We received more than a foot of snow here in the Great Smoky Mountains over the Christmas weekend. A white Christmas was had by all - from locals to visitors to our
Bryson City NC cabin rentals. Santa had plenty of snow to land his sleigh on and we would have spent Christmas day checking for reindeer prints on the roof if we had not been so busy inside eating warm holiday meals.
Snowy days in the
North Carolina mountains are something truly special as we get big snows infrequently during our winters. The snow we do get does not often last more than a few days, so we took full advantage of the snow this holiday weekend! We've made snow angels and snowmen and snowball fights, enjoyed sledding adventures and walks through several inches of white, fluffiness with flakes still falling from the sky. In general, we've had a great couple of days enjoying the white fluffy stuff!
Happy New Year to everyone and may your snowy days be full of magic and wonder.
It does not snow in the Great Smoky Mountains as often as most people expect. While winters can be cold, rain is more usual than snow at the lower elevations. Up high on the
Blue Ridge Parkway or on the ridges of the
Great Smoky Mountians National Park, snow can be seen for short periods of time, but it is infrequent in the valleys, and does not last for long even when it comes. We got lucky with some gorgeous snow falling this past weekend! X-C ski at Clingman's Dome, build a snowman, and go sledding in the yards of your
Cherokee cabin rentals and
Bryson City Cabin rentals!
It is a unique and exciting experience then, to hang out in a comfy mountain cabin and watch the snow fall quietly outside and cover everything in sight. A cup of hot chocolate, a roaring fire in the fireplace, and good friends and family make for a special vacation in the mountains indeed. Find your perfect
Smoky Mountain vacation rentals and come on up to the mountains! See you soon.
| Appalachian Toymaker Schedule 2010 |
Nov 16 - 18:
Nov 23 - 24:
Nov 28:
Nov 30 - Dec 2:
Dec 3 - 4:
Dec 5:
Dec 7 - 9:
Dec 12:
Dec 14 - 16:
Dec 17 - 24 | Noon - 5pm
Noon - 5pm
Noon - 5pm
Noon - 9pm
10am - 10pm
Noon - 5pm
Noon - 9pm
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10am - 10pm |
Tim Hall has been on a mission for several years now — to offer a taste of old-time storytelling to everyone who comes to Bryson City — a great treat for those visiting on
Carolina mountain vacations. He hosts an internet radio program —
Crossroads — to get the tales out, but he has always wanted to reach more people.
His dream has been to convert the
1910 First Citizen's Bank here in Bryson City into a storytelling center, with a museum and historic artifacts and class rooms for people from all over to learn about the story telling tradition of this region. While the bank location has yet to become a reality, this year
The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians opened its doors just a block away at 225C Everett Street.
The Storytelling Center has presented tales throughout the summer, including patriotic stories around the 4th of July and spooky ghost stories for Halloween. In keeping with the current season, the Storytelling Center is offering "The Appalachian Toymaker" series where the Christmas Story is presented, and, for a small donation, kids can make their own wooden toy!
The Storytelling Center is just minutes from our
Bryson City NC cabin rentals and well worth stopping to see, whether you're a kid or just a kid at heart.
On November 26-27, 2010, visitors will have the opportunity to visit local artists in their studios, see how they make their art, ask questions and purchase handmade treasures right from the hands of the makers. The
Stecoah Valley Artisan's Drive About & Studio Tour is an annual event that takes place just 10 minutes from our
Bryson City NC cabin rentals — twenty minutes from
Cherokee NC cabin rentals — and is a great way to explore the area. This event is sponsored by the Stecoah Valley Center, a local artist's co-op located in Stecoah, North Carolina.
Our region is graced with dozens of superbly talented painters, weavers, jam makers, jewelers, photographers, potters, woodworkers and glass blowers, among many other types of artists. The rare oportunity to visit these folks in the places where they create the beautiful items we admire so much is a treat. Visitors who can't make it to all the studios can find local art at several places in the area, including the
Stecoah Valley Center,
The Cottage Craftsman,
Dogwood Crafters and
Qualla Arts and Crafts.
Starting November 5, 2010, visitors arriving in
Bryson City, NC for a stay at one of the great
Smoky Mountain cabin properties available to rent in town, will notice a lively winter spirit. During November and December the Great Smoky Mountains come alive with the sounds of children's laughter and jingling sleigh bells as the
Polar Express rolls into town.
The Polar Express can the highlight of
Carolina Mountain Vacations, especially for kids. The Polar Express makes the journey to the North Pole where Santa and his Elves greet them in the best holiday style. The book and movie come to life on a real live train ride through the mountains, complete with hot chocolate and bells for every child. The wearing of pajamas is strongly encouraged, and not just for the kids! Parents are invited to participate in all the festivities as well — right down to fleecy footed PJs. We love to see the dozens of famiies wandering through town and having a great adventure.
Dates and Times for the Polar Express this year are: - November 5, 11, 12, 14, & 18 departs at 6:30pm
- November 6, 13, 21, 23, 24, & 28 departs at 5:00pm & 6:30pm
- November 19, 20, 26, & 27 departs at 5:00pm, 6:30pm, & 8:00pm
- December 1, & 8 departs 6:30pm
- December 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, & 24 departs at 5:00pm & 6:30pm
- Dec 2 & 9 (Homes School Day) 11am departure
- December 3, & 10 departs at 11:00am, 5:00pm, 6:30pm, & 8:00pm
- December 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, & 23 departs at 5:00pm, 6:30pm, & 8:00pm
- December 4, 11, & 18 departs at 2:00pm, 3:30pm, 5:00pm, 6:30pm, & 8:00pm
The 20th Annual Bryson City Chili Cookoff takes place in downtown Bryson City on October 16, 2010. From 10am - 5pm, the best chili in the region - by both local restaurants and individuals - is available for tasting for anyone interested.
This events draws people from all over the area, and a good number of visitors enjoy a visit from their
Bryson City NC cabin rentals. There is live music, games for the kids and more chili than most people can test in a day - red bean, black been, chicken, beef, even the occasional vegetarian offering.
Not only do festival goers get to eat well, they get to vote on the best chili for the festival. There are prizes awarded in professional and amateur classes, showmanship and people's choice.
Sample them all, go back and 'double-check' your favorites, beg for recipes and ask if left-overs can be delivered to your
Smoky Mountain vacation rentals...wait...there won't be any left-overs! Regardless - this event is fun and tasty for the whole family. We wouldn't miss it and no one coming to Bryson City for the weekend should either.
The Great Smoky Mountains are renowned for many things, wildflowers in the spring, clear rivers and creeks in summer, and of course glorious fall foliage. Our local chamber of commerce here in Bryson City, NC has put together a great guide for
finding the best color in the Great Smokies this fall.
Those visiting the Great Smoky Mountains for leap-peaping will find several great hiking trails and drives within a short distance of their
Smoky Mountain vacation rentals. Hwy 441 through the National Park provides stunning vistas from the car. Quiet walkways along the way let visitors get up close to the leaves.
For those so inclined, a round of golf in the Smokies among brillant fall color is a super way to relax. A
recreational kayak tour on Lake Fontana lets visitors see the mountains from a whole new angle, with the fall colors reflected on the quiet green waters.
All of these
Smoky Mountain vacation packages from a basecamp of a choice of great
Bryson City NC cabin rentals.
Every Saturday evening throughout the summer and fall, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot hosts a free concert on the main deck. Talent from all around the region comes out to play all sorts of music, from rock to old time to blugrass and even oldies by an Elvis impersonator! Visitors are encouraged to spend an evening away from their Bryson City NC cabin rentals or Cherokee NC cabin rentals to come out and hear some great talent live.
The venue is casual and covered, meaning the music jams on rain or shine. Visitors are invited to bring a chair and sit back and relax. There is plenty of room for dancing too, for those so inclined. Carolina mountain vacations are simply not complete without a taste of the music of the Smokies.
Remaining Shows For 2010:
- October 9, 2010: Mountain Dew-et - The name says it all, an old-time country duo with a touch of Patsy Cline.
- October 16, 2010: Boogertown Gap - Named after an actual place in the Smoky Mountains, this string band plays old-time Appalachian Music.
- October 23, 2010: The Barn Cats - Old country music from the rural south of long ago.
- October 30, 2010: Chris Monteith as Elvis - Bryson City's very own Elvis. Great music and fun!
We know how great the fall season is here in the Great Smoky Mountains - fabulous weather, stunning color in the leaves and lots to do both outdoors and indoors. Now everyone else gets to know it too!
The Great Smoky Mountains have made Yahoo's Top 10 Fall Foliage Destinations list for 2010. And no wonder! We have over 100 species of native trees, including sugar maples, scarlet oaks, sweetgums, and red maples. Our peak color season is October through November, though color starts showing as early as mid-September in some places.
Our many great
Smoky Mountain cabin properties are perfect for bases of operation for fun in the fall.
Smoky Mountain vacation packages offer easy planning of activities and adventures, from Jet Boat rides and mountain hikes to Whitewater Rafting to old-time train rides.
Located right next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, our
Cherokee NC cabin rentals and
Bryson City NC cabin rentals offer great views of fall foliage and easy access to the roads and trails of this gorgeous park.
Music in the Mountains is a weekly event that takes place every Saturday evening at the
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot. At 6pm, a local band or singer/songwriter takes the stage and offers up their talent to the public - for free! It's a great way to add true local flavor to
Carolina mountain vacations!
Downtown Bryson City is just a short way from most of our
Smoky Mountain cabin properties and it's worth coming in after a day of playing in the mountains to relax to great music.
On September 4th, the
RibTips will be playing their unique style of music played on fiddle, washbaord, guitar, and washtub bass. They will play some music of love, trains, and chickens -- yes chickens -- and perhaps a little tune called "Sylva and Bryson"...
Whether visitors are coming to do some
fishing in the Smokies, Smoky Mountain golfing,
whitewater rafting or just to relax in
Bryson City NC cabin rentals, getting to the mountains can be nearly as much fun as being here - at least when drivers find themselves on the
Nantahala Scenic Byway.
For those coming to the Great Smoky Mountains from Chattanooga, TN or North Georgia, the Nantahala Scenic Byway offers 40 beautiful miles to ease the drive.
US Hwy 19/74 winds its way up through the Andrews River Valley to the Nantahala Gorge, following the Valley River and then the Nantahala River in turn. Mountains rise misty in the distance across the valley, then draw close and seem to hug the road as the sides of the Nantahala Gorge rise on either side of the river. Nantahala means, loosely translated, "River of the Mid-Day Sun", because the sun only reaches the heart of the River Gorge when it is directly overhead.
This scenic roadway offers open vistas and close encounters with mountains in only a short drive - well worth the trip! There are numerous pullouts along the road by the Nantahala River, several with picnic tables, where you can enjoy watching the rafters and kayakers paddling by.
Clingmans Dome has arguably the best view in
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 360 degrees of gorgeous Smoky Mountains stretching into North Carolina on one side and Tennesee on the other side. It is really easy to get to from your
Smoky Mountain Vacation Rental in Bryson City, NC. After our hike to Chimney Rocks last week (see last week's entry) we drove up to Clingman's Dome to have a picnic dinner. The sun was starting its descent to the horizon and the air was marvelously cool because we were at 6643 feet elevation. This was very good because it was really hot at lower eleva
Fontana Lake is in the distance on the NC side of the park. You can pull up to ample parking in the two lots, and choose a picnic spot very close to your car. You'll be sitting on the edge of the mountain with plenty of room - perfect for spreading a blanket, pouring a beverage of choice, and enjoying a nice evening picnic with breathtaking views. The best part of this, it's only 45 minutes from your
cabin rental in the Bryson City or Cherokee NC area!
There are a ton of
things to do on vacation here in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. Hiking in
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the outdoor activities that is available to most vacationers. Some of the trails are short and even, others are long and steep. (Yep, some are short and steep too!) Make sure you get a good guidebook before you head out on the trail. Our local book store Gil's on Everett Street in Bryson City carries several good ones. You can pick one up at the
Oconaluftee visitor center on the way into the park as well.
Last weekend, my partner and I headed to Chimney Rocks trail. This is a short, popular trail easily accessed right from Hwy 441. Go past Newfound Gap, and it is on the left halfway down the descent into Tennessee. Chimney Rocks trail starts at the Chimney picnic area where the West Prong of the Pigeon tumbles through a creek bed of very large boulders. It's awesome for plunging into the cold water after your hike!
The hike up itself starts out wide and easy. it quickly turns to about straiight up. If you continue you'll be rewarded wtih an incredible view into Tennessee. At the top be really careful as you have to climb up the odd boulder formations to see the very top.
The climb down went pretty quickly. We jumped into the creek after our hike, so refreshing! You can make an easy afternoon outing in the park from your
Bryson City NC cabin rentals with this hike. Bring a picnic and stay longer!
Today I left my office at 7pm, drove less than 15 minutes from town to the Hwy 28 bridge crossing over Lake Fontana, parked my car, got my Wilderness Systems Tsunami touring kayak off the car (with the help of a friend, its true!) and was in the water in less than 30 minutes. I paddled up towards the Nantahala River, for about an hour. It was beautiful, quiet, the moon was out, and only one motor boat passed me, right when I put in. When I turned around to paddle back to the 28 bridge, 2 other motor boats passed me. Other than that, I had the entire lake to myself.
When you come on a
Carolina Mountain vacation to our North Carolina Smokies, you can experience a magical paddling trip on beautiful green waters of Lake Fontana, or your favorite other water sport on our rivers and creeks, too. Touring Kayaks are available for rent and tours with our partner
Endless River Adventures, and you can book a tour or rental directly through Yellow Rose when you book your cabin with our convenient
adventure packages.
Winter has been frisky this year in our magical corner of the Great Smokies. Snow has visited us several times, making for fun skiing at local resorts and along the closed roads of the
Blue Ridge Parkway and
Clingman's Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Hiking has also received an added twist, with
track identifying in snow fast becoming a favorite game for those walking in the woods.
In honor of how nice it is to chill out in the winter magic season, we're offering the
Triple 'R' Chill Special (Relax. Refresh. Recharge - CHILL!) on our
Cherokee NC cabin rentals and Bryson City NC cabin rentals. From Feb 1 to March 31, 2010,
stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night FREE! Since there's a chill in the air, take some time to chill out in the mountains. Play in the snow. Spot some rabbit tracks. Some of our visitors have never seen snow, we know where all the best places are to find it! Enjoy!
On a cool fall night in the Smokies, curl up in front of a fire in one of our
Bryson City NC cabin rentals and reach for a good book. What's a good read for a mountain evening? We have a favorite suggestion.
Ron Rash, professor at Western Carolina University, is the award winning author of 9 books:
The Night The New Jesus Fell to Earth (short stories),
Casualties (short stories),
Eureka Mill (poetry),
Among the Believers (poetry),
Raising the Dead (poetry),
One Foot in Eden (novel),
Saints at the River (novel), and
The World Made Straight (2006) and
Serena (2008).
His family has lived in the Appalachian mountains since the 1700s, and there is a unique taste of the rugged mountain life in his works and his characters are no simple stereotypical constructs, but rather real folks dealing with tough issues, some common to people everywhere, some unique to the mountain region they live in.
Whether here for fishing in the Smokies, smoky mountain golfing or just a relaxing
Carolina mountain vacation, there's nothing like a good book to wind down the day, and Ron Rash won't disappoint.
You never know what is going to happen in the Great Smoky Mountains, and at 2am on October 25, 2009
a rock slide covered Interstate 40 at mile 2.6 near the NC/TN line. The slide is similar to one that hit the same area in July of 1997, closing both lanes of traffic. As with the 1997 slide, I40 will be closed for 3-4 months while the area is cleaned up, the road repaired and the mountainside stabilized.
Luckily there's more than one way around the mountains to our
Smoky Mountain vacation rentals and all the fun happenings in our corner of the world. Whether folks are coming to do some Smoky Mountain golfing, or to look at
Smoky Mountain cabin properties, or to hike around looking at waterfalls, there are many ways to get here without worrying about Interstate 40!
Here are some alternative routes to Bryson City.
FROM VIRGINIA:- OPTION 1, through Asheville: Driving south on Interstate 81, take Interstate 26 (Exit 57A) east to Asheville. At exit 31B, take Interstate 40 west to US 74 (exit 27) – the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Follow US 74 past Waynesville and Sylva to Cherokee (exit 74) and Bryson City (exit 67).
- OPTION 2, through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Drive south on Interstate 81 until it merges into Interstate 40. Continue WEST on I-40 to TN-66 (exit 407). Drive south to Sevierville where you'll pick up US 441 South. Continue south on US 441 through Gatlinburg and into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on to Cherokee, NC.
From Cherokee, there are two short routes to Bryson City: (1) the two-lane US 19 West, or (2) you can continue south on US 441 to US 74 west. Continue on US 74 to Bryson City (exit 67).
- Note: US 441 through the National Park reaches an elevation of 5000 feet at Newfound Gap. For current updates of weather related road closings in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park please call (865) 436-1200. Once you hear a voice, dial extension 631 for road information or extension 630 for a weather forecast. Please be aware that road openings/closings may change throughout the day.
FROM KNOXVILLE, TN:
- OPTION 1, through Maryville and Deals Gap: From Knoxville, take US 129 south through Maryville. Continue south on US 129 through Deals Gap and into North Carolina. Just past the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort , turn left on to NC 28 and continue east (passing Fontana Dam) to US 74. Turn left (east) and follow US 74 to Bryson City (exit 67) and Cherokee (exit 74)
Note: US 129 through Deal's Gap is extremely curvy (318 continuous curves in 11 miles). It's one of the nations most popular motorcycle and sports cars roads. Others may find it too curvy.
- OPTION 2, through Maryville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: From Knoxville, take US 129 south to US 321 in Maryville. Drive east on US 321 through Townsend, TN. Just east of Townsend, turn right on the E. Lamar Alexander Parkway into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Follow the Little River Road until it merges into US 441. Turn right on US 441 and continue south to Cherokee.
From Cherokee, there are two short routes to Bryson City: (1) the two-lane US 19 West, or (2) you can continue south on US 441 to US 74 west. Continue on US 74 to Bryson City (exit 67).
- OPTION 3, through Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: From Knoxville, take Interstate 40 east to TN-66 (exit 407). Drive south to Sevierville where you'll pick up US 441 South. Continue south on US 441 through Gatlinburg and into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on to Cherokee, NC.
From Cherokee, there are two short routes to Bryson City: (1) the two-lane US 19 West, or (2) you can continue south on US 441 to US 74 west. Continue on US 74 to Bryson City (exit 67).
- Note: US 441 through the National Park reaches an elevation of 5000 feet at Newfound Gap. For current updates of weather related road closings in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park please call (865) 436-1200. Once you hear a voice, dial extension 631 for road information or extension 630 for a weather forecast. Please be aware that road openings/closings may change throughout the day.
FROM NASHVILLE, TN:
- OPTION 1, through Chattanooga and the river gorges: From Nashville, take Interstate 26 to Chattanooga. When I-26 ends, south of the city, take Interstate 75 north to US 74 (exit 20) near Cleveland, TN. (This is a loop highway that combines US 74, US 64 and TN 60). Look for signs marking an exit to Ocoee and Murphy, NC). To stay on US 74/64, you will take this exit and continue east past Ocoee Lake, the Ocoee River Gorge, and Murphy, NC. In Murphy, continue east on US 74 through Andrews and the Nantahala River Gorge to Bryson City (exit 67) and Cherokee (exit 74).
- OPTION 2, through Knoxville: From Nashville, take Interstate 40 east to Knoxville and choose one of the three options from Knoxville to Cherokee and Bryson City (Click the Knoxville tab above).
Asian Multi-Colored Lady Beetle, Japanese Lady Beetle, Japanese Lady Bug...all of these are common names for
Harmonia axyridis, a common visitor to
Smoky Mountain cabin properties windowsills in the late fall. Like kudzu, japanese honeysuckle, nepalise browntop and english ivy, these little visitors are not native to the United States and love to gather in large groups in an annoying fashion.
When the weather turns cold, the lady beetles group up in dry places to begin their winter hibernation. In their native Asia, lady beetles winter in cracks on cliff faces and other naturally occurring cool, dry cubbies. In America, they settle for wintering in house, garages and other buildings. Being sun lovers, they usually gather on the south side of buildings, and on sunny days, will wander around indoors even in winter. From North Carolina to Michigan, these clever little beetles find there way into homes day after day. They get vaccuumed up and the next day they're back - a harmless but somewhat frustrating part of life in these parts. Luckily, in the spring, the lady beetles all return to the great outdoors and leave houses alone.
Asian Lady Beetles can be distinguished from native Lady Bugs, who prefer not to spend their winters indoors! Asian Lady Beetles have an 'M' (or 'W' depending on how you are looking at them) on the top of their heads.
So if you meet a bunch of lady bugs on a windowsill or doorframe on your
Carolina mountain vacation, know that they're just looking for a place to spend the winter. They don't bite or sting and while they can be vacuumed up easily, there will probably be more of them the next day. It's not the sign of a dirty house, just a creative beetle! Remember all the aphids they'll eat off good garden veggies come summer time and smile at these colorful visitors.
Pottery, hand woven table runners, silver jewelry, blown glass, fresh cheese...all of these handmade products -- and many more -- are created by artists here in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina!
Smoky Mountain vacation packages do not often include opportunities to see artists in action, but for those lucky enough to be staying in Bryson City NC cabin rentals the weekend of November 27-28, 2009, you can take place in the
Artisans Drive-about Studio Tour & Silent Auction from 10 am - 5 pm each day!
Local artists open their doors and studios to the public, letting arts and crafts lovers get a glimpse of the who, where and how behind some of the best arts in the Smoky Mountains. Participating artists include Wood Gallery “at the Old Barn”, Yellow Branch Pottery & Cheese, Bee Global Candles, Karen’s Garden Designs, and many others.
When you're ready leave the cozy porch of your
Bryson City NC cabin rentals, a visit to Tom Branch Falls on the
Deep Creek Trail in the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great way to start off the day!
One of three waterfalls on the Deep Creek trail, Tom Branch Falls is the easiest to access. In fact it's one of the most easy to reach waterfalls you'll ever find!
The trail to Tom Branch begins at the Deep Creek Trailhead parking area, and is an old road bed, making it both wide and relatively smooth. Deep Creek itself is on your right as you walk, and you have only to walk just 1000 feet to arrive at the viewing area for the falls!
Settle yourself on one of the large, high-backed benches placed there for your enjoyment and gaze across Deep Creek at the rocky waterfall spilling into the cool waters. Tom Branch is tall - 80 feet - and it drops in a lovely series of various sized-steep-steps into Deep Creek. In the summer, you'll likely see tubers floating past, but in the fall, you'll see the creek in a calmer state. It a great place to sit back and enjoy restful moments of
Carolina mountain vacations.
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