Downtown Cherokee, North Carolina
www.cherokeezoo.comObserve and feed beautiful black bears and their cubs at the open-habitat Cherokee Bear Zoo, which is also home to deer, 800-pound grizzly bears, baby goats, tigers, monkeys and exotic animals such as lemurs, albino groundhogs and red raccoons. Kids will love feeding baby goats and deer at the petting zoo. Conveniently located in downtown Cherokee, the Cherokee Bear Zoo is open daily at 10 AM.
U.S. 441 North, Cherokee, North Carolina
www.cherokeefunpark.com
For an action-packed day of fun for the entire family, head out to the four-acre Cherokee Fun Park, which features state-of-the-art, elevated go-cart tracks, two uniquely designed miniature golf courses, a huge playboat pool, the new Smoky Mountain Twister ride, observation deck, video arcade and eight kiddie rides, including a merry-go-round, miniature train, demolition derby and old-fashioned log flume. Cherokee Fun Park is located along U.S. 441 North near the Southern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
35 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, North Carolina Learn about the rich culture and history of the Cherokee people at the Cherokee Heritage Museum & Gallery, which is located at Saunooke Village. The Gallery features Native American arts and crafts such as masks, crystals, woodcarvings and more. The Cherokee Heritage Museum & Gallery is open daily from April through November.
777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, North Carolina
Make sure your Smoky Mountains itinerary includes a visit to the 90,000-square-foot Harrah's Cherokee Casino, which opened its doors in 1997. Billed as "Western North Carolina's biggest attraction," Harrah's features approximately 3,500 video-based gaming machines, including Double Diamonds, Sizzling Sevens, Wild Cherry, Raffle Reels and Red, White & Blue, as well as video poker, video craps, Baccarito and Live Digital Blackjack. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino also boasts an adjacent 15-story hotel and five onsite restaurants: Seven Sisters, Club Cappuccino, Fresh Market Express, Fresh Market Square and Selu Garden Café. Other amenities include two gift shops, an arcade and live entertainment at the 1,500-seat Cherokee Pavilion, which hosts musical performances by some of today's hottest stars. A full-service conference center is also onsite with 20,000 square feet of meeting/banquet space, 11,000 square feet of meeting/banquet space in the casino, up to 8 separate conference rooms and a 5,000-square-foot reception area. Harrah's Cherokee Casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Note: You must be 21 years of age or older to enter the casino, restaurants and Pavilion at Harrah's Cherokee Casino. Alcohol is not served at the casino.
Highway 441 & Drama Road, Cherokee, North Carolina
www.cherokeemuseum.org
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, which first opened in 1948 and was totally renovated in 1998, provides an interactive, interesting and fun-filled journey that documents the rich history of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The self-guided tour includes fascinating exhibits on the Paleo Period, Archaic Period, Mississippian Period and Trail of Tears using computer-generated imagery, state-of-the-art special effects and audio, along with an extensive artifact collection. Baskets, books, clothing, gourds, handmade jewelry, masks, ornaments, pottery, souvenirs, videos and CDs about Cherokee culture can be purchased at the museum gift shop. A 20-foot woodcarved statue of Sequoyah, the developer of the Cherokee alphabet, by acclaimed artist Peter Toth stands majestically in front of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian complex, which is open daily at 9 AM except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
U.S. 441 North, Cherokee, North Carolina
www.oconalufteevillage.com
Oconaluftee Indian Village is a re-creation of an 18th-century Cherokee Indian village, a true "living museum" in authentic detail. Here Cherokee Indian men and women daily carry on the ancient way of life, practicing the centuries-old arts of basketweaving, cooking, finger-weaving, pottery and weapon making. Cherokee guides in native costume direct visitors through the village and acquaint them with more than 200 years of history and tradition. Open daily 9 AM to 5:30 PM (May 15 through October 25), Oconaluftee Indian Village includes period dwellings, a replica of a seven-sided Council House, a square ground, sweat house, herb garden and nature trail.
U.S. 19, 3 Miles East of Cherokee, North Carolina
www.santaslandnc.com Celebrate Christmas every day at this lively theme park, where kids can meet Santa Claus and his elves, as well as enjoy rides (including the thrilling Rudicoaster), exhibits and the Santa’s Land Petting Zoo, which is full of domestic and exotic animals such as baby bears, monkeys, lions, tigers, goats, llamas and reindeer. At Santa’s House, kids can visit Santa Claus in person and tell him what they want for Christmas. The Jingle Bell Theater offers an entertaining magic show. Other highlights include a Ferris wheel, paddle boats and Santa’s Express Train. A deli and gift shop are located on the premises. Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo hosts a Harvest Festival during weekends in October with crafts, live music, clogging and more. Santa’s Land is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM May through October.
U.S. 441 North, Cherokee, North Carolina
www.smgrm.com
Smoky Mountain Gold & Ruby Mine provides a great opportunity for all ages to pan for gold, rubies, sapphires, garnets, topaz and emeralds just like the old prospectors of yesteryear. Watch your finds get transformed into beautiful jewelry! Located along Highway 441 North in downtown Cherokee, the Smoky Mountain Gold & Ruby Mine is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM March through November.
U.S. 19 North, Cherokee, North Carolina
Open Wednesday through Sunday year round, Tribal Bingo is located in a newly renovated, 1,000-seat facility just 1.5 miles from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. All prizes are awarded in cash.
U.S. 441 at Drama Road, Cherokee, North Carolina
www.untothesehills.com A moving outdoor drama that takes place in the beautiful 2,800-seat Mountainside Theatre, Unto These Hills traces the history of the Cherokee tribe from the arrival of Hernando De Soto in 1540 to the tragic Trail of Tears in 1838. Written by acclaimed playwright Kermit Hunter, the two-hour drama made its debut on July 1, 1950, and has since entertained more than 5 million people. Unto These Hills is presented nightly at 8:30 PM (except Sunday) from mid-June through late August. Arrive early for pre-show entertainment, which begins at 7:45 PM. Reservations are strongly suggested.
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