Every year the calendar changes to October and I am craving cooler weather, fall leaves and fun times around the fire pit.  Being a Floridian, I really miss the change of the seasons and all the fall feels.  So this year we road tripped to North Carolina with some friends and enjoyed a great weekend in the Smoky Mountains.  Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GMSNP) straddles the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee and is the most visited national park in the US.  I’ve detailed our trip below but make sure you read through to the end of my post – I’ve included a great list of things to do for all ages!

Starting Point – Bryson City, North Carolina

Bryson City is a picturesque little mountain town in western North Carolina and is considered an excellent home base to explore all the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has to offer.  Besides being a starting point for outdoor adventure and hiking it has many shops, restaurants and breweries.  It’s the perfect starting point for a weekend in the Smoky Mountains!

The Perfect Cabin

A friend offered us her cabin in Bryson City.  This cabin was the best!!  It was just a short drive down the mountain to downtown Bryson City.  And although we went into town a number of times, there were quite a few things to keep us busy back at the cabin.  The cabin offered us everything – – mountaintop solitude, rustic charm, fun all-terrain vehicles, Shiloh – the neighborly dog looking for treats, a cozy fireplace, game room and beautiful mountain views in every direction.

So Much To Do During A Weekend In The Smoky Mountains

We planned a few hikes, most were easy to moderate, one was a little more challenging – and I’ve got all the details below.  You will see all the highlights, a list of great restaurants and things to do – we have spent more time than just a weekend in the Smoky Mountains over the years.  It’s driving distance from South Florida and is just a great place for all ages.  So the list includes things we have done over the years as well as on this weekend.

Hiking

You could spend a really long time hiking all the trails in western North Carolina and GMSNP.  Below I have listed a few favorites near Bryson City.

*IMPORTANT – Please check the GMSNP website before heading out on the trails to check for alerts and trail closures.  GSMNP and NC have a large population of black bears and their activity sometimes causes closures.

Some Great Hikes:

Tom Branch Falls at Deep Creek – 1/4 mile from the parking area.  Very easy walk and beautiful in all seasons.  In summer we’ve tubed down Deep Creek and had a blast.

Deep Creek Trail – Hike as far as  you like on this 5-mile loop and trace your footsteps back after you’ve had enough or do the whole loop.  Easy to moderate.

Juney Whank Falls – Also part of the Deep Creek Trails and only 1/3 mile in the other direction of the parking lot.  Short trail to a close up view of a waterfall.

Alum Cave Trail – Trailhead is on Newfound Gap Road in GSMNP, about 1 hour from Bryson City.  (Trail is in Tennessee.) The trail follows Alum Cave Creek , a little over a mile in you will reach Arch Rock.  I loved this hike – you can see I took a lot of photos!

Another mile in gains some elevation and takes you to a bald with great views.

Not too much further is Alum Cave.  It’s actually not a cave but an 80-foot high concave bluff that is 500 feet long!

Arrive to the trailhead at Alum Cave before 10 am to ensure a parking space.  This hike took us about 2-3 hours.  We had packed a picnic lunch and stopped at Chimneys Picnic Area.  Its further into TN and the fall colors on this part of the drive were amazing!

Road to Nowhere – A beautiful drive outside of Bryson City where Lake View Drive in Swain County ends at a tunnel.  The tunnel is where your hike begins and leads to a network of trails.  We wound up getting lost but the trails mostly form a loop so we ended in the general area we started. LOL.

Great Restaurants and Things To Do in Bryson City

Mountain Perks – A great place for a casual breakfast or lunch or to order sandwiches for your hike.  They offer gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options.  Woohoo!

Nate & Nick’s – Beer and pizza.  Nothing to write home about but nice seating outside if the weather is good.

Guayabito’s Mexican Restaurant – Casual and authentic Mexican food in a small strip mall.  

Anthony’s Italian Restaurant – Gluten free pizza is available here, but was not the best.  Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals.

The Warehouse at Nantahala Brewing – Just down the road from the Nantahala Brewing Company is this restaurant with outdoor seating, firepit and cozy dining room.  I had the best noodle bowl with brisket which was totally unexpected!

Nantahala Outdoor Center – Whitewater rafting, canopy zip line tours, restaurant, gear store, lodging and wilderness classes.  Even if you aren’t planning an adventure this a fun place to stop and see all the activity.

Tuckaseegee Fly Shop – Fishing gear and guided trips.  

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad – Scenic train rides and the Polar Express Christmas excursion.  Just some old time fun!

Gem Mining – When our kids were younger gem mining was always the highlight of our trips to the NC mountains.  There are numerous spots to gem mine in the area.  

Cooper Creek Trout Farm – Stocked ponds to fish with crickets.  All the fishing gear is available, just bring your smile.  This was a fun excursion and the kids are practically guaranteed to catch fish.  Plus the charming atmosphere is free!  We caught our dinner for the night!

Elk Watching at Cataloochee – Elk were reintroduced to GSMNP in 2002 and 2003.  It’s 1 1/2 hours from Bryson City, but a nice ride through the park.  Elk shed their antlers every year and the rangers in the park have some large antlers to see and touch.