but it’s the way he’s always done it, the way his spirit directs him. “When I start working on a particular piece, it starts developing. Then, I see something else in my mind, so I lay that first piece down and start another one,” he smiled. “Sometimes there will Want to know more? be ten piece laying side-by-side and For more information on General Grant and his it’ll take months maybe to get back to art, visit his website at www.traditionalhands.com. that first piece.” • For information about other Cherokee artists or General is also a founding memthings to do while visiting Cherokee, click on ber of the Seven Clans Art Guild in www.visitcherokeenc.com or call 800.438.1601 Cherokee, where he continues to showcase his skills at guild shows and demonstrations. When someone comes in Traditional Hands, Grant notes how much of a connection patrons have with specific pieces in the shop. “They’re not just ‘taking it home with them,’ they’re coming in to get what they were looking for,” he said. “These people are looking for something to feel real, they’re drawn to certain pieces and can’t put them down — it’s a connection with the spirit given to us by The Creator.”
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History comes to life through food, music and camaraderie
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the ranch. It’s a history that only seems to get stronger with age. One recent special guest performer was legendary singer/songwriter Peter Rowan. Handfuls of curious people, hovering around 100 in attendance, trickled into the robust structure, once a sheep barn, each wandering the space and interacting with friends and strangers alike. And just like the license plates in the parking lot, the folks inside are from states around the South and beyond. Soon, Smith rings the dinner bell. Plates are filled with a homemade buffet of ribs, chicken, vegetables, potatoes and corn pudding. Guests grab their dishes and head for the buffet outside. Stream arises from the large portions of food as a crisp air wraps around the hungry line. Plates overflow as they find their way to the table. For the most part, seating patterns are set at random, based on the size of the dining party and space allotted
on a given night. This, in turn, prods strangers to intermingle. One quickly enters into conversation with the person to the left, the right and directly in front. The topics delved into are as varied as the backgrounds of each person present.
Come on up As Cataloochee Ranch celebrates its 80th season, there will be music most weekends along with the ranch’s famous meals. For a music schedule and more information, visit www.cataloocheeranch.com.
Someone from Atlanta will pass the salt and pepper to someone from Greenville, while someone from Orlando hands the butter down to someone from Raleigh. Each person from a different starting point in life, all with a common bond that is their memories, new and
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old, of Cataloochee. The tables are cleared and folded. Innumerable chairs are brought into the main dining area for the performance. As the audience relaxes into the ambiance, Rowan is waiting in the wings of the building. He puts the finishing touches on his outfit, with a few last second tunings on his guitar. Acclaimed for his work with bluegrass godfather Bill Monroe, Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia and other musical icons like David Grisman and Vassar Clements, Rowan is a renowned, Grammy award-winning performer. He’s a living, breathing songbook on America and beyond, whose wisdom and words as are intoxicating as the performance itself. “It’s like a revival meeting, old-time square dance and cross-cultural pollination all at the same time here,” he said. “You can take it down to intimacy. Because we’re doing bluegrass, there’s such an energy we’re putting out there — it’s more of a circle.” A frequent visitor to the ranch, Rowan has cultivated a rich, powerful bond with the family at Cataloochee. Being a deeply spiritual person, he looks at his travels to Appalachia as a time to reflect and dig further into his soul and life pursuits, which tend to be focused on personal, bountiful interactions amid the soothing power of music. “You get up here and relax by the fire at night, a big old log fire,” Rowan said. “Then you take out your guitar and just listen to the sounds of the night — that’s where the music comes from.”
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tanding atop the 5,000-foot Cataloochee Ranch mountain retreat in Maggie Valley, the vastness and endless beauty of Western North Carolina stretches out before your eyes. Heading towards the main building, you reach for the doorknob and enter eagerly. Soon, your body, mind and soul are soaked by the sounds of friends, strangers and old-time string music. “It’s just a different feeling up here, everybody is excited to be part of this,” said Billie Smith, event planner at Cataloochee. “We really open our arms to local musicians and folks from everywhere to come and join in.” Celebrating its 80th year of operation on its current location, the ranch was created by “Mr. Tom” and “Miss Judy” Alexander. It has become as much of a beloved piece of Southern Appalachian history as the mountains it resides upon. Besides offering guest lodging and outdoor activities year-round, Cataloochee has become a word-of-mouth destination for the “real deal” when it comes to live old-time string music and gut-busting meals to boot. “We like to offer people the full experience,” said Mary Coker, general manager and granddaughter of the “Mr. Tom” and “Miss Judy.” “People don’t just come for dinner and leave, they sit down and enjoy themselves, and this is our chance to be able to show off the great entertainment and atmosphere we provide for our customers.” Coker thinks quality music is a great compliment the irreplaceable culture of
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When you’re here, you’re family O’Malley’s Pub & Grill It’s about making everyone feel welcome for Lynn Stanberry. “You get a warm feeling coming in here,” she smiled. “There are college kids, locals, people on vacation. It all kind of mixes and blends well together.” Sitting in a booth at O’Malley’s Pub & Grill in Sylva, Stanberry has been the owner of the establishment since 2002. With the location celebrating 18 years in business this year, Stanberry aims to continue the long tradition of being the “everyday place for everybody.” “I want folks to feel that they’re at a local sports pub, that’s friendly, where you can come in by yourself and feel part of a group or come in with 25 of closest friends and have a party together,” she said.
Raised in nearby Canton, Stanberry went to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. While pursuing her degree, she started serving at O’Malley’s. After graduating in 1999, she left the area to see what was out there. But, before she got too far away, O’Malley’s offered her a manager position. Returning to Sylva, Stanberry enjoyed her time at the restaurant, and this next phase of her career there proved bountiful. “The original owner wanted to sell, and I knew that I loved this place, so I bought it. I figured if I could manage it, I could own it,” she chuckled. Once she took charge of O’Malley’s, Stanberry made it a personal mission to maintain the familiar ambiance loyal customers come for, but also keep things fresh, with their beloved, ever-changing menu being a main priority. “We specialize in hot wings, burgers, fried green tomatoes, things like that. It’s American pub food, but we are always adding more things and tweaking our menu,” she said. Alongside the culinary delights, Stanberry also makes sure that the live music component of O’Malley’s stays strong. Fan favorite local acts and college bands overtake the patio stage on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the year. With all of those aspects thriving, O’Malley’s is still going strong.
“You get a warm feeling coming in here. There are college kids, locals, people on vacation. It all kind of mixes and blends well together.” — LYNN S TANBERRY
“18 years being open is a long time, but it goes to show you that there have a been a lot of bars and restaurants that have come and gone,” Stanberry said. “We’ve weathered the storm, and we have that niche that people like. We’ll always try to keep that niche.” Surrounding O’Malley’s and greater Sylva are the majestic Great Smoky Mountains. Standing outside the building, one can turn in any direction to see the natural beauty of Western North Carolina. “Everything in Sylva is growing. People want to retire here. Students graduate from WCU and want to stay here. We have microbreweries down the road and live music all over,” Stanberry said. “It’s a beautiful place here. I’ve traveled all over and I still want to be here — this is my home.”
Owner of O’Malley’s Pub & Grill, Lynn Stanberry (above). Smoke Rise (left) are one of the many popular Western North Carolina bands that plays O’Malley’s regularly.
The WNC summer concert series
Mark Haskett photo
BRYSON CITY
Groovin’ On The Green Village Commons Fridays at 6:30 p.m. May 30 — Blind Lemon Phillips (blues/rock) June 6 — Hurricane Creek (folk/rock)
CHEROKEE Music on the River Oconaluftee River Stage Select nights at 8 p.m. May 16 — A-36 Band May 17 — AM Superstars May 23 — Amazing Grace Ministries May 24 — Amazing Grace Ministries May 30 — A-36 Band May 31 — An Evening with Elvis June 6 — Will Hayes Band June 7 — AM Superstars June 13 — Eastern Blue Band June 14 — An Evening with Elvis June 20 — A-36 Band June 21 — Eastern Blue Band June 27 — A-36 Band June 28 — The Boomers June 29 — AM Superstars June 30 — Running Wolf Band July 1 — Will Hayes Band July 2 — Eastern Blue Band July 3 — AM Superstars July 4 — Amazing Grace Ministries July 5 — Amazing Grace Ministries
FRANKLIN Pickin’ on the Square Town Hall Saturdays at 7 p.m. May 24 — Macon Grass (bluegrass)/Dixie Darling Cloggers May 31 — The J.W. Band (country) June 7 — The Band Sundown (70s/oldies) June 14 — Taste of Scotland (festival) June 21 — Curtis Blackwell & The Dixie Bluegrass Boys June 28 — Gem City (gospel) July 5 — The Lisa Price Band (variety) July 12 — Earl Cowart (country) July 19 — Mountain Faith (bluegrass/gospel) July 26 — Elderly Brothers (doo wop/oldies) Aug. 2 — Charlie Horse (variety) Aug. 9 — Fast Gear (modern country) Aug. 16 — Tugelo Holler (progressive blue grass) Aug. 23 — Michael Reno Harrell (singersongwriter/storyteller) Aug. 30 — The Frogtown Four (bluegrass) Sept. 6 — Ms. Kitty & The Big City Band (variety/blues) Sept. 13 — The Rick Morris Band (country) Sept. 20 — The Remnants (rock) Sept. 27 — Paradise 56 (soul/oldies) Oct. 4 — Blue Ridge (gospel) Oct. 11 — To Be Announced Oct. 18 — The Thomas Family (gospel)
HIGHLANDS Friday Night Live Town Square Fridays at 6 p.m. June 13 — Johnny Webb Band
Saturdays on Pine Kelsey-Hutchinson Park Saturdays at 6 p.m. June 21 — Well Strung June 28 — Jerry Bones July 5 — Shane Bridges July 12 — Hobohemians July 19 — Telico July 26 — Ben Sutton Band Aug. 2 — The Lonesome Road Band Aug. 9 — Hi 5 Aug. 16 — Mangus Colorado Aug. 23 — Copious Jones Aug. 30 — Andrew Scotchie
SYLVA Concerts on the Creek Bridge Park Fridays at 7:30 p.m. May 23 — The Lisa Price Band May 30 — Caribbean Cowboys June 6 — Eddie Rose & Highway 40 June 13 — Buchanan Boys June 20 — Johnny Webb Band June 27 — Mountain Faith July 4 — Dashboard Blue July 11 — Emporium July 18 — Soldier’s Heart July 25 — Sundown Aug. 1 — Whitewater Bluegrass Aug. 8 — Asheville 96.5 House Band Aug. 15 — Porch 40 Aug. 22 — Mangus Colorado Aug. 29 — The Remnants
ONGOING COMMUNITY JAMS • Bryson City Marianna Black Library First and third Thursday of the month. 6 p.m. • Canton Pickin’ in the Park Fridays at 7 p.m. Early June through Labor Day
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CASHIERS
June 20 — Soldier’s Heart (Americana/folk) June 27 — Jackson Taylor Band (blues/jazz/rock/country) July 4 — Fireworks Extravaganza with The Extraordinaires July 11 — Joe Lasher Band (country/rock) July 18 — Jeff Sipe Trio (jazz-fusion/rock) July 25 — Erica Nicole (country/singer-song writer) Aug. 1 — Matt Joiner Band (rock) Aug. 8 — Rockwell Scott & Friends (jazz) Aug. 15 — Unspoken Tradition (bluegrass) Aug. 22 — Hurricane Creek (folk/rock)
Western Carolina University Central Plaza Tuesdays at 7 p.m. June 10, June 24, July 8, July 15 and July 22. Artist lineup to be announced.
HIGHLANDS
WNC TRAVEL GUIDE
Train Depot Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. June 7 — Boogertown Gap (folk/bluegrass) June 14 — Juniper (Celtic/Americana) June 21 — The Freight Hoppers (Americana/bluegrass) June 28 — Lonesome Sound (old-time string) July 5 — The Elderly Brothers (oldies) July 12 — Chris Monteith (Elvis impersonator) July 19 — The Grove Band (rock) July 26 — Porch 40 (funk/Motown) Aug. 2 — The Josh Fields Band (southern rock/country) Aug. 9 — Liz & AJ Nance (singer-song writer/folk) Aug. 16 — The Barefoot Movement (folk/instrumental) Aug. 23 — Carolina Bluegrass Boys Aug. 30 — Caribbean Cowboys (reggae/rock) Sept. 6 — Ian Moore & The Second Hand String Band (Americana/folk) Sept. 13 — Larry Barnett & Friends (oldtime/bluegrass) Sept. 20 — The Rye Holler Boys (bluegrass/gospel) Oct. 4 — To Be Announced Oct. 11 — Johnny Floor & The Wrong Crowd (southern rock/Texas blues) Oct. 18 — To Be Announced Oct. 25 — Blue Eyed Girl (Appalachian roots)
CULLOWHEE
June 20 — Southern Highlands June 27 — Mountain High Dulcimer Group July 4 — Johnny Webb Band July 11 — Macon Grass Band July 18 — Southern Highlands July 25 — Mountain High Dulcimer Group Aug. 1 — Macon Grass Band Aug. 8 — Fred Kopp Aug. 15 — Johnny Webb Band Aug. 22 — Macon Grass Band Aug. 29 — Mountain High Dulcimer Group Sept. 5 — Curtis Blackwell Sept. 12 — Johnny Webb Band Sept. 19 — Southern Highlands Sept. 26 — Macon Grass Band Oct. 3 — Mountain High Dulcimer Group Oct. 10 — Johnny Webb Band Oct. 17 — Southern Highlands Oct. 24 — Macon Grass Band
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From welcoming, backwoods front porches to raucous downtown stages, the music of Western North Carolina weaves together the rich history, passion and camaraderie of Southern Appalachia and its inhabitants. At the heart of this deep love and appreciation for music are the communities that proudly display their heritage by offering weekly performances for residents and visitors alike. “[The summer concert series] provides opportunities to engage community members in the arts, cultural events and entertainment,” said Michael Corelli, coordinator for the Western Carolina University concert series. “I feel it is a valuable event for people to participate in because it gives individuals the chance to come out during the summer evenings and listen to performers fill the air with amazing music.” And with the official kickoff to summer being Memorial Day weekend, numerous towns around the region will launch their free summer concert series. Everything from old-time bluegrass to gospel soul, rockabilly to honky-tonk country, will hit the stage for all to enjoy.
July 6 — Amazing Grace Ministries July 11 — Running Wolf Band July 12 — AM Superstars July 18 — Midnight Express Clogging Team July 18 — A-36 Band July 19 — Eastern Blue Band July 25 — A-36 Band July 26 — AM Superstars Aug. 1 — Will Hayes Band Aug. 2 — Running Wolf Band Aug. 3 — Running Wolf Band Aug. 8 — Will Hayes Band Aug. 9 — Eastern Blue Band Aug. 15 — A-36 Band Aug. 16 — AM Superstars Aug. 22 — Eastern Blue Band Aug. 23 — AM Superstars Aug. 29 — Amazing Grace Ministries Aug. 30 — Amazing Grace Ministries Aug. 31 — The Boomers
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Farm Fresh Markets offer produce, meat and crafts of WNC
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f you’re visiting Western North Carolina and are looking for some fresh food to complement you picnic or campfire fare, visit one our famer’s markets. Not only will you find sumptuous food, you’re also likely to meet some colorful characters who have come off the farm to sell their goods. Shopping at these markets is as entertaining as it is bountiful. The Haywood Historic Farmers Market.
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HAYWOOD COUNTY Canton Farmers Market and Heritage Crafts Produce, plants, chicken and quail eggs, grass-fed beef and other naturally raised meats, natural soaps and body care products, chemical-free candles, woodwork and scroll saw art, preserves, pottery, paintings, iron work and other heritage crafts. Credit and debit accepted by some vendors. 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday through Oct. 31 in the municipal parking lot in downtown. Robin Smith, 828.734.9071 or michaelrobin07@yahoo.com. www.focusofcanton.com/farmers-market-canton-nc.html. Haywood Historic Farmers Market Local produce; meats, seafood delivered overnight from Kitty Hawk, local mountain trout; cheese, eggs and honey; spring bedding, plants and flowers; pickles, preserves and sauces; baked goods; fresh pasta, cornmeal, mushrooms and beverages from the Soda Jerks; birdhouses, feeders and gourds and heritage crafts such as pottery, blacksmithing, furniture and soaps. Live music and Kids’ Corner Market offered monthly. Crafters regularly give live demos. Many vendors accept credit cards and coupons from Senior Nutrition Program and WIC; SNAP/EBT benefits will likely be accepted by early June. 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday and Saturday through mid-December at 250 Pigeon St. in the parking lot of the HART Theatre. Carol James, 828.280.1381 or haywoodfarmersmarket@gmail.com. www.waynesvillefarmersmarket.com. Maggie Valley Farmers Market Local produce, arts and crafts, with vendor space still available at this new market. Live music and children’s activities planned periodically. Cash only with PayPal plans in the works. 8 a.m. to dusk Fridays and Saturdays through the first frost beside Organic Beans Coffee Co., 1098 Soco Road. Adam Capparelli, 828.209.8061 or adam@organicbeanscoffee.com. The Original Waynesville Tailgate Market Fresh fruits and vegetables, honey and plants from Haywood County farmers. A monthly Kids’ Corner event promotes healthy eating. Tables available for nonprofits to share information. WIC and Senior Nutrition Program coupons accepted. 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays and Saturdays through Oct. 29 at 171 Legion Drive at the American Legion behind Bogart’s restaurant. Judy West, 828.648.6323. Facebook: Waynesville Tailgate Market.
JACKSON COUNTY Cashiers Tailgate Market Fresh baked goods, pesticide-free vegetables and fruits, fresh trout, local beef and lamb,
goat cheese, eggs, jellies, fruit pies and more. Community-supported agriculture memberships available. 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays May through October. Anglican Church parking lot next to Macon Bank on U.S. 64 East. Donna Few, 828.226.9988 or blueridgefarmers@gmail.com. Jackson County Farmers Market, Sylva A variety of locally produced vegetables, meats, honey, botanicals, crafts and more. Plant starts, green and other spring veggies, meats, eggs, baked goods, mozzarella, honey, jams and jellies, pickles and local crafts such as pottery, soaps, journals, scarves, toys, candles, kitchen accessories and more. SNAP benefits, credit and debit payments taken. Family Art at the Market offered 10 a.m. to noon; Storytime with City Lights at 11 a.m.; monthly fundraising brunches and occasional music given. 9 a.m. to noon April to October at Bridge Park; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. November to March at the Community Table. Jenny, 828.631.3033 or jacksoncountyfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
MACON COUNTY Cowee Farmers Market, Franklin Fresh, local vegetables, fruits, botanicals, baked goods, eggs, prepared foods, arts and crafts and pasture-raised meats. Live music, junior vendor and education-focus booths, food tastings and arts and crafts planned. Vendor space still available at this new market. 3:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays May 13 through Oct. 28 at Old Cowee School, 51 Old Cowee School Drive. Susan Ervin, info@coweefarmersmarket.com or 828.524.8369. www.coweefarmersmarket.com. Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market Variety of homegrown products, including fruits and vegetables, cheese, plants, eggs, trout, preserves, herbal soap, honey, artisan breads and more. 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through November on East Palmer Street across from Drake Software. Alan Durden, 828.349.2049 or alan_durden@ncsu.edu. www.facebook.com/franklinncfarmersmarket.
SWAIN COUNTY Swain Farmers Market, Bryson City Organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, herbs, trout and honey as well as locally crafted jewelry, quilts, pottery, gourds and more. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 31. 210 Main St. at the corner of Main St. and Everett St. Christine Bredenkamp, 828.488.3848 or christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu. Facebook: Swain County Farmer’s Market. Cherokee Farmers Tailgate Market Fresh local, organic and heirloom produce. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays. Acquoni Road 828.554.6931.
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WNC TRAVEL GUIDE Spring & Summer 2014
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Shelton House celebrates 35 years The Shelton House, which is home to the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts, opens for its 35th season this summer. In previous years, the Shelton House and the museum stood as both a testament to the Shelton family, one of the early, settler families of Haywood County, and to crafters — Native American and heritage artisans. The building was the first property in Haywood County to receive designation on the National Register of Historic Places. This year the museum has added its handsome, frame barn to the tour along with a wide and varied collection of antique farm implements. As a result, the museum is listed in Buy Haywood’s 2014 Agritourism Guide. It also stands out for being recognized this year as a designated Craft Heritage site, Cherokee Heritage site and Agriculture Heritage site in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. “In the past year, we’ve learned so much about the artifacts we have housed and displayed for decades. Visitors may be astonished to find that part of our collection consists of nationally significant Southwestern Native American artifacts, particularly Navajo artifacts,” said Malinda Messer, operations manager. “In addition, we expect folks to be just as excited as we are about our new barn displays which include antique farm tools and a century old milking room.” The museum will conduct tours of the house and barn, its artifacts and crafts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays until Oct. 31. The barn and the grounds can be rented for events and gatherings. Special group tours of the museum can also be scheduled. “Along with the main event room, we have set up a banquet room for buffet and drink tables behind the event room to maximize space. A dessert table or wet bar can be accommodated,” noted Jackie Stephens, curator at the museum.
WNC Festival Listings Memorial Day through July – Concerts on the Creek, Sylva. 828.586.2155. www.mountainlovers.com Memorial Day through August – Groovin’ on the Green, Cashiers. 828.743.8428. www.visitcashiersvalley.com
Spring & Summer 2014
June 6 – Art After Dark, Waynesville. Stroll numerous galleries and studios. Artist receptions, music and refreshments. 828.456.3517. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com June 6-8 – Ole Smokey Tractor Club Spring Farm Fest. 828.734.1510. www.maggievalley.org June 12-14 – Cherokee Bluegrass Festival. 828.554.5615. www.bluegrassincherokee.com June 12-15 – Taste of Scotland Weekend, Franklin. Celebrating the Scottish heritage in
Western North Carolina with music, food and craft demonstrations. www.franklin-chamber.com
June 27 – Mountain Street Dance, Waynesville. Clogging and square dancing. www.downtownwaynesville.com
June 13-14 – Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival, Tryon. Considered one of the most popular sanctioned barbecue competitions in the United States. All proceeds benefit the local chamber of commerce. 828.859.7427. www.blueridgebbqfestival.com
June 27-28 – Stecoah Artisans Drive About Studio Tour. Enjoy the works of local artisans by visiting different studios and galleries. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com
June 13-15 – Maggie Valley BikeFest & Swap Meet. 828.736.2217. www.maggievalleybikefest.com June 14 – Cherokee Voices Festival. Celebrate Cherokee traditions with music, dance and storytelling. 828.497.3831. www.visitcherokeenc.com June 14 – Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration, Waynesville. Appalachian music, dance, crafts and food. 828.456.3517. www.downtownwaynesville.com June 21-22 – PlottFest, Maggie Valley. Music, food, crafts, clogging and trout fishing. 828.452.1860. www.plottfest.org
June 28-29 – Mountain Artisans Arts and Craft Show, Cullowhee. 828.524.3405. www.mountainartisans.net July 4 – Stars & Stripes Celebration, Waynesville. 828.456.3517. www.downtownwaynesville.com July 4 – Red, White & Boom!, Maggie Valley. 828.926.0866. www.maggievalleyfestivalgrounds.org July 4 – Lake Junaluska Fireworks Celebration. www.lakejunaluska.com July 4 – 4th of July Parade/Fireworks Celebration, Franklin. www.franklin-chamber.com July 4 – Cherokee Pow Wow. Three-day festival of drums, song and dance.
Celebrating its 35th year, the Shelton House displays an array of Appalachian crafts, as well as a unique collection of Southwestern Native American artifacts. The barn has recently been opened for tours. File photos
828.554.6471. www.nc-cherokee.com July 4 – Fourth of July Celebration. Sylva. 828.293.3053. www.jacksonnc.org/parksand-recreation.html July 4 – Glenville Fireworks. www.friendsoflakeglenville.com July 4 – 4th of July Fireworks Show, Cherokee. www.nc-cherokee.com July 4 – Sapphire Valley Yankee Doodle Dandy Day. www.sapphirevalley.com July 4 – Freedom Fest, Bryson City. www.greatsmokies.com July 11 – Art After Dark, Waynesville. Stroll galleries and studios. Artist receptions, music and refreshments. 828.456.3517. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com July 11 – Mountain Street Dance, Waynesville. Clogging and square dancing. www.downtownwaynesville.com July 12-13 – Maggie Valley Summer Arts & Crafts Festival. 800.624.4431. www.maggievalley.org
July 17-20 – Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, Asheville Civic Center. 828.298.7928. www.craftguild.org
July 18-27 – Folkmoot USA. Two-week international dance and music festival. Headquartered in Waynesville but held at venues throughout Western North Carolina. 828.452.2997. www.folkmootusa.org July 19 – Franklin Folk Festival. Living exhibits of authentic mountain living, food and entertainment. www.frankin-chamber.com July 24-27 – Macon County Gemboree, Franklin. Rough and cut gems, fine jewelry, demonstrations. www.franklin-chamber.com July 25 – Mountain Street Dance, Waynesville. Clogging and square dancing. www.downtownwaynesville.com July 25-26 – Smokin’ in the Valley – WNC BBQ Festival, Maggie Valley. 800.624.4431. www.maggievalley.org Aug. 1 – Talking Trees Children’s Trout Derby, Cherokee. www.visitcherokeenc.com. Aug. 1 – Art After Dark, Waynesville. Stroll numerous galleries and studios. Artist receptions, music and refreshments. 828.456.3517. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com
Aug. 2-3 – Lake Logan Multisport Festival. Triathlon. 828.400.5868. www.gloryhoundevents.com Aug. 8 – Mountain Street Dance, Waynesville. Clogging and square dancing. www.downtownwaynesville.com Aug. 8-9 – Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam. 828.627.3080. www.finescreek.org Aug. 8-9 – Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show, Franklin. www.mountainhighbbqfestival.com Aug. 9-10 – Sapphire Valley Fine Art Show. www.sapphirevalley.com Aug. 15-17 – Maggie Valley Summer Rally. Music, barbeque, bike shows. www.maggievalleyrallys.com
Aug. 22 – Main Street Mile, Waynesville. One mile road race through downtown. www.downtownwaynesville.com
Aug. 30 – Open Air Indian Market, Cherokee. Crafts, demonstrations and food. 828.497.3103. www.visitcherokeenc.com Aug. 30-31 – Maggie Valley Labor Day Weekend Craft Show. www.maggievalleycraftshows.com. Labor Day Weekend – Canton Labor Day Celebration. Rides, crafts, food and parade. www.visitncsmokies.com Labor Day Weekend – Cashiers Valley Arts & Crafts Show. www.cashiersrotary.org Sept. 5 – Cherokee BBQ & Bluegrass Throwdown. www.visitcherokeenc.com Sept. 5 – Art After Dark, Waynesville. Stroll numerous galleries and studios. Artist receptions, music and refreshments. 828.456.3517. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com
World-Class Canopy Tour Family Challenge Course Nature Trails • Zip & Sip Tour
Sept. 5 – Seven Clans Rodeo, Cherokee. www.visitcherokeenc.com Sept. 5-7 – The Qualla Country Trout Tournament. www.fishcherokee.com
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Sept. 6 – Dillsboro 125th anniversary celebration. Music, crafts, vendors, and more. www.visitdillsboro.org Sept. 12-13 – Mountain Song Festival at the Brevard Music Center. Food, local artists, children’s activities, nature exhibits, and more. 828.243.3496. www.mountainsongfestival.com Sept. 12-14 – Thunder in the Smokies Fall Motorcycle Rally, Maggie Valley. 828.246.2101. www.handlebarcorral.com Sept. 13-14 – Railfest Celebration, Bryson City. Celebrating the anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Storytelling, music, dance, food and special excursions. 800.872.4681. www.gsmr.com Sept. 20 – Youth Arts Festival, Dillsboro. Annual hands-on art activities, entertainment, with dozens of professional art demonstrations. 828.631.0271. www.visitdillsboro.org Sept. 26-28 – Guest Appreciation Festival, Nantahala Outdoor Center. www.noc.com Sept. 27 – Mountain Heritage Day, Cullowhee. The 40th anniversary celebration featuring live Appalachian music, crafters, artisans and vendors. 828.227.3193. www.wcu.edu.
Located between Dillard, GA & Highlands, NC
TOLL FREE: 855.947.6344 828.526.8773
Spring & Summer 2014
Aug. 16 – Blue Ridge Breakaway at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. An annual cycling event in support of the initiatives of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. www.blueridgebreakaway.com
Aug. 30 – Block Party, Waynesville. Music, food and activities. 828.456.3517. www.downtownwaynesville.com
WNC TRAVEL GUIDE
Aug. 1-2 – Hillbilly Woodstock, Maggie Valley. Celebrating Western North Carolina’s rich musical history and heritage. www.maggievalley.org
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July 18-19 – Cherokee’s Dog Days Trout Fishing Tournament. www.fishcherokee.com
Aug. 29-30 – Smoky Mountain Folk Festival at Lake Junaluksa’s Stuart Auditorium. Two nights of the finest traditional music and dancing in the region. 828.452.1688. www.lakejunaluska.com
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Fresh from the oven CASHIERS’ SLAB TOWN PIZZA Opened this past February, Slab Town Pizza in Cashiers specializes in gourmet pizza, craft beer on draft and a relaxing, hometown ambiance. Garret K. Woodward photos
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It was time for something different. “We’ve been looking at doing something like this for years,” said Sally Peterkin. “And when we found the right place, we knew it was time to do it.” Looking around Slab Town Pizza in Cashiers, Peterkin is still in the beginning stages of a dream that is now a physical, shiny reality. Launched this past January, the restaurant has rapidly become a centerpiece of culinary delights, camaraderie and community within the mountain town. “We felt that Cashiers needed an inexpensive, family oriented restaurant that locals and tourists can go and feel comfortable,” Peterkin said. “During the wintertime up here, everything is closed down for the season, and we wanted to create something year-round, something for locals and visitors alike.” Several years ago, Peterkin was visiting a friend in Alabama who was an engineer. The friend had become fascinated with the idea of homemade pizza, and with that, hand-built his own oven on wheels. Peterkin saw the potential in the design and one was constructed for her to push further into her pizza endeavors. “Then we really started getting into making our own pizza,” she said. “And soon the right property was located and we decided to launch the business. We wanted our place to be fun, hip and different, where anybody can walk in.” Peterkin then got hold of her son John in Colorado to came back east and help get the family business off the ground. He and his friend, Randy Brown, headed for Cashiers, with both of them becoming the chefs for Slab Town.
“There’s really no one you meet that doesn’t like pizza. There’s just something immediately rewarding about the moment it comes out of the oven and is placed in front of you.” — RANDY BROWN, CHEF, SLAB TOWN PIZZA
“Pizza is something everyone can relate to. There’s really no one you meet that doesn’t like pizza,” Brown said. “There’s just something immediately rewarding about the moment it comes out of the oven and is placed in front of you.” Brown pointed out how Slab Town concentrates on the crust. When you have a quality, New York style thin crust, the other ingredients carefully fall into place. “I like doing the more pure style of pizza, by not necessarily adding so much, but focusing on the crust and how it compliments our fresh ingredients,” he said. “Pizza can seem so simple, but there’s so much to it when you actually get really into it.” “Our style of crust works so well when you pick it up,” Peterkin added. “The slice of pizza doesn’t lean over or is soggy in the middle.” The name Slab Town comes from the geographic label given to Cashiers during its years as a logging town. Freshly cut trees were cut into slabs within the community and then were driven down the mountain to the lumberyards where they were cut into boards. The restaurant was officially ready for business during a haphazard Appalachian snowstorm this past January. “We opened during the big snowstorm. We were opened for three hours and then closed for two days,” Peterkin laughed. But that snowstorm is just one of the innumerable reasons Peterkin and the folks at Slab Town enjoy living in Western North Carolina. The region is home to four distinct seasons, unimaginable mountain adventures and a sense of community often lost in a fast-paced modern world. “I love this small town, knowing everybody and being in the mountains,” Peterkin said. “When people come to Slab Town, I want them to leave full, happy, that they had a good time and a good laugh.” “I would have never known a place like this existed if I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to work here,” Brown added. “It’s tucked away, pure and unspoiled.”
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WNC TRAVEL GUIDE Spring & Summer 2014
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In 2011, she took the leap and headed for Waynesville, dreams and ambition in hand. Taking a page from the onsite artist gallery/studios of the River Arts District, she knew Waynesville would be the ideal place to set up shop. “It doesn’t have to be a lot to start, but it could grow with time. I feel very strongly that I would succeed at this. I’m one of those people that will do it even if it kills me,” she laughed. “I love what they have in the River Arts District, the working studios and galleries. So why can’t we bring a little piece of that to Haywood County and Waynesville?” Within the large building, the gallery/studio offers wall and display space for artists, as well as individual work/retail tables and classes for the general public. The idea with all of this is housing artists of all different backgrounds together with an emphasis of cross-pollination — the more creative energy in a room, the better. “This is a synergy area, a symbiosis between different mediums and different artists, where we see each other and support one another,” she said. “You’re in your house, in your studio, but here, you’re out and meeting people, seeing those who buy your work, and that’s
WNC artists find new home at Mahogany House Bouncing around her gallery like a rubber ball, the energy of Teri Siewert is contagious. “The ambiance here is something you can’t buy or make, it’s either there or it’s not, and it’s definitely here,” she said. Siewert is the owner of the The Mahogany House art gallery and studios in the Frog Level district of Waynesville. She opened the business last October as a way to provide a location for established and emerging artists to create, collaborate and cultivate the energy and culture of Western North Carolina and beyond. With over 50 local artists under her umbrella, the structure is home is a living, breathing studio. “We’re an incubator for amazing working art and amazing artists,” she said. “I did it because I love art, I love artists, and I wanted a place where we could bring all of that together.” Following Siewert through the 4,000-square foot space, one begins to feel the buzz she talks about so passionately. Zigzagging through the building, she points out each and every artist displayed, why their work is unique, and why they need to be supported by the community. “Everything evolves. The community evolves, people evolve, your life evolves, where you can take it in one direction or another,” she said. “And I think art takes it in the right direction.” Born in California, Siewert was raised in Florida by her mother “who was part gypsy,” she said. Dabbling in art her entire life, Siewert’s father and grandfather were artists. That gene and creativity bug resided inside her, waiting to be nurtured. By the 1970s, looking for a career, she found herself in nursing. For the next 27 years, she worked in health care, but the artistic side of her never wavered. On a chance trip the River Arts District in Asheville, something inside Siewert roared to life. “I visited the River Arts District, fell in love with encaustic, came up here for workshops, went back to Florida, had a midlife crisis, told my husband I had to get to the mountains, and then we moved here,” she chuckled. An ancient art form of heating up beeswax and damar resin and molding it into layered artworks, encaustic became the ideal creative medium for Siewert. She fell in love with the medium and knew that was what she wanted to do. “I was a nurse for 27 years, but my heart was to be an arist,” she said.“When I came to Waynesville, it was the perfect crossroads in my life — I had to do it now or it was never going to happen.”
The Mahogany House in the Frog Level district of Waynesville is home to over 50 local artists’ displays, studios, workshops and live craft demonstrations. Garret K. Woodward photos
“Everything evolves. The community evolves, people evolve, your life evolves, where you can take it in one direction or another. And I think art takes it in the right direction.” — TERI SIEWERT
priceless. It’s magical here, it’s very warm and wonderful.” Standing at her personal workspace, Siewert pauses for a moment and scans the enormous building, once empty, but now filled with an intoxicating air of creativity amid a hearty sense of community. “It’s important to feel part of something, to get energized and motivated, to be excited about tomorrow, to be excited about today, about something purposeful in your life,” she said. “You can sit there or stay actively involved, mentor people, be that spark that sets the fire, and that’s all I want to be — that spark that starts the fire.”
Art Dances WITH Nature
WHERE
ARTIST: SARAH SNEEDEN
98 NORTH MAI N STR EET • WAYN ESVI LLE 828.456.1940 W W W.T WIGSAN DLEAVES.COM 1432-25
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A Gallery
We see the Earth through Our Artists Eyes!
Original Art Limited Edition Giclees Handmade Jewelry Hand Crafted Pottery & Art Glass Clothing, Books & Gifts! Museum Quality Custom Frame Shop on Site
Original Acrylic Painting by Elisa Holder, Turquoise & Garnet necklace by FourElements BeadWorks & Hand Blown Glass Vessels.
828.452.9500 | 21 North Main Street, Waynesville | earthworksgalleries.com
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Bookstore & Cafe
Open Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
828-454-6777 • lakejunaluska.com/bookstore
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Local Beer, Organic Wine, Paninis, Crepes & More,
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An unparalleled park experience The Great Smoky Mountains National Park rivals the equatorial rainforests for biological diversity. Why? The Smokies has an amazing array of mini-ecosystems within its borders — from peaks over 6,000 feet to low valleys, from moist densely forested coves to dry meadows. A walk from mountain base to peak compares with traveling 1,250 miles north. Several resident plants and animals live only in the Smokies.
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Covering over 500,000 acres, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest of its kind on the East Coast, and also the most visited in the country. File photos Here are a few of the highlights on the North Carolina side of the GSMNP.
The park has more than 100 species of trees and 4,000 species of plants. Some people say if you throw a rock and then trace its path, you’re likely to walk by at least 30 different kinds of trees. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses more than 500,000 acres, making it the largest national park in the East. An auto tour of the park offers panoramic views, tumbling mountain streams, weathered historic buildings and uninterrupted forest stretching to the horizon. The North Carolina side of the park is considered by locals the more pristine, tranquil, natural park experience. It is less heavily used and has everything the Tennessee side has but is much more off the beaten path.
• Oconaluftee Visitor Center — Along with knowledgeable rangers who can help you plan your time in the park, fabulous exhibits will take you back in time among the early settlers and Cherokee who called these mountains home. The visitor center chronicles the culture and history of the Smokies, from exhibits on the Civil War in the Smokies to moonshine making. Located on U.S. 441 at the North Carolina entrance to the park, north of Cherokee and near the terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 828.497.1904. • Mountain Farm Museum — This stroll through an historic Appalachian farm offers a window on the ingenuity and self-reliance of early mountain people and Cherokee. A blacksmith shop to make everything from barn door hinges to horseshoes, a spring house to keep milk and butter cool, and sundry buildings for storing the food they raised, from corn cribs to apple houses to smoke houses. The outhouse is a guaranteed eye-opener for kids. Located at the entrance to the park on U.S. 441 just north of Cherokee. • Deep Creek — Enjoy a little of everything at Deep Creek. Hiking to waterfalls, picnicking, mountain biking, camping and what Deep Creek is famous for: tubing. Several outfitters rent inner tubes for just a few dollars to float all day in the creek. This is a fantastic place to visit for a few hours because you can do so many different activities without having to go to different places. If you are in the Bryson City
area, treat yourself to a visit. • Mingus Mill — The rumble of mill stones, the whistle of corn meal sliding down the wooden shoot, the slap-slap-slap of water falling over the giant paddle wheel. Explore this historic site just one mile from the park entrance on U.S. 441 north of Cherokee. • Clingmans Dome — A paved half-mile trail leads to a soaring lookout tower atop the highest peak in the Smokies. At 6,643 feet, the panoramic view offers spectacular scenery and is one of the best examples of the region’s famed blue mountain ridges marching endlessly across the horizon. The tower features a spiraling 375-foot ramp to the top. • Cataloochee Valley — History and nature intersect in this picturesque meadow, a long, narrow valley cradled by mountains on all sides. An elk herd has been re-introduced into the park and calls the valley home. Cataloochee Valley is also home to a former mountain settlement, with intact farm houses, churches, schoolhouse and cemeteries that can be toured by car and short walks. Pick up an interpretive brochure at the campground on the left after you get down to the valley floor that describes the historic buildings. • Big Creek — This relatively isolated area is a favorite of locals, with a campground, bathroom, picnic area and jumping off point for some great hikes into the Smokies, including the all-day hike up to Mount Cammerer lookout tower. One of the coldest, clearest swimming holes in the Smokies — aptly named Midnight Hole — is a short one-mile hike up the wide Big Creek Trail.
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“Rider or Not – You’re gonna love our store! “ Rentals • Roadsmith Trike Dealer • Service • Dyno Tuning Parts • Accessories • Apparel • Bike Storage
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Exit 100 off US 74 - 82 Locust Drive | Waynesville, NC 828.452.7276 | Visit SMSH.co for our Full Inventory of Bikes
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BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY serves up the best of the mountains
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile twolane route that stretches from Southwestern Virginia to Western North Carolina. Garret K. Woodward photo (above) • Andrew Kasper photo (below)
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The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and AllAmerican Road that winds for 469.1 miles from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive in Virginia to U.S. 441 at Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee. It’s hard to get lost on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It only goes in two directions — north or south. Short, wooden posts along the edge of the road mark each mile — the entire 469-mile length of the Parkway — making it easy to know exactly where you are. The milemarker is listed for the recommended stops on the Parkway below, and should be easy to find by watching the mileposts. Hint: the numbers get bigger as you go south, so the end of the Parkway in Cherokee is mile 469. The Parkway boasts more than 200 overlooks and more than 100 trails. The local section of the Parkway runs from the southern end in Oconaluftee to the Pisgah Inn on the Haywood, Transylvania County line. Along this stretch of scenic road you’ll find highlights such as the Parkway’s highest elevation overlook at Richland Balsam (6,053 feet), views of Cold Mountain made famous by author Charles Frazier, Waterrock Knob and Oconaluftee Visitors Centers, and Devil’s Courthouse Trail.
The Parkway is made for exploring. Here are a few suggested highlights in our region, but feel free to ignore them. It’s all about the journey, not the destination: • Waterrock Knob Visitors Center, milemarker 451 — A must for Parkway travelers. Stop here to get recommendations from park rangers on things to do and see, plus pick up a free Parkway map and browse the book store. Views are fabulous if you are looking for a picnic spot. Also, there is a one-mile hike to the summit of Waterrock Knob. Interesting fact: the visitor center is powered by solar panels. • Richland Balsam, milemarker 432 — The views are great all along the Parkway, but there’s even a milestone achievement available for those don’t want to hike but prefer just getting out of their car to take a picture, enjoy the view, or have a picnic. Just about halfway between the Balsam Gap (U.S. 23-74) and N.C. 215 entrance to the Parkway, near milepost 432, is the Parkway’s highest point (6,053 feet), which is marked with a large sign and a great overlook. Just a mile away at milepost 431 is the Richland-Balsam SelfGuiding Trail, which is just one mile long and meanders through a spruce-fir forest. You’ll top out at an elevation of 6,410 feet, the 10th highest peak in the Eastern U.S. • Devil’s Courthouse, milemarker 422 — This one-mile roundtrip trail leads to the top of stunning rock formation, a giant pedestal that seems to rise up magically from the mountains around it and makes you feel like you’re on top of the world looking out. Despite the sheer drop off all around you, rock walls provide a sense of safety — just don’t hop over them or let kids climb on the edge. Ecologically, visitors should stay off the cliff face, which is home to peregrine falcons and endangered rock-clinging lichens and plant life. The trail is steep but paved, making it accessible to anyone if you take it slow and steady. • Sam’s Knob, milemarker 420 — Stellar hiking trails lead into the Shining Rock Wilderness, passing over grassy balds, rock outcrops, high elevation streams and fir forests. The area is riddled with trails, some of which extend for miles into the Shining Rock Wilderness, so if you don’t have a map, watch the way you came carefully. To reach the parking area, turn down a gravel forest service road. • Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields, milemarker 419 — A high-elevation bowl is home to two waterfalls, a swimming hole and crystal clear rocky stream. Unlike the dense forests that engulf most hiking trails in the Smokies, this area is defined by open meadows. • Mt. Pisgah (5,749 feet) — Located near milepost 408, this mountain with the Biblical name used to be part of the George Vanderbilt Estate (he’s the man who built Biltmore Estate). A parking area is well marked, and the hike is only about a mile but it is relatively strenuous to the platform atop the mountain. Once there, however, the 360-degree views are fabulous. Nearby campground and one of the only restaurants on the Parkway at the Pisgah Inn.
The Parkway boasts more than 200 overlooks and more than 100 trails.
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Michelle McElroy 828.400.9463 michelle@beverly-hanks.com
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A Local Pottery Studio & Gallery
Between the Rest Area and the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance at Balsam Gap
828.456.1916
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20767 Great Smoky Mtn. Expy. (Hwy. 23/74) • Waynesville
Hiking is one of the best ways to get out and commune with nature. With a quiet step you stand a great chance of seeing some of the multitude of wildlife Western North Carolina has to offer. There are hikes for all kinds — climbs along the rocks to a high mountain waterfalls, casual strolls to expansive mountain views, all-day treks out into the wilderness and brisk jaunts to perfect picnic places. Wherever you go, trying making part of your hike a “soft walk.” Tread quietly and use your senses to experience the world around you without talking. If you see something worth pointing out, communicate without speech. The process will help you tune in to nature and how it communicates with us. When hiking, you know best what you’re looking for and what you’re capable of — injuries happen when you take on too much or get too tired. Find a hike that suits your tastes and skills.
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• Panthertown Valley — Panthertown Valley is a 6,700acre area in the Nantahala National Forest. It’s been nicknamed the “Yosemite of the East” and is home to granite domes, waterfalls, valley floors and rare high altitude bogs, as well as the headwaters for Greenland and Panthertown Creeks and the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River. Trails abound and primitive overnight camping and catch-andrelease fishing is allowed. There are several entrances to Panthertown Valley, but the most accessible route is as follows: Approximately two miles east of Cashiers on U.S. 64, turn left or north on Cedar Creek Road (SR 1120). Continue on Cedar Creek Road 2.2 miles. Bear right or northeast on Nicholson Lane (SR 1121). Continue 3.4 miles on SR 1121 to a flat parking area at a gap where the National Forest boundary begins. The access road from the gap makes an excellent foot travel path. No motor vehicles are allowed beyond this point. For more information, contact the Highlands Ranger District at 828.526.3765. • Horsepasture River Trail — This out and back threemile hike in Sapphire offers outstanding view of four large waterfalls and good camping along the way. The trail can be a little gnarly. Use extreme caution when viewing waterfalls, particularly Rainbow Falls, which can be viewed from the top. Falls are slippery and that closer look just isn’t worth the type of injuries that may occur. The trailhead is located approximately 10 miles east of Cashiers. Turn south on U.S. 64 and N.C. 281 at Sapphire. Parking for the trailhead is about 1 mile on the left. The parking area is now of the Gorges State Park. • Boogerman Trail — This 3.8 mile loop hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes you past old growth hemlocks and Robert “Booger” Palmer’s home place (hence the name). There’s plenty of creek views and wildflowers. Nearly a mile in, you’ll see a sing for Boogerman Trail. To avoid a relentless and steep climb, continue further up Caldwell Fork Trail and take the upper loop of Boogerman Trail. The hike begins near the Cataloochee campground. Drive past the
ing from there are all steep a strenuous. • Mount Sterling Gap Trail — This low ridge trail begins at Mt. Sterling Gap on Cataloochee-Big Creek Road. It’s only 2.8 miles to the firetower, but is rated extremely strenuous because of a 2,000-foot climb in 2.3 miles along an old jeep trail to the ridge just below the firetower. This firetower is one of three remaining in the Park. There are several excellent lookouts from the trail prior to reaching the main ridge, but the view from the tower is unequalled in the Park. The view includes the Pigeon River Gorge (below), the Unaka Mountains, the main ridge of the Smokies, the Black Mountains (east), and the end of the Southern Appalachians. The peak is a crossroads with trails leading up from Cataloochee, Baxter Creek, and Pretty Hollow Gap Trail, which is 14 miles in and of itself. The Sterling Gap trailhead is located on N.C. 284 at Mt. Sterling Gap. • Fontana to Wesser — This 30-mile hike along the Appalachian Trails is full of ups and downs. There are shelters along the way, and in the end you’ll find yourself at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Or do the hike in reverse and end at Fontana Dam. To learn more about the Appalachian Trail visit www.appalachiantrail.org. (Some hike recommendations courtesy of Danny Bernstein, author of Hiking the Carolina Mountains.)
M EDIUM • Hemphill Bald — The Loop hike at Hemphill Bald is 13.7 miles in total, but just 4.7 miles in will get you to the Bald. The bald was named after a pioneer family. From the Blue Ridge Parkway intersection with U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley go South on the Parkway toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At milepost 458.2 turn right on Heintooga Ridge Road. Continue for approximately 6 miles to the trailhead at Polls Gap. • Tsali Recreation Area — Located in Graham County the Tsali Recreation Area is known for its excellent trails. Hikers, bikers and horses all must share, but a bike/horse usage schedule keeps down the melee. Hikers may use any trail at any time. The Thompson Loop and Mouse Branch Loop are billed as easy to moderate and good for families. From Robbinsville, travel east on State Highway 143 until you reach the junction with Highway 28. Turn right at the stop sign and proceed south on Highway 28 for approximately 8.4 miles. The entrance to the Tsali Recreation Area will be on the north side of the road and is well marked with signs. About 1.5 miles from the entrance there is a parking area and it is a short walk to the various trailheads. • Looking Glass Rock — This 6-mile hike through the Pisgah National Forest travels first through small cove, then steeply up the backside of Looking Glass Rock through many switchbacks, hardwood forests, Carolina hemlocks. At the top of the trail there are cliffs providing views of Pisgah Ridge from Mt. Pisgah toward the Shining Rock/Black Balsam Area and the valleys below. Off of U.S. 276 near Brevard turn onto FR 475. The trailhead parking area is on the right after 0.4 miles.
HARD • Shining Rock Wilderness Area — Shining Rock became one of the original components of the Wilderness System in September 1964. A series of high ridges extends east and west from the north-south oriented Shining Rock Ledge. There are three main access points for trails within this Wilderness. First and foremost is the Black Balsam area near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although this is not part of the Wilderness itself, The Art Loeb (moderate) and Ivestor Gap (easy) trails lead into the wilderness area from here. Several longer trails head up the ridges into the heart of the wilderness from here, and their beginnings are relatively easy, becoming more and more difficult the further you travel. And finally, for those wishing to summit a 6000-foot peak by starting at the base, try the trailhead at the base of Cold Mountain at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp. Trails start-
Mark Haskett photo
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In step with nature
campground about 500 feet and park in the next to the footbridge. This is an unofficial parking area and fills up quickly on the weekends. You may have to park on the road. • Wayah Bald — Located near Franklin in Macon County, this paved trail suitable for the handicapped leads to the Wayah Bald lookout tower, which is a National Historic Landmark offering breathtaking, panoramic views of the area. The Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail intersect at the tower. From Franklin, travel west on U.S. 64 for 3 miles to Old Murphy Road where there is a Wayah Bald sign. Turn right and drive 0.2 mile to Wayah Road (SR 1310). Turn left and continue for 9 miles to Wayah Gap and FR 69. (Wayah Crest Picnic Area is on the left.) Turn right onto FR 69 and drive 4.4 miles to the Wayah Bald parking area. The road can be rugged in places, though the area is well traveled.
unknown territory might be scouted out as waterways and passes can all be seen better from a high perch. Hunters are better able spot herds of animals from an overlook. Migratory animals often use mountain ridges to travel long distances. Surely the Cherokee utilized ridge tops in their network of trails connecting villages and hunting grounds. There is something about the Appalachians that evokes a deep emotional response in most folks. When you are able to get an encompassing view of your surroundings, you automatically know more about
Rare air
Muth, author Mountain Biking North Carolina, the Mouse Branch overlook 4.5 miles into that loop is the most stunning. On the Right it’s Windy Gap Overlook and the overlook on the Left trail isn’t named. All are fabulous. • Mt. LeConte (6,643 feet) — The vistas are endless in the Smokies, but getting to the top of this mountain has the added advantage of being to check out LeConte Lodge, the only commercial lodging facility in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are five trails to the lodge, the shortest and steepest being Alum Cave Trail at 5.5 miles, which a hiker in good condition can do in approximately four hours. None of these trails can be considered a stroll and you occasionally encounter ice and snow as late as May or as early as October. The other trails are Rainbow Falls and Trillium Gap, each 6.5 miles, a hike of about five hours; Bullhead at 7.2 miles and about five hours; and Boulevard, 8 miles and about 5.5 hours. Parking is available at the start of each trail. Once at the top signs lead to the best overlooks. • Wayah Bald (5,342 feet) — The Nantahala Mountains are not as tall as the Smokies, but the views are every bit as stunning. This is a land of 4,000- and 5,000-foot mountains in
one of the region’s wildest areas. Follow State Route 1310 out of Franklin until you pass Wayah Crest, where there is a camping area. A forest service road, with signs, leads to the parking area at Wayah Bald, where there is an old Civilian Conservation Corps firetower made of stone. Views from the platform are wonderful, and the Appalachian Trail passes right by. • Max Patch (4,629 feet) — This may be the most scenic bald in the Smokies as well as one of the most accessible. From the top, the 360-degree views, the sheer vastness of the bald (which is mowed by the Forest Service) and the beauty is well worth the trip. Since the trail to the parking area is about a quarter of a mile max, it’s a great place to picnic and watch the sunset. Take Exit 7, the Harmon Den Exit, off Interstate 40 and turn right off the exit onto Cold Springs Creek Road. The dirt road goes into Pisgah National Forest. Stay on the main road for several miles until you come to a sign for Max Patch. It is a left-hand turn. Stay on the road until you come to a parking area with an unobstructed view of the bald. Follow the trail to the top of the bald and it intersects with the Appalachian Trail.
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• Mt. Pisgah (5,749 feet) — Located near milepost 408, this mountain with the Biblical name used to be part of the George Vanderbilt Estate (he’s the man who built Biltmore Estate). A parking area is well marked, and the hike is only about a mile but it is relatively strenuous to the platform atop the mountain. Once there, however, the 360-degree views are fabulous. • Tsali’s Fontana Lake overlooks (2,000 feet plus) — If you’re a mountain biker, too often you are in the trees or too dog tired after a climb to enjoy the views, but there are several in Tsali that are worth getting off your bike and using as a rest break, photo-op or both. All of these are just above 2,000 feet in elevation, but because of the lake’s backdrop they make for stunning views. Tsali Recreation Area is located 12 miles west of Bryson City in the Nantahala National Forest. Go west on U.S. 74 and turn right on N.C. 28. Tsali is about five minutes down the road. Once there, the Mouse Branch, Right and Left loops all have great overlooks. According Timm
your place in the world. For many, this serves to stimulate the curiosity to learn about nature or to seek wilderness. Others find the experience to be humbling, revealing the relative insignificance of the individual in the vastness of creation. The religious and spiritual connection with natural heights is easily explained in the context of being closer to Heaven, the gods and spirits. On Mt. Sinai, God presented Moses with the Ten Commandments and on Mt. Pisgah, Moses got a glimpse of the Promised Land. Native Americans attached
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Why do we seek the high places? The easiest explanation for going to the mountains is for the scenery. Even so, there must be something ingrained in the human experience that draws us to lofty summits and places where we can look out over the landscape. The reasons vary from the practical to the spiritual. High places represent safety and security. Elevated vantage points have been used throughout history for human survival. From the heights, an approaching enemy can be detected from a long distance, or an attack more easily fended off. A path through
The Great Smoky Mountains are filled with innumerable trails to head to the top of picturesque and serene peaks.
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Higher aspirations
sacred significance to high places. The Incas performed human sacrifice on sacred peaks in the Andes. Monks of various Eastern religions have built almost inaccessible monasteries on high precipices. At times, mountain travel involves personal challenge and extraordinary risk. When asked why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, George Mallory replied, “Because it is there.” Whether Mallory reached the summit in 1924 is still in question, but the same adventurous spirit still drives many to climb the most difficult mountains. Even in Western North Carolina, the most remote peaks require no small amount of effort to reach. “Peakbagging” is the sport of getting to the top of as many peaks as possible. Hiking up a mountain is great exercise. The air is less dense and flows easily in and out of your lungs, but the lower concentration of oxygen means greater oxygen debt during physical activity. Eventually, the body becomes more efficient and compensates. Unfortunately, summer hikers in the Smokies may have difficulty with respiration due to the low oxygen density combined with high ozone levels caused by pollution from autos and power plants. Visiting the high places can even be a social event. In Japan, large numbers of hikers may crowd a summit trail. The camaraderie of sharing the journey and the view with good friends or a loved one is definitely a bonding experience and often requires cooperation to get there. On the other hand, the sense of solitude one experiences when standing alone on a lofty wilderness summit is difficult to describe or explain. (Ed Kelley is a photographer, musician and outdoorsman who lives in Waynesville)
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Gateway to Western North Carolina
WAYNESVILLE Waynesville is home to a bustling downtown (above) filled with shops, cafes and art galleries. It’s also home to Frog Level (left), a district featuring the Mahogany House art gallery and Frog Level Brewing Company. Lake Junaluska (top, right), is a scenic community that is steeped in Methodist history. The two-mile path around the lake is open to the public. Margaret Hester photos
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Attractions • Frog Level — This restored train district has gained recognition as a National Historic District and is now home to a collection of small galleries, antique stories, Frog Level Brewery, a thrift store and a local coffee roastery, where you will find comfy sofas and a deck overlooking a mountain stream. • Hazelwood Village — An intimate shopping district a short distance from downtown Waynesville, Hazelwood was a blue-collar mill town back in the day. A revitalized retail district includes a pottery studio, Smoky Mountain Coffee Roastery, a collector’s shop, the Bourbon Barrel Beef & Ale and Hazelwood Soap Company. • Lake Junaluska — This Methodist community is open to the public and features a two-mile paved walking path around the lake, with other walking routes extending off of it. There are ducks, geese and swans, benches, bridges, a dam, a butterfly garden and a rose walk along the path. Paddleboats can
be rented on the lake, and there is a museum of Methodist history, a coffee shop, and a bookstore. The lake is just off U.S. 19 north of Waynesville and east of Maggie Valley. • Balsam Mountain Inn — The inn at Balsam Gap was constructed between 1905 and 1908. It’s Colonial Revival architecture welcomed train travelers to the area. Over the years and under the management of several owners the inn has seen its ups and downs. It was restored in the 1990s and still operates as an inn, with dinners open to the public. Located west of Waynesville near the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. 828.456.9498. • Folkmoot — Based in Waynesville, Folkmoot is the state’s official international festival. Folkmoot brings more than 200 international performers who dazzle the mountains with a line-up of performances, parades, workshops and festivals for the last two weeks of July each year. www.folkmootusa.org. • Haywood County Courthouse — The historic courthouse was built in the Neoclassical style during the Depression using the same stone that was used for the
Undulating mountains surround the town of Waynesville, a welcoming community that is the perfect combination of nature, tourism and Appalachian culture. Downtown features working art studios, bookstore, cafes, two wine shops, cigar store, kitchen store, a retail storefront for the local Sunburst Trout Company, the famous Mast General Store, gift shops, a bakery, specialty chocolate shop, and even a dog bakery. Waynesville is known for its preponderance of art galleries. Shops are filled with the work of local jewelers, potters, fiber artists, painters, metal workers and photographers. The first Friday evening of each month features a gallery stroll and artist demonstrations, dubbed “Art After Dark.” Whether you want to kickback in a coffee shop with your laptop, relax at a wine bar, catch live music at a local pub or linger over fine dining, the town encompasses all of the luxuries and amenities one could want. In terms of dining, the town offers culinary treats from Thai to modern Southern to farm-to-table cuisines. For craft beer lovers, Waynesville is home to Tipping Point Brewing, Frog Level Brewing and BearWaters Brewing.
Washington Monument in D.C. • Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts — Located in the historic Shelton House and features 19th century crafts, including pottery, quilts, basket and woodworking. Located on Pigeon Street/U.S. 276, three blocks from Main Street in downtown Waynesville. 828.452.1551. • Cold Mountain — The mountain that Charles Frazier used to name his acclaimed novel, and the title of the subsequent movie starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellwegger is in Haywood County. Hiking the mountain requires a map and an entire day, but you can view it by following U.S. 276 out of Waynesville until you hit the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Cold Mountain overlook is right at the U.S. 276/parkway intersection. • Haywood County Tourism Development Authority — Located at 44 North Main St. 828.452.0152 or www.visitncsmokies.com. • Haywood County Chamber of Commerce — Located at 28 Walnut St. 828.456.3021 or www.haywood-nc.com.
Margaret Hester photo
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Canton & Clyde For true local charm, look no further than Canton and Clyde, the neighboring towns • Blue Ridge Parkway nestled in eastern Haywood • Canton Area Historical Museum and Visitor County. They are situated Center — Step into the town’s history, starting with its around the Evergreen paper early settlement, and see what has shaped modern mill, which started life as Blue Canton at 36 Park St. 828.646.3412. Ridge Paper Products and has • Colonial Theatre — The historic Colonial Theatre was been running steadily for more built in 1932 and renovated in 1992 and again in 2006 than 100 years. giving the town a multi-use facility with state of the art Downtown Canton is a film, video and sound equipment. Concerts are held most snapshot of a classic mill town, weekends. 828.235.2760. with many of the unique and • Mt. Pisgah — This mountain is visible from the area beautiful bungalows and buildaround Canton. Located at Milepost 408.6 on the Blue ings once built for mill workers Ridge Parkway, a short, strenuous hike leads to a viewing and managers still intact. The platform with 360-degree views. Also a hotel, restaurant downtown district is listed on and campground located nearby. • Old Pressley Sapphire Mine — Flume for sapphires the National Register of and other gems. One of world’s largest blue sapphires Historic Places, and its crown was discovered here, earning the mine a place in the jewel is the Imperial Hotel, Guinness Book of World Records. Open seven days a which is now home to the Sid’s week. Exit 33 off Interstate 40. 240 Pressley Mine Rd. on Main restaurant. Originally 828.648.6320. crafted as a stately home, it is • Pigeon River Scenic Walking Trail — A walking currently being renovated to its trail that covers a mile and a half of the scenic Pigeon former glory. River in Canton. Benches line the trail for those looking Historic murals also dot to relax and take in the native flora or feed local wildlife, the downtown landscape, offerwhile a boat ramp is available for fishing and canoeing. ing interesting viewing for a stroll down Main Street, while a stop into one of the street’s barber shops or have left their mark in the unique collection of cafes will give you a chance to rub elbows signatures that decorate the chapel’s walls. The town is also home to “The Big Gun,” with the locals. Clyde, a hamlet that lies between Canton a local landmark and war memorial that is the and Waynesville, can boast as its own the old- defining feature of the small downtown landest structure in Haywood County. The Shook- scape. Another memorial, made from steel Smathers House, home to the Shook taken from the World Trade Center, is slated Museum, was built around 1820, with addi- to open in Clyde in 2011, commemorating tions and renovations made for decades pro- the 10th anniversary of the September 11 ducing the finished product we see today. The attacks. Clyde was given two of only around home’s attic chapel played host to many storied 1,000 piece of steel salvaged from the site to circuit preachers over the years, many of whom be used in memorials.
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“Thanks to Carolyn Lauter we found the ideal second home. We have lived in about 30 different locations and have been involved in 20 or so real estate deals both with & without Realtor involvement. From our perspective, this has been the best managed and least stressful deal in our experience thanks to Carolyn’s attention to detail and schedule. You are fortunate to have Carolyn as an associate.”
Commitment, consistency, results.
— D. Berger & M. Berger
Carolyn Lauter Spring & Summer 2014
BROKER/ABR
828.734.4822 Cell www.carolynlauter.com carolyn.lauter@realtyworldheritage.com
1986 SOCO ROAD, HWY 19 MAGGIE VALLEY, NC 28751
Attractions
Maggie Valley is home to numerous festivals throughout the summer (above), as well as the renowned Wheels Through Time Museum (right). Margaret Hester photo (above) • Garret K. Woodward photo (right)
Spring & Summer 2014
In the heart of the Smokies lies Maggie Valley, a mountain getaway that rolls out the welcome mat to traveling tourists. The town is an epicenter of old-time mountain fun, with a variety of family restaurants and fine dining, gift shops and souvenir stores. Entertainment ranges from foot-stomping Appalachian song and dance to bars and nightlife spots, and by day there’s everything from putt-putt to elk-spotting to fishing. The community is perched at the doorstep of the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and the magnificent Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making it a perfect jumping off point to explore Western North Carolina. From spring to autumn, the valley is also packed with motorcyclists from around the country who use Maggie as their base to ride the plethora of scenic roads and enjoy the camaraderie of other riders — and who come to visit the renowned Wheels Through Time Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of vintage motorcycles in the world. The town has a dizzying array of weekend celebrations and events in summer, thanks to the festival grounds in the heart of town. From a tiny tourist hamlet to a bustling resort town, Maggie Valley has burgeoned into a scenic paradise with something for everyone.
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Where nature and entertainment meet
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MAGGIE VALLEY
• Cataloochee Ranch — The legendary property features cabins, horse stables, a grand old lodge and restaurant — all atop a 5,000-foot mountain, where the vistas are stunning and the atmosphere is as collegial as a campfire with old friends. Those who are not staying at the ranch are invited to join staff and visitors for evening cookouts, and you might even hear some local storytelling. 828.926.1401. • Cataloochee Valley — Elk again roam free in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just outside the valley, thanks to a re-introduction program. To find the majestic creatures, follow U.S. 276 north out of town and hang a left on White Oak Road, just before Interstate 40, then another left onto Cove Creek Road. It’s a half hour ride with some steep gravel sections to reach Cataloochee Valley. Dusk is the best bet for guaranteed sightings, but please, stay away from the elk — they have antlers for a reason. • Maggie Valley Opry House — Legendary banjo picker Raymond Fairchild can be found at the Opry House each summer, plying his trade. The venue seeks to be a guardian of the culture and music of Appalachia, and great mountain music is on tap nightly. The House opens at 8 p.m. nightly through October. Located at 3605 Soco Road. 828.926.9336. • The Stompin’ Ground — To see Appalachian dancing at its finest, visit the “Clogging Capitol of the World.” This loose-tap dance style finds its roots here, and combines the drama of Irish dance and the down-home fun of mountain bluegrass. Home of the Clogging World Championships. Located at 3116 Soco Road. 828.926.1288. • Wheels Through Time Museum — With over 250 rare and vintage American motorcycles, it is the largest collection of rare bikes in the world. Most of the motorcycles are still in running condition. Exhibits not only leave the motorcycle fanatic speechless, but even those without the faintest interest in motorcycles will appreciate the story of Americana as it is told through the lens of the motorcycle. Located at 62 Vintage Drive. 828.926.6266. • Maggie Valley Club — Once the Maggie Valley Country Club, this resort offers golfing, dining and resort living in a newly renovated atmosphere. Located at 1819 Country Club Drive. 828.926.1616. • Ghost Town in the Sky — The fabled mountain-top amusement park with an Old West theme has been closed in recent years, but a portion of it may reopen by mid- to late-summer. A chairlift offering sweeping views carries visitors up the side of the mountain to the theme-park rides. Located at 16 Fie Top Road. 828.926.1130. • Visitor Center — Maggie Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. Located at 2961 Soco Road. 828.926.1686 or www.maggievalley.org.
BRYSON CITY AMENITIES INCLUDE:
Free Continental Breakfast High-Speed Wired & Wireless Internet Access Interior Corridors Flat Panel Televisions Hair Dryers Upon Request Irons & Ironing Boards Upon Request Coffee Makers, Microwaves, and Refrigerators in Suites Guest Laundry Available
828.488.7900
greatsmokiesmicrotel.com
Bryson City, NC
SLEEP INN BRYSON CITY 1/2 Mile to Bryson City Railroad Depot Guests enjoy free hot breakfast buffet, brand new 32” flat panel LCD televisions, free wireless internet, seasonal outdoor swimming pool and access to on-site coin laundry facilities.
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500 VETERANS BLVD. BRYSON CITY, NC TOLL FREE: 866-939-0998 LOCAL: 828-488-0326
We also offer packages to ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, or to go rafting at Nantahala Outdoor Center (please book in advance). We also offer the train and rafting tickets individually.
www.sleepinnbrysoncitync.com
McClanahans Furniture • Home Décor • Clothing Shoes • Accessories & more
Loft Vacation Getaways
Spring & Summer 2014
aloftinthesmokies.com
Conveniently Located 1432-49
115 Everett St. • Bryson City, NC
828.488.8010
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SYLVA: Small town mountain beauty Sylva is an eclectic community that’s a blend of a local, tourist and college feel surrounded by towering mountains. The tree-lined downtown streetscape, dotted with benches, provides visitors with an afternoon of pleasant strolling. Sylva boasts an assortment of art galleries, bookstores, furniture and antique stores, clothing stores, excellent restaurants, a coffee shop, bars, two breweries, music store, outfitter’s shop and bike shop. The majestic Jackson County historic courthouse overlooks downtown, with the building also serving as the public library. The Bridge Park Pavilion is a gathering place for events in downtown and is just a block off Main Street. The covered stage and grassy lawn is home to the weekly Friday night Concerts on the Creek series in summer. Downtown Sylva’s historic courthouse. Mark Haskett photo
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Attractions • Jackson County Library and Courthouse — The historic courthouse on the hill overlooking Main Street has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. A stunning library was built alongside the courthouse to its rear, with architecture to match the historical icon. • Tree walk — There is even an official 1.2-mile tree walk, featuring 44 of the more than 50 species in Sylva, designated a Tree City USA. Pick up a guide booklet at the Friends of the Library Used Book Store on Main Street in Sylva or the Jackson County Visitor Center in the Hooper House. • The Hooper House — At the bottom of courthouse hill on Main Street sits this Victorian home. The home contains a county museum and is home to the chamber of commerce and the travel and tourism association. 828.586.2155. • Heinzelmannchen Brewery — This local microbrewery offers smooth, German-style beers and root beer. The owners are happy to provide taste tests, or take your brew with you in a signature Heinzelmannchen growler. Stop in on Mill Street (which parallels Main). 828.631.4466. • Innovation Brewing — Sylva’s newest brewery with around a
The Youth Arts Festival is held at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Mark Haskett photo
Dillsboro: Crafting the heritage of Appalachia A charming and delightful village, Dillsboro is home to a community of artists, unique retailers and great restaurants. The community has been a tourist town since the late 19th century when the railroad first brought visitors to the “land of the sky” to escape the summer heat. More than a century later, Dillsboro has changed very little — a small country village with pristine white houses, rustic old shops, galleries, restaurants and quaint country inns. The town is located on the banks of the Tuckasegee River, which runs the length of Jackson County. Fishing is a favorite activity on the Tuck, and the river is filled with native and stocked trout and there are numerous spots and secret fishing holes. Dillsboro’s section of the Tuckasegee also boasts whitewater rafting for all ages. There is also a park along the river. The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad still runs scenic passenger excursion trains to Dillsboro from its main depot in Bryson City. Just outside town, the century-old Monteith Farmstead is a town park with walking trails featuring interpretive nature signs along a creek.
dozen handcrafted beers at any given time. The outdoor patio overlooks a river and borders Main Street. Located at 414 West Main St. 828.586.9678. • Judaculla Rock — A mysterious collection of Native American petro glyphs located on Caney Fork Road off N.C. 107 outside of town in Cullowhee. In the late 19th century, Cherokee groups were known to have ceremonial assemblies around the rock. Some say the rock is a map of a 1755 battle between the Cherokee and Indian rivals. Archeologists who have perused the stone claim it was carved sometime in the Late Archaic Period about 5,900 to 3,200 years ago when evidence first appears of Native American societies forming mound societies, or towns that took root around ceremonial Indian mounds. www.judacullarock.com. • The Mountain Heritage Center — Located on the nearby Western Carolina University campus in Cullowhee, this museum features exhibits, demonstrations and educational programs on mountain society, past and present. 828.227.2179. • Bardo Fine Arts Center and Museum — This state of the art teaching facility at Western Carolina University also has an art museum with a permanent collection and visiting exhibits, an outdoor sculpture garden, and a performance venue. 828.227.2479. • Pinnacle Park — Located 10 minutes from Sylva, and at an elevation of 5,000 feet, this park offers panoramic views of the town. See the list of recommended hiking trails in this guide. • Visitor Center — The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is located at 773 West Main St. in downtown Sylva. 828.586.2155 or www.mountainlovers.com.
Attractions • The Jackson County Green Energy Park — The park captures methane gas from the old town landfill, and then uses the gas as fuel. It houses studios for glassblowers, blacksmiths and a greenhouse. A gallery onsite showcases the work of the artists that
use the “green” space. It has been lauded as a leader in the national sustainability movement. Located at 401 Grindstaff Cove Road. 828.631.0271. • The Jarrett House — Founded by William Allen Dills, who the town is named after, this one-time boarding house has welcomed guests to Jackson County since the 1880s. Now a family restaurant, the Jarrett House offers home cooked, Southern food and a few lessons in history. Located at 518 Haywood Road. 828.586.0265. • The Tuckasegee River — The Tuck, as it is called locally, runs along the southern border of Dillsboro and provides a cooling respite for travelers and fishing enthusiasts. Rafting or tubing are great ways to experience the Tuck, with several rafting companies both renting rafts and offering guided trips.
Cashiers: Crossroads of the plateau
ATTRACTIONS • Lake Glenville — This beautiful mountain lake is located between Cashiers and Sylva along N.C. 107. It’s an excellent place to get in some water recreation, and a marina rents boats of all types. There’s a county campground, Ralph J. Andrews Park, with 47 camp sites, full hook-ups, tent sites, primitive
• The Bascom — An independent nonprofit art center, the gallery offers a host of workshops, lectures and exhibits for adults and kids. Located at 323 Franklin Road. 828.526.4949. • Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center — The center offers professional arts performances and other theatric productions. Located at 507 Chestnut St. 828.526.9047. • Highlands Nature Center and Botanical Garden — The Nature Center features exhibits, programs and lectures
camp sites, picnic shelter, picnic facilities, fishing, boat ramp, hot showers and bathrooms on the far side of the lake on Pine Creek Road. • Panthertown Valley — The “Yosemite of the East” is a 6,700-acre recreation area with towering rock cliffs rising up from the valley floor, cascading waterfalls, meandering streams, lush rhododendron tunnels, and hiking and biking trails. Note that some plants in the valley are rare, so please stay on the trails. • Whiteside Community and Whiteside Cove Road — Here you’ll find Grimshawes Post Office, the smallest post office in the U.S. The post office was established 1903 and served the public until 1953. Nearby is Whiteside School, built in 1910. The school’s windows are all located on one side of the building, which was believed to prevent shadows on schoolwork.
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• Whitewater Falls — This is the tallest waterfall in the east and is located about 10 miles from Cashiers. Head south on N.C. 107 along one of the most scenic drives in the region. Turn left just after crossing into South Carolina and follow the signs. A short paved trail leads to the falls. There are restrooms and lovely picnic facilities. • Zachary-Tolbert House — An 1840 Greek Revival estate house on the National Register of Historic Places built by one of the founders of Cashiers. The home was never altered, never modernized and stands as a pristine example of the rural, antebellum South. Call for viewing. Located on N.C. 107 one mile south of Cashiers. 828.743.7710. • Visitor Center — Located in a log cabin on U.S 64, just west of the town’s main intersection. 828.743.5191 or www.cashiersareachamber.com.
Spring & Summer 2014
The Village of Cashiers is a true crossroads community, with four roads coming in from each of the cardinal directions serving as the only arteries in or out. While the town has its share of excellent golfing and country clubs, resorts and fine dining, you’ll find plenty of hikers and rock climbers amongst the permanent residents in the area. The Village Green is one of the community’s best assets, a 12-acre park in the center of town featuring walking paths, a nationally judged dahlia garden, boardwalks over wetlands, a playground, rustic pavilions, a woodlands trail, and sculptures by internationally
renowned artists. The parks gardens, with an emphasis on native plants, vary from wildflower beds, grassy fields, wetlands, and wooded areas while creating rooms with specific interests, like the native azalea garden and a fern room. The Village Commons and the Village Green play host to programs, nature lectures, festivals, music and more throughout the year.
ATTRACTIONS
WNC TRAVEL GUIDE
Highlands and Cashiers are perched on the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where the mountains plunge sharply from a high plateau, creating the right ingredients not only for bountiful waterfalls but a temperate rainforest, one of the few in North America. This makes for lush vegetation, plus special designations such as “salamander and lichen capital of the world.” The communities are surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest, making it a natural playground for outdoors lovers. Waterfalls are perhaps the region’s biggest claim to fame, some easily viewed from roadside pull-offs or short walks to viewing platforms along waterfall driving circuits, with others hidden in the remote wilderness and accessible only to those willing to hike.
At 4,118 feet in elevation, Highlands is the second-highest incorporated town east of the Mississippi River. Filled with upscale boutiques, spas, art galleries and antique shops, downtown is a vibrant, picturesque mountain community. When evening rolls around, residents and visitors enjoy fine dining, summer Appalachian and chamber music concert series, wine and craft beer tastings, artisan receptions and exhibits, and professional theatre troupes. When venturing into the outdoor splendor of Western North Carolina, adventurists can tackle hiking and biking trails, whitewater rapids, sheer rock cliffs, tranquil lakes, and numerous country clubs and golf courses. The Highlands greenway network, with walking paths and trails radiating from downtown, is also a key feature of the town.
Margaret Hester photo
Mark Haskett photo
Highlands/Cashiers
on environmental topics. The Botanical Garden offers 12 acres of native plants in natural habitats, from upland woods to cove forest and wetland. Located at 265 North Sixth St. 828.526.2602. • The Highlands Playhouse — Professional theater offering live music, movies and other artistic productions. Season runs July to October. Located at 362 Oak St. 828.526.2695. • Waterfalls — Driving U. S. 64 West will take you past Lower and Upper Cullasaja Falls, Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, some of the area’s most popular waterfalls. • Whiteside Mountain —The rocky face of the mountain is familiar to all who visit the region. The mountain is between Highlands and Cashiers and is accessible by a two-mile loop trail that begins off Whiteside Mountain Road. • Visitor Center — Located at 108 Main St. 828.526.5841 or www.highlandschamber.org.
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Highlands: Above it all
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Franklin offers several summer festivals and year-round museums within its picturesque downtown. Nicknamed “Ruby City,” the town is also a draw for gem miners of all experience levels. File photos
Attractions
FRANKLIN Mountains abound
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Franklin is the ideal staging are for exploring the Nantahala Mountains. Whether you want to stroll and shop, bike the town’s meandering greenway along the Little Tennessee River, explore local history or head into the wilderness for some hiking, this town has it all. The community is home to three museums, coffee shops and restaurants, a bakery, boutique stores, a bike shop, an outfitter’s store, antique shops and more. Galleries include North Carolina Mountain Made, featuring the work of 200 mountain craftspeople and artisans on Main Street. The town is also home to the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, where regional and national music acts and theatre productions take the stage. In the middle of downtown Franklin stands the ancient Cherokee mound of Nikwasi, marking its location as one of the largest of the ancient middle towns of the Cherokee along the Little Tennessee River that served as a canoe highway through the region during ancient times. The town of Franklin was recently designated an Appalachian Trail Community, and holds a series of events each year honoring the nearby AT and its hikers. Stop into Outdoor 76 for trail maps, hiking suggestions and any recreational gear needs.
• The Scottish Tartans Museum — The only American extension of the Scottish Tartans Society, this museum explores the Scottish heritage of the region, replete with kilts, weaponry, and Scottish history. Not only can visitors pick up a can a haggis to go, but also they can learn more about the hearty settlers that helped lend Western North Carolina its grit. Located at 86 East Main St. in downtown. 828.524.7472. • The Gem and Mineral Museum — This little museum exhibits local gemstones, minerals and Indian artifacts. The museum is located in the town’s old jail, used from 1896 to 1971. One of the jail’s cells is open to visitors. Located at 25 Phillips St. in downtown. 828.369.7831. • Macon County Historical Museum — In the old Pendergrass Store, the building was the first department store in downtown. It features old typewriters, locally made quilts, wooden nickels and other items that have been collected over the years. Located at 36 West Main St. in downtown. 828.524.9758. • Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts — This 1,500 seat state-of-the-art facility presents the finest in performing arts. Performances include passion plays, musical productions, professional drama troupes, dance and choral festivals, recitals, and various genres including country, bluegrass, gospel, pop, contemporary Christian and more. Located at 1028 Georgia Rd. 828.524.1598. • T.M. Rickman General Store — In the Cowee West’s Mill Historic District, the store was a mainstay in the Cowee Community for many years and is filled with many of the goods one would find in a general store from the days of yore, plus regional guidebooks, local crafts and handmade items. Located on Cowee Creek Road just off of Highway 28 (Bryson City Road) about six miles north of Franklin. 828.524.2711. • Gem mines — Gem mining has a rich history in Franklin, which attracted attention from Tiffany and Co. and the jeweler’s famed gemologist George Kunz. The company purchased 1,500 acres surrounding the old Mason Ranch and unearthed many precious stones. Try your hand at gem mining at one of eight gem mines in the area, where you get a bucket of sand and enriched with stones from around the world for guaranteed finds as you sit in front of a plume of water to sift for treasure. For a complete list, go to www.franklin-chamber.com. • Little Tennessee River Greenway — The greenway has several picnic shelters, signage identifying native plants, grassy play areas and beautiful bridges crossing the river. There’s also a native marsh area. There are several access areas for the greenway. A playground is at the Big Bear Shelter off Main Street. 828.369.8488. • Visitor Center — The Franklin Chamber of Commerce is located at 425 Porter St. 828.524.3161 or www.franklin-chamber.com.
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R A F T I NG A D V E N T U R E S An ideal adventure for families. ZIP & RAIL Enjoy a fully guided tour with spectacular views of Lake Fontana. RAIL & TRAIL Tour the mountains in a Jeep速 past waterfalls and lakes.
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Attractions
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BRYSON CITY Spring & Summer 2014
Outpost of the Great Smokies
Bryson City, the gateway to the Great Smokies, is filled with restaurants, live music, cafes, and a state-of-the-art brewery. Margaret Hester photo (left) Garret K. Woodward photos (right)
Most of lands surrounding Bryson City are publicly held forest and park land, making the town a staging area of sorts for hikers — the Appalachian Trail runs nearby — cyclists, campers, horseback riders and river rats. In a cemetery overlooking the town is the gravesite of Horace Kephart, author of Our Southern Highlanders, generally considered to be the definitive book on early Appalachian life. Kephart — somewhat the John Muir of the Smokies — was an outsider who adopted the Smokies and devoted his life to learning its ecology and culture. He fought hard for the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Today, travelers looking for a home base from which to explore the mountains use Bryson City as a prime location. The town is close to the Qualla Boundary where visitors will find cultural celebration of native Cherokee heritage juxtaposed against Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. And while the town of Bryson City itself is small, it boasts a surprisingly large amount of activity in the summer months. Look for stage productions by The Smoky Mountain Community Theater troupe, art gallery exhibit openings, fine dining, live music, a brewery, and, of course, the distinct whistle of trains riding in on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
• Calhoun Country Inn — In the heart of Bryson City, the Calhoun Inn is said to be one of Horace Kephart’s favorite places. He and friend Granville Calhoun, whom he met upon moving to the mountains in 1904, spent time talking and rocking in chairs on the inn’s front porch. Today, the inn features period antiques, handmade quilts and the original pine floors. Located at 135 Everett St. 828.488.1234. • Cooper Creek Trout Farm — This catch-yourown trout farm offers a pay by the pound system and is great place for kids to get their first experience with a hook and line. Unlike wild waters, here no license is required. Located off U.S. 19, four miles east of Bryson City. Turn off U.S. 19 onto Cooper Creek Road. 828.488.2500. • Nantahala Brewing — Celebrating its fourth year in operation, the large warehouse brewery is right across the street from the train depot in downtown. Featuring an array of craft beers, Nantahala also offers seasonal releases, tastings, tours and live music. 828.488.2337. • Darnell Farms — A true agri-tourism business, the property offers pick-your-own seasonal produce, most notably strawberries during the early summer months. In addition to fruits and veggies, the farm offers live music on the weekends and the occasional fiddlin’ or pickin’ competition. An old-fashioned corn maze opens on the farm in late August. Located just outside of Bryson City on U.S. 19 heading toward Cherokee. 828.488.2376. • Fontana Dam — At 480 feet, the dam that created Lake Fontana is the highest dam in eastern America. Several marinas and boat landings provide water access. The dam generates hydroelectric power and tours of the facility are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.tva.com. • Fryemont Inn — Overlooking the National Park, this rustic inn remains rooted in a bygone era of enormous stone fireplaces and gleaming hardwood floors. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s also full service dining and a cozy bar for outside visitors. Located at 245 Fryemont St. 828.488.2159. • The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot — Located off Everett Street in downtown, the depot is the railroad’s transportation center. A variety of tours and packages are available for those looking to jump aboard. As trains are waiting to leave, take a few minutes to speak to one of the conductors about life on a mountain railroad. 800.872.4681 or www.gsmr.com. • Smoky Mountain Trains Scenic Model Railroad Museum — With its 7,000 engines, cars and accessories, this museum boasts the largest collection of Lionel trains in the Carolinas. Train collectors can purchase new gear or souvenirs here without admission to the museum. Located adjacent to the depot. 800.872.4681. • Nantahala Outdoor Center — Featuring an array of rafting and freestyle kayaking options, the NOC is one of the top whitewater centers in the country. The center also features lodging, restaurants, bars, outfitters and live music. A short drive from Bryson City, it’s located on U.S. 19 West in the Nantahala Gorge. 888.905.7238.
D
DILLSBORO
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Christmas Shop Nancy Tut’s since 1969
488 Haywood St. • Dillsboro NC • 828-586-5391 1432-05
A Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Experience 39
&
Travis Berning Joe Frank McKee
148 Front Street • P.O. Box 253 • Dillsboro, North Carolina 828-631-5100 • TreeHousePotteryNC.com
claymatespottery.com
31 FRONT ST. DILLSBORO (828) 631-3133
1432-04
Also: Glass Fusing & Canvas Painting Walk-Ins Welcome!
WNC TRAVEL GUIDE
Featuring the works of
Chicken Steak - Ribs Salads & Sandwiches
The 1432-08
Jarrett House
A tradition of home-style food, family-style service and accommodations. (828) 586-0265 • 100 Haywood St. • Dillsboro TOLL FREE
(800) 972-5623 • www.jarretthouse.com
489 Haywood Road, Dillsboro NC 28779 828 631-0777
Spring & Summer 2014
Daily Homemade Specials
Macon + Franklin 1432-03
HOME DECOR ACCESSORIES SPA PRODUCTS
Rosebud Cottage 46 E. M AIN S T. F RANKLIN , NC
828.369.2429 • 10-5 SANDWICH SHOP: 10-5 DRINKS, COOKIES, ICE CREAM LUNCH: 11-3
Soups, Salads, Sandwiches
37 E MAIN ST. FRANKLIN, NC 828.369.1612 • 10-6
Our menu includes homemade items and one of our famous Rose-Flavored Sugar Cookies with every meal!
ROSEBUD C OTTAGE NC. COM
The Scottish Tartans Museum Open Year Round, 10am-5pm Mon.-Sat. Admission: Adults $2 Children 6-12 $1
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Fireworks in the Park
Learn the history of Highland dress in our Museum & Take a piece of your heritage home from our gift shop!
MACON COUNTY REC PARK FRANKLIN, NC 28734
Over 500 of the most common family, clan and district tartans on displey
49TH ANNUAL
www.scottishtartans.org 86 East Main St. Franklin (828) 524-7472 MACON COUNTY COMMUNITY BUILDING
1432-01
1432-36
JULY 24-27, 2014 6TH ANNUAL
Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show Spring & Summer 2014
MACON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
AUGUST 8-9, 2014 PRESENTED BY THE FRANKLIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
888-337-7529 or www.franklin-chamber.com
SALES • SERVICE RENTALS Group Rides & FREE Trail Maps Trek, Strider & Waterford Bicycle Dealer
828-369-2881 SmokyMtnBikes.com
Come check out our new location: 31 East Main St., Downtown Franklin (Old People's Building)
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Retail Retail
Restaurant Restaurant
LIVE LIVE Music Music W N CTR AV E L.C O M
Home of the 1061 carat sapphire found at GOLD CITY GEM MINE, featured in PEOPLE WEEKLY, DISNEY ADVENTURES and ROCK & GEM Magazines and appraised at $40,000!
Located on highway 441, 6 miles north of Franklin, NC.. Open most of the year. Call for Hours. Tour buses group rates available. Bring your rough stones in for a free inspection and cutting from our professional team in our jewelry store.
N NEW EW HOURS HOURS O OF FO OPERATION PERATION Beginning Beginning Wednesday, Wednesday, May May 21, 21, 2014 2014
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Retail Retail 1 11am 1am - 6pm, 6pm, Tuesday Tuesday through through Saturday. Saturday. Underground Underground Cellar Cellar with with over over 1,000 1,000 Wine Wine Selections Selections from from more more than than 12,000 12,000 Bottles Bottles Affordable Affordable & Collectible Collectible Wines, Wines, Ports, Ports, Champagnes Champagnes and and Beers. Beers.
WNC TRAVEL GUIDE
We have Native and Enriched Gemstones buckets. We also have Gold Panning. New and Improved large covered flume for Gem Mining rain or shine. New inside heated flume for cold days.
The The Classic Classic Wineseller’s Wineseller ’s restaurant restaurant opens opens at at 4pm 4pm Wednesday Wednesday through through Saturday Saturday se serving rving Sma Smallll Pl Plate ate a and nd T Tapas-Style apas-Style cuisine cuisine all all evening. evening. Al fresco fresco dining dining available available under under the the arbor. arbor. Daily Daily Wine Wine Tastings Tastings & Dinner Dinner Specials, Specials, LIVE LIVE music, music, Jazz Jazz Dinners. Dinners.
9410 Sylva Rd. HWY 441N, Franklin, NC 800.713.7767 or 828.369.3905 www.goldcityamusement.com
8 828.452.6000 28.452.6000 • 2 20 0C Church hurch Street, Street, Waynesville Waynesville
w www.classicwineseller.com ww.classicwineseller.com
Spring & Summer 2014
GOLD CITY GEM MINE
CHEROKEE A melting pot of ancient and modern A unique mix of modern and ancient, Cherokee is 21st century entertainment played out on a backdrop of time-honored cultural traditions. Known locally as the Qualla Boundary, the 57,000-acre tract is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and marks the ancestral home of the Cherokee Nation, once one of the largest Indian tribes on the continent. Today, Cherokee is a melting pot of old and new, as tribal leaders try to balance the preservation of Cherokee’s singular heritage and cater to the contemporary wants and needs of its visitors. Efforts by tribal members to preserve and cultivate their customs and culture are significant. The Cherokee language is taught in the schools. Tribal artists also use traditional materials, from river cane basketry to pottery to finger weaving. Cherokee song and dance is also alive and well, with pow-wows and dance troupes performing throughout the year. Cherokee is home to a great many festivals celebrating native culture, song, dance and food. The home to these events is the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds in the heart of town.
Spring & Summer 2014
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The community is also home to the region’s largest employer and, in recent years, its central feature, Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel and Casino. The casino, one of the state’s most visited tourist attractions, recently underwent an impressive expansion that transformed the colossal campus into a destination resort, home to shopping, luxury hotel rooms, big-name concerts, a nightlife lounge, indoor pool with mountain views, and spa. The casino’s concert venue offers world-class entertainment, from live music to comedians, theatrical productions and other stage acts. The reservation’s many parks offer great picnic spots and there are plenty of wellequipped campgrounds. Fishing in the Cherokee waters are among some of the finest in the country. Those rivers have played host to the U.S. Fly Fishing Championships in the past, with several annual tournaments taking place throughout the summer. And if you’re looking for the mountain kitsch the town has long been known for — fudge, wood carvings, beaded hand bags — it’s all still here, lining the main shopping strip that’s bustling in the summer.
Featuring a world-class casino, traditional art and craft galleries and other cultural attractions, Cherokee is also one of the main entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Margaret Hester photos • Ashley T. Evans photo (bottom, left)
Attractions • Harrah’s Cherokee Casino — You’ll find a diverse selection of entertainment at Harrah’s, from slots and video gambling to restaurants and big-name performers taking the casino’s main stage. The culinary lineup includes the Noodle Bar, the lauded Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a BRIO Tuscan Grille, Selu Garden Café and a food court with perennial favorites like Dunkin’ Donuts and Uno’s Pizza. The amazing Chef’s Stage buffet is true to its name, putting master chefs in the creative limelight while they grill up the day’s fresh entrées. Visitors must be 21 to enter. Always open. 828.497.7777 or www.harrahscherokee.com. • Cherokee Bonfire — Cherokee storytellers host a bonfire at 7 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night at the Oconaluftee Islands Park. Roast marshmallows, hear the legends, relax by fire and water and be entertained by Cherokee legends, stories, songs and dance. 828.788.0034. • The Museum of the Cherokee Indian — This museum features an interactive immersion into the history, customs and beliefs of the Cherokee. Exhibits explore religious beliefs, tradi-
tions and the history of Cherokee settlements in Western North Carolina, as well as the gradual change brought by white colonists. Located at U.S. 441 and Drama Road. Open daily at 9 a.m. 828.497.3481. • The Oconaluftee Indian Village — The Cherokee of the 18th century comes to life at this working replica of a village. A Council House gives visitors a glimpse into the Cherokee system of government, while craftspeople demonstrate things like basket and canoe making and arrowhead carving. Located near the Mountainside Theater of U.S. 441 North. Call for times. 828.497.2111. • Unto These Hills — An outdoor drama depicting the story of the Cherokee people, it’s one of the longest running outdoor dramas in the nation. The production traces the Cherokee people through the eons, through the zenith of their power, their struggle to adapt to the early white settlers and hang on to their ancestral lands, through the heartbreak of the Trail of Tears, finally ending, appropriately, in the present day, where the Cherokee people continue to rewrite their place in the world. Nightly except Sunday. 866.554.4557. • Trout Fishing — The ponds and streams of Cherokee are replete with trout, stocked with rainbow, brook and brown
varieties. Unlike other areas, daily licenses are sold and multi-day discounts are available. 828.554.6110. • The Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual — If you want to take home a piece of Cherokee, authentic handmade crafts created by hundreds of local artisans are for sale at this coop. Here you can find hand-made baskets, drums, rugs, carving and other crafts. 828.497.3103. • Santa’s Land — A theme park that offers a petting zoo, paddle boats, rides and appearances by Santa and his helpers. Located off U.S. 19 heading east. 828.497.9191. • Kituhwa Mound — According to Cherokee legend, Kituwah was one of the seven mother towns and was once the largest ancestral settlement in the area. The mound, bordered by the Tuckasegee River and the low hills of the Smokies, is all that remains of it. The mound was reclaimed in 1995 when the land was purchased by the tribe. Located on U.S. 19 heading toward Bryson City. • Visitor Center — The Cherokee Welcome Center and Cherokee Chamber of Commerce are located at 498 Tsali Blvd. 800.438.1601 (welcome center) or 828.788.0034 (chamber of commerce) or www.visitcherokeenc.com or www.cherokeesmokies.com.
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WNC TRAVEL GUIDE
Check this out!
Road Kill Grill
spice rub (to spice up your life!)
Fun, Affordable Gifts in Downtown Waynesville! Spring & Summer 2014
Jewelry • Painted Ponies • Puzzles • Bathroom Décor Flags & Mailbox Covers • Fun Sauces, Rubs & Candy and so much more!
Affairs of the Heart
————————————————————————————— 120 N. Main St. • Waynesville, NC • 828.452.0526
1432-17
Eats & Drinks 1432-09
Specializing in Regional Cuisine
1431-21
18 North Main Street Waynesville • 452.3881 www.citybakery.net
Fair Trade Coffee & Espresso
ARTISAN BREADS & PASTRIES DOWNTOWN’S ONLY COVERED OUTDOOR DECK
Scratch-Made Fresh Daily Breads • Biscuits • Bagels Cakes • Pies • Pastries Soups • Salads • Sandwiches BREAKFAST • LUNCH • TAKE-OUT • EAT-IN • CATERING 44
WNC TRAVEL GUIDE
PROUD TO SERVE LOCAL PRODUCTS
39 Miller Street, Downtown Waynesville
828.456.5559
Open Monday - Friday for Lunch & Dinner Reservations accepted
Walk-ins Welcome
Spring & Summer 2014
DOWNTOWN SYLVA • NC
Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. • Sat. 8-4
SMOKY MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS, SUNBURST TROUT, THREE GRACES DAIRY AND MORE!
HOMEMADE SOUPS &
DAILY SPECIALS YOUR SUNDAY
SPOT FOR BREAKFAST
ASHEVILLE: 60 Biltmore Ave. 252.4426 & 88 Charlotte St. 254.4289
All your travel needs in one place
www.WNCTravel.com
DINING ROOM | CURB SERVICE | TAKE-OUT | ICE CREAM 1432-53
WELCOME TO
Ammons Burgers ❉ Steaks & shakes DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR ❉ BBQ ❉
Over 4.5 million of Ammons Famous hotdogs served since 1984. 1451 DELLWOOD RD. | WAYNESVILLE | 926-0734
Where delicious food, handcrafted beer and hearty folks congregate.
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828/246.9230 Open Mon-Sat for Lunch & Dinner 1432-16
WNC TRAVEL GUIDE
190 N. MAIN STREET | WAYNESVILLE
APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO
blueroostersoutherngrill.com
— Real Local People, Real Local Food — 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, North Carolina Monday-Friday Open at 11am
Spring & Summer 2014
828-456-1997
W N CTR AV E L.C O M
July 18-27, 2014 With Dancers and Musicians from:
Chinese Taipei, Turkey, Colombia, Russia, Romania, Trinidad, and Hawaii, USA. Featuring special performances from local Appalachian and Cherokee cultures. *
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Tickets & Information: 877.FolkUSA | www.folkmootusa.org Paid for in part by the HCTDA, www.VisitNCSmokies.com *subject to change
Spring & Summer 2014
Presenting Sponsor
SMOKY MOUNTAIN INN
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WNC TRAVEL GUIDE Spring & Summer 2014
Since 1958
Gems
Largest & Finest Jewelry, Gem & Mineral shop in the Southeast!
Minerals
Free Museum Large selection of 14k, sterling, jewelry, mountings and cut stones. Tumblers, lapidary equipment and supplies. Custom cutting, mounting, setting sizing, repair on site. New Shipment of colored diamonds and rose gold jewelry! Select from blue, mocha, yellow, and black! 14k white, yellow, and rose gold! Now carrying “Healing Stones” for mind and body.
Mon-Fri 10-4 Saturday 10-3
800.821.RUBY • 828.524.3967 130 East Main Street Franklin www.rubycity.com • gems@Rubycity.com
At the top of Town Hill in downtown