Upcoming 2012 Winter Concerts
Some great music and concerts will be coming to the mountains in February and March. On Valentine’s evening, The Lettermen will be performing at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, enjoy a great, romantic evening and live music. Coming to Harrah’s Casino resort in March, music giants Diana Ross and The Moody Blues will be in concert, be sure to get your tickets reserved!
2012 Winter Events in Western North Carolina
Got cabin fever and need to get out for a weekend retreat? Winter is a great time to visit the mountains, check our current listings of events and concerts for February and March 2012: Area Events, Outdoor Recreation and Activities, and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Concerts and Events.
December Schedule for the Polar Express!
The December Polar Express Dates are as follows:
December 1 –11am, 5pm & 6:30pm
December 2 –11am, 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 3 –2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, 6:30pm, & 8pm
December 4 –5pm & 6:30pm
December 7 –6:30pm
December 8 –11am, 5pm & 6:30pm
December 9 –11am, 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 10 –2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 11 –5pm & 6:30pm
December 12 –5pm & 6:30pm
December 13 –5pm & 6:30pm
December 14 –5pm & 6:30pm
December 15 –5pm & 6:30pm
December 16 –5pm, 6:30pm, & 8pm
December 17 –2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 18 –5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 19 –5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 20 –5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 21 –5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 22 –5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 23 –5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
December 24– 5pm & 6:30pm
Hop Aboard the Polar Express!
Looking for some holiday fun while visiting your Bryson City or Cherokee vacation cabin rental? Then, Put on your favorite pajamas and hop aboard the Polar Express!
The Polar Express train excursion is inspired by Chris Van Allburg’s classic holiday story of a boy who takes a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole and learns that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
Enjoy music from the motion picture soundtrack as you sip hot cocoa and listen to a reading of “The Polar Express”. The train winds through the countryside on the way to the North Pole where Santa will be waiting. Santa will hop aboard the train for the journey back to the depot. As guests sing along to Christmas carols, Santa will visit with each child and present them with a special silver sleigh bell.
Ticket prices begin at $39 for adults and $26 for children ages 2-12. Children under two years old are free. Premium rates apply to Nov 25-27, Dec 17-23 and all Saturday trains. First class upgrades are available. For more information and reservations click here.
For extra fun, you can purchase “The Polar Express” book so you and your child can read along with the story and you can order in advance special Polar Express PJs for your little one to wear for the ride!
The November Polar Express Dates are as follows:
November 4 – 6:30pm
November 5 – 5pm & 6:30pm
November 6 – 6:30pm
November 10 – 6:30pm
November 11 – 6:30pm
November 12 – 5pm & 6:30pm
November 13 – 6:30pm
November 17 – 6:30pm
November 18 – 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
November 19 – 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
November 20 – 6:30pm
November 22 – 5pm & 6:30pm
November 23 – 5pm & 6:30pm
November 25 – 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
November 26 – 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm
November 27 – 5pm & 6:30pm
November 30 – 5pm
Holiday Nostalgia at the Storytelling Center in Bryson City
There are so many great t
hings to do near your Bryson City or Cherokee vacation cabin rental this time of year! This week, the Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians kicks off their holiday program. Join the Toymaker as he builds handmade wooden toys while sharing tales of holidays in the mountains. See and smell Frankincense and Myrrh as you hear the story of the first Christmas! Listen to sleigh bells ring as the story of St. Nicholas is told! Learn why oranges mean Christmas has come to the mountains! No matter your age, you are sure to enjoy a visit to the Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians.
The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians is located on Everett Street in Bryson City, right across the street from the Train Depot. Their holiday program runs from November 5th through December 23rd. For more information call (828) 488-5705.
WNC Pottery Festival: Everybody’s Just Claying Around!
Want to get a head-start on your holiday shopping? Then head to the beautiful town of Dillsboro, NC for the Western North Carolina Pottery Festival on Saturday, Nov. 5th. Dillsboro is just a few miles from your Bryson City or Cherokee vacation cabin rental and is just off the highway.
Enjoy a stroll along the tree-lined streets of this picturesque little town while enjoying demonstrations from some of the nation’s best potters. With so many great artists in one place, you are sure to find the perfect gift! This year’s featured potter is Elmer Taylor, an talented artist whose work can be seen in exhibits and museums throughout the country.
There will be vendors, a day-long raffle and lots of demonstrations. The fun begins on Friday, Nov. 4th with the WNC Clay Olympics and the lighting of a wood-fired kiln. Festival hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is $3 per person; kids under 12 admitted free! Come see why the WNC Pottery Festival has become one of the area’s top arts events. For more information, click here.
It’s a Great Train Ride, Charlie Brown!
Looking for some family fun while enjoying your Bryson City or Cherokee vacation cabin rental? Put on your costume and hop aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for the Peanuts Pumpkin Patch Express!
Sit back and watch the scenery go by as you enjoy a narration of Charles Schultz’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”. When the train arrives, passengers are greeted by Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Lucy and led to the activity area. Kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, roasting marshmallows, coloring, a bouncy house, live music and hayrides. Before leaving, each child gets to choose a pumpkin from the Great Pumpkin Patch!
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is located in downtown Bryson City. Click here for schedule and ticket information.
Peak Leaf Season is Here
Last weekend I had a chance to go to one of my favorite local trails, Wesser Creek near the Nantahala River. Being an avid photographer, I brought my camera and captured some of the brilliant colors and sunlight. This is one of the most vibrant leaf seasons I have seen in a while in Western North Carolina. If you get a chance to visit the area this time of year it is well worth getting out!
Pete Lucic
Where to View Fall Foliage in the Smoky Mountains
The fall leaf season is in full swing and the Smoky Mountains are awash with brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. The reason we enjoy such a spectacular color season is that the Smokies have a remarkable variety of trees. Nearly 100 different species of trees including sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, hickory and birch contribute to our annual show.
You can find brilliant autumn colors just about anywhere in the Smokies. There is no need to grumble your way along roads crowed with leaf-lookers! Chances are, you will have an amazing view of from the deck of your Bryson City or Cherokee vacation cabin rental! While the Blue Ridge Parkway is a popular destination that offers breathtaking long-range views, you may experience bumper-to-bumper traffic that can detract from the serene natural experience you were hoping to have. The most popular spot during this time of year is Cades Cove, which you may wish to avoid if you aren’t keen on the smell of muffler exhaust.
One great option is to board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad to view the fall foliage while enjoying a relaxing train ride. No need to pull over and get out your camera every five minutes; just park in downtown Bryson City, hop aboard and let someone else do the driving while you take all the photos you like!
If you prefer to drive yourself, check out Cataloochee, on the eastern side of the Park. It is much less crowded because it’s away from the most traveled routes and is a little harder to reach from the Tennessee side of the park than Cades Cove. You will see the same spectacular colors and it is bound to be less crowded, even during peak color season. Most likely, you will even get to see some Elk!
Directions: If you are coming from Bryson City or Cherokee, take I-40 to exit 20 and follow the signs 11 miles to Cataloochee. The trip from Cherokee is approximately 82 miles round-trip and can take several hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Have fun!
Little Kids Kayak on The Tuckaseigee River In Bryson City
Nantahala Kids Club paddles thru Bryson Cityon on the Tuckaseegee River
It takes just a few minutes to get to downtown Bryson City from your rental cabin in the Bryson City or Cherokee area. When you arrive, you will discover that although it is a small town, there are some very big things happening, here!
If you are downtown on a Wednesday afternoon, chances are you will see dozens of kayaks floating on the Tuckaseegee River. The “Tuck”, as residents fondly call it, flows right through the center of Bryson City. And no, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you – the kayaks are tiny! That’s because the paddlers are very young – most around the age of 8 but some as young as 4! This is Nantahala Kids Club, a community group of kid paddlers that gets together once a week when the weather is nice. Local kayaking outfitters (Endless River Adventures and Nantahala Outdoor Center) volunteer their awesome instructors (and a company founder – Juliet Jacobsen Kastorff!) to teach the kayaking skills to the kids.
Bryson City is home to quite a few Olympic paddlers and they love to have the chance to share their passion for the sport with young people. Most parents of club members also enjoy paddling with the group. While most club members are just getting into the sport, others are more experienced and have already participated in freestyle or slalom competitions. With access to great whitewater and wonderful instruction, it is indeed possible that several NKC members could compete in the 2013 World Freestyle Kayaking Championships that will be held in nearby Nantahala Gorge! For more information on the club, visit the Nantahala Kids Club facebook page.
