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Biltmore Estate | Black Mountain | Blue Ridge Parkway | Chimney Rock Park | Fields of the Wood | Fontana Dam | Ghost Town in the Sky | Grandfather Mountain | Great Smoky Mountains Railroad | John C. Campbell Folk School | Knoxville Zoo | Lookout Mountain Incline Railway | Lost Sea Caverns | Maggie Valley | Mount Mitchell State Park | Pisgah National Forrest | Rock City | Ruby Falls | Soco Gardens Zoo | Tennessee Aquarium
1 Approach Road, Asheville, North Carolina
www.biltmore.com
Completed in 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt, Biltmore Estate is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau, the largest private residence in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. The estate - which boasts 33 bedrooms, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool and bowling alley – draws more than 900,000 visitors annually from all over the world. Richard Morris Hunt designed the mansion and Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect of New York's Central Park, landscaped the original 125,000-acre estate (now 8,000 acres). Biltmore Estate, which is today owned by Vanderbilt's grandson, William A.V. Cecil, contains Vanderbilt's original collection of more than 70,000 priceless antiques and art objects, including original works by Pierre Auguste Renoir, John Singer Sargent and Albrecht Durer. The Biltmore Estate has served as the setting for such popular movies as Being There (starring Peter Sellers), Richie Rich (starring Macauley Culkin) and Hannibal (starring Anthony Hopkins), among others. All general tours of Biltmore Estate are self-guided. Special "Behind the Scenes" and "Rooftop" guided tours of the home are available at an additional cost. Guests also can enjoy more than 250 acres of gardens and formal grounds surrounding the house. One-day admission includes a stop at the Biltmore Estate Winery, the most visited winery in the United States. The property contains three restaurants: the Deerpark Restaurant, the Stable Cafe and The Bistro-and eight specialty gift shops. The luxurious Inn on Biltmore Estate features 213 guestrooms, an outdoor pool and hot tub, restaurant and lobby bar, fully equipped fitness center, library and gift shops. Annual events at Biltmore Estate include the Easter Egg Hunt and Festival of Flowers in April, Michaelmas: An English Harvest Fair on weekends in October and Christmas at Biltmore Estate starting in early November. Biltmore Estate is open daily from 8:30 AM to 5 PM (January to March hours are 9 AM to 4 PM). From Interstate 40, Biltmore Estate is located just North of Exit 50 or 50B on U.S. Highway 25, approximately 50 miles East of Cherokee.
201 East State Street, Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711
www.blackmountain.org
Established in 1893 as a summer resort once known as Grey Eagle, Black Mountain bills itself as the "Front Porch of Western North Carolina." It was once the site of the avant-garde Black Mountain College, which operated here from 1933 until 1956. Instructors included poet Charles Olson, composer John Cage, choreographer Merce Cunningham and artist Robert Rauschenberg. Today, Black Mountain is home to the world's largest concentration of religious retreats, including Montreat, Blue Ridge Assembly and Ridgecrest. Antique lovers will have a field day strolling along Cherry Street, which contains a variety of quaint antique shops, craft stores, art galleries and bookstores. The Old Depot is now an arts and crafts gallery. Black Mountain is located 15 miles East of Asheville. Take Exit 64 off of I-40.
P.O. Box 2136, Asheville, North Carolina 28802-2136
www.blueridgeparkway.org
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles, connecting Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park with Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina. Construction of the Parkway began in 1935, but the final leg wasn’t completed until 1987 with the Linn Cove Viaduct, an engineering masterpiece that winds gracefully around Grandfather Mountain in Linville, North Carolina. With a maximum speed limit of 45 miles per hour, the Blue Ridge Parkway was specifically designated for leisurely enjoyment of the scenic overlooks and attractions along the way. The Blue Ridge Parkway can be accessed from several major highways, including U.S. 441 near Cherokee and I-40 near Asheville. Near the Southern end of the North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, travelers can stop by the Folk Art Center (milepost 382), which is run by the Southern Highland Craft Guild and contains the Allanstand Craft Shop. Craggy Gardens (milepost 363-369) offers hiking trails and picnic areas. Beds of Catawba Rhododendron bloom here in mid-June. The Crabtree Meadows Recreation Area is located at milepost 339.5, featuring a restaurant, gift shop, campground and a hiking trail that leads to 70-foot Crabtree Falls. Views exhibits on rocks and minerals at the Museum of North Carolina Minerals (milepost 331). Pull off the Parkway at milepost 316.4 and hike to the overlook at beautiful Linville Falls. A visitor center at milepost 304 allows you to learn more about the famous Linn Cove Viaduct. Julian Park Memorial Park (milepost 295) offers hiking trails and boat rentals. Operated by the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild, the Parkway Craft Center (milepost 294) near Blowing Rock is housed in the manor house at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. At E.B. Jeffress Park (milepost 272), a short hiking trail leads to the Cascades, a picturesque waterfall. Near the Northern end of the North Carolina section of the Parkway, visitors can view Brinegar Cabin (milepost 238.5), an authentic mountain homestead built around 1880. The cabin is located within 6,000-acre Doughton Park. Note: Sections of the Parkway may be closed during the winter due to ice or snow. For more information about the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit the official National Park Service website at www.nps.gov/blri.
U.S. 64/74 A, Chimney Rock, North Carolina
www.chimneyrockpark.com
In 1902, Missouri physician Dr. Lucius B. Morse and his twin brothers, Hiram and Asahel, purchased 64 acres for $5,000, including Chimney Rock, a massive rock formation in western Rutherford County. The Chimney Rock Park, which is still privately owned and operated by the Morse family, features more than 2.5 miles of trails that lead to 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the Eastern United States. The top of Chimney Rock, a height of 2,280-feet above sea level, provides visitors a 75-mile view of Lake Lure, Hickory Nut Gorge and the Carolina Piedmont. The Chimney is actually a 535-million-year-old remnant of igneous rock. From the upper parking lot at Chimney Rock Park, visitors can reach the Chimney by the trail system or ride a 26-story elevator inside the mountain. The elevator opens into the Sky Lounge Gift Shop and Snack Bar. Scenes from Last of the Mohicans, starring Daniel Day-Lewis (Hawkeye) and Madeleine Stowe (Cora), were shot at Chimney Rock Park, which is located approximately 75 miles East of Cherokee.
U.S. 64, Murphy, North Carolina
www.fieldsofthewoodbiblepark.com
Arguably the most bizarre attraction in the Carolinas west of South of the Border in Dillon, South Carolina, this Christian theme park has to be seen to be believed. It features a Prayer Mountain, a gigantic replica of the 10 Commandments (with letters 5 feet high and 4 feet wide), a 150-foot "All Nations Cross," baptismal pool, Gospel Theatre, gift shop, bookstore, snack bar, picnic areas and nature trail. Owned by the Church of God of Prophecy, Fields of the Wood is located just outside of Murphy, North Carolina, on U.S. 64 – approximately 58 miles Southwest of Cherokee. Fields of the Wood is open year round; admission is free.
N.C. 28, Fontana Dam, North Carolina
www.tva.gov/sites/fontana.htm
At 480 feet high and 2,365 feet wide, Fontana is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States. Built in 1942 by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the dam controls 10,600-acre, 29-mile-long Fontana Lake. About 6,340 workers labored on the project, which cost nearly $75 million. The Appalachian Trail crosses over the top of Fontana Dam. The visitor center offers exhibits detailing the dam’s construction. For just $1, visitors can take a tram ride inside the dam itself. The area surrounding the dam has evolved over the years into a resort community that offer a multitude of recreational opportunities. Anglers flock to Fontana Lake in a quest for smallmouth and largemouth bass. Fontana Dam is located approximately 42 miles Southwest of Cherokee.
890 Soco Road, U.S. 19, Maggie Valley, North Carolina
www.ghosttowninthesky.com
A Western theme park high atop Ghost Mountain, Ghost Town in the Sky is reached via a chairlift or incline railroad. Kids will enjoy the gunfights, saloons, country music shows and thrilling rides, including the popular Red Devil Rollercoaster. The Silver Dollar Saloon at Ghost Town in the Sky offers live entertainment. Ghost Town in the Sky is located in the tourist town of Maggie Valley, which lies just 16 miles East of Cherokee.
U.S. 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville, North Carolina
www.grandfather.com
The privately owned Grandfather Mountain, which has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations, features natural habitats, an interpretive nature museum, 12 miles of hiking trails, scenic picnic sites, gift shops and the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge, the highest swinging footbridge in the United States. The Cherokee called the 5,964-foot mountain Tanawha, meaning “fabulous hawk.” Early settlers named it Grandfather since, from a distance, its profile suggests a bearded old man at rest. Early explorers of the mountain included frontiersman Daniel Boone and French botanist Andre Michaux. Grandfather Mountain is home to nearly 50 rare and endangered species such as the Virginia Big-eared Bat, the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel and the North Carolina Funnelweb Tarantula. Pets are allowed (on leashes). Annual events here include the Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans during the second weekend in June and the Singing on the Mountain on the fourth Sunday in June. Grandfather Mountain is located at U.S. 221 and the Blue Ridge Parkway, approximately 124 miles Northeast of Cherokee.
119 Front Street, Dillsboro, North Carolina
www.gsmr.com
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which features 53 miles of track, two tunnels and 25 bridges, takes you on an incredible scenic journey into river gorges, across fertile valleys and through tunnels cut out of mountains by convict laborers using pickaxes. Choose from 3 1/2- and 4 1/2-hour round-trip excursions in the Western North Carolina mountains that depart from depots in Dillsboro and Bryson City. Dillsboro departures feature a scenic journey along the Tuckasegee River, traveling alongside farmland and viewing outward to the scenic Smoky Mountains. Choose a romantic evening aboard the Twilight Dinner Train, where you will enjoy a four-course gourmet meal aboard restored dining cars. Dillsboro is located just 15 miles South of Cherokee.
1 Folk School Road, Brasstown, North Carolina
www.folkschool.com
In 1925, after touring folk schools throughout Denmark, Olive Campbell and her friend, Marguerite Butler, founded the John C. Campbell Folk School on a 25-acre spread in Brasstown in honor of her late husband, who had always dreamed of opening such a school. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the John C. Campbell Folk School is also a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. It is the oldest school of traditional crafts in the United States, educating students in traditional crafts, music and dance. The John C. Campbell Folk School derived its motto, "I sing behind the plow," from an old Danish poem. The school's craft shop sells traditional and contemporary crafts from regional artisans. During the first weekend in October, the John C. Campbell Folk School hosts a two-day Fall Festival with crafts, music, dance, food and children's activities. The John C. Campbell Folk School is located in Brasstown, which is located approximately 60 miles Southwest of Cherokee.
3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee
www.knoxville-zoo.org
One of the top-10 rated zoos in the United States, the Knoxville Zoo features the Stokely African Elephant Preserve, Grasslands Africa!, Black Bear Falls and much more! New for 2005 at the Knoxville Zoo is Kid’s Cove, a huge play area with a petting zoo, carousel, slides, a rock-climbing wall, giant sandbox and much more. To reach the Knoxville Zoo, take Exit 392 off Interstate 40 and follow the signs. The Knoxville Zoo is located approximately 37 miles Northwest of Gatlinburg.
827 East Brow Road, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
www.lookoutmtnattractions.com
Take a ride aboard the world’s steepest passenger railway, “ America’s most amazing mile”, to the top of scenic Lookout Mountain for spectacular views of Chattanooga and the surrounding mountains. A designated National Historic Site and National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark that was built in 1895, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway boasts trolley-style railcars that originate at the base of Lookout Mountain. The railway boasts an amazing 72.7 percent grade near the top. Once you reach the top of Lookout Mountain, tour Point Park, the site of the famous Civil War “Battle Above the Clouds” in 1863. Open year round, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway also features a Mile High Arcade, Ice Cream Depot, Candy Connection, snack bar and gift shops. To reach Lookout Mountain, take I-75 to I-24, Exit 178, and follow the signs. Lookout Mountain is located approximately 158 miles Southwest of Gatlinburg.
140 Lost Sea Road, Sweetwater, Tennessee
www.thelostsea.com
Enjoy a guided cavern tour that includes a fascinating glass-bottom boat ride on the Lost Sea, the largest underground lake in the United States. A U.S. Registered National Landmark, Lost Sea Caverns is open year round. It is located off I-75 between Knoxville and Chattanooga in Sweetwater, the “Southern Gateway to the Smokies.”
P.O. Box 87, Maggie Valley, North Carolina 28751
www.maggievalley.org
A bustling tourist town, Maggie Valley is located off the Blue Ridge Parkway near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just 16 miles East of Cherokee. The valley remained nameless until 1909 when the local post office was dubbed "Maggie" after the daughter of local resident, "Uncle Jack" Setzer. Maggie Valley is set amid a variety of family-oriented attractions and entertainment venues, including Ghost Town in the Sky, Soco Gardens Zoo and The Stompin' Ground, widely known as the "Clogging Capital of the World." During the winter, skiers flock to Cataloochee, North Carolina's first ski area. The Maggie Valley Fall Arts and Crafts Festival takes place in mid-October, featuring more than 100 craftspeople and live entertainment.
N.C. 128, off Blue Ridge Pkwy, Milepost 355, Burnsville, North Carolina
ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/momi/home.html
Located in the Black Mountains at 6,684 feet above sea level, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the Eastern United States. Dr. Elisha Mitchell, a University of North Carolina math professor, measured the mountain during the late 1830s and early 1840s, determining it to be the highest mountain East of the Mississippi River. When his findings were challenged by North Carolina Senator Thomas Clingman, Mitchell returned to the area for another measurement, but fell to his death from a 40-foot waterfall (now called Mitchell's Falls) while scaling the mountain in 1857. Mitchell was buried atop the mountain that was officially renamed Mount Mitchell by the U.S. Geological Survey, which confirmed his findings in 1882. In 1916, Mount Mitchell State Park was established as the first state park in North Carolina. The 1,500-acre park features a stone observation tower, five hiking trails, primitive campsites, a nature museum, restaurant, concession stand and picnic area. Mount Mitchell State Park is open daily 8 AM to 6 PM (November through February), 8 AM to 8 PM (April, May and September) and 8 AM to 9 PM (June through August).
1001 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina 28768
www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc
The 499,816-acre Pisgah National Forest contains a plethora of waterfalls, rock slides, swimming holes, fishing spots, campsites, hiking trails and picnic areas. Take a thrilling ride down Sliding Rock, a 60-foot cascade, and plunge into a six-foot-deep pool. A lifeguard is on duty here during the summer. Other attractions include Looking Glass Falls (60-foot drop), the Cradle of Forestry (site of the first forestry school in the United States), North Carolina Arboretum and Bent Creek Experimental Forest. Interesting waterfalls in the vicinity include Connestee Falls, High Falls, Rainbow Falls and Toxaway Falls. Horseback riding is also available at Pisgah Forest Stables. Davidson River Campground and Lake Powhatan Campground are located here, both of which are accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pisgah National Forest offers some of the best trout fishing in the Appalachians. Wildlife that call the forest home include black bears, whitetailed deer, red squirrels and hawks. Cold Mountain, a 6,030-foot peak made famous by Charles Frazier's bestselling novel, can also be found in the Pisgah National Forest, which is located approximately 62 miles Southeast of Cherokee.
1400 Patten Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee
www.seerockcity.com
More than 400 species of plants can be viewed at the 14-acre Rock City, which first opened in 1932 and includes unique rock formations, beautiful gardens, waterfalls, caverns and scenic views. Located on Lookout Mountain, Rock City became world-famous after the phrase “See Rock City” started showing up painted on barns throughout the Eastern United States. Highlights of Rock City include such unique rock formations as “Fat Man’s Squeeze”, “Stone Face”, 1,000-ton “Balanced Rock”, “Mushroom Rock” and “Needles Eye,” as well as Fairyland Caverns, Swing-A-Long Bridge, Eagle’s Nest, Stone Bridge, 140-foot High Falls, Mother Goose Village and the world-famous Lover’s Leap. The premises include a gift shop and two restaurants: Cornerstone Station and Big Rock Grill. Rock City is open at 8:30 AM daily (except Christmas Day). Lookout Mountain is located approximately 158 miles Southwest of Gatlinburg.
1720 South Scenic Highway, Chattanooga, Tennessee
www.rubyfalls.com
Take a fascinating guided tour of this spectacular 145-foot underground waterfall – known as “The Jewel of Lookout Mountain.” A National Historic Landmark, Ruby Falls is the highest and most-visited underground waterfall in the United States. Open daily year round from 8 AM to 8 PM, Ruby Falls is located on historic Lookout Mountain overlooking the Tennessee River. The premises include the Caverns Castle, Fun Forest Playground and Lookout Mountain Tower. Lookout Mountain lies approximately 158 miles Southwest of Gatlinburg.
3578 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, North Carolina
www.socogardenszoo.com
Meet alligators, snow leopards, black panthers, monkeys, bears, lemurs and snakes at the Soco Gardens Zoo, which is located in the beautiful resort town of Maggie Valley, just 16 miles East of Cherokee. First opened as a reptile facility in 1954, Soco Gardens Zoo has evolved into a small zoo with a diverse population of animals and reptiles. Each of the professionally guided tours of the Soco Gardens Zoo includes two snake demonstrations. Soco Gardens Zoo is open from the first Saturday of May through the last Sunday of October.
1 Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee
www.tnaqua.org
Billed as the “World’s Largest Freshwater Aquarium,” the $45-million, 130,000-square-foot aquarium features more than 9,000 sea creatures, 25 exhibits, 400,000 gallons of water and an adjacent IMAX Theater with a 6-story-high screen and a state-of-the-art sound system. Exhibit areas include Appalachian Cove Forest, Tennessee River Gallery, Discovery Hall, Mississippi Delta and Rivers of the World. The Tennessee Aquarium is located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which lies approximately 152 miles Southwest of Gatlinburg.
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