"I've been visiting the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee since I was a child. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was our go-to destination for family vacations, and I've carried that tradition into adulthood with my husband and two children. Growing up, we always stayed in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Sadly, large crowds of tourists, heavy traffic, and seemingly endless car fests have made these areas less than ideal for a relaxing weekend."
"Bryson City is a little town about 15 minutes from Cherokee. It's also closer to my home in Georgia, which has saved us more than an hour of driving each way. Bryson City is not the place you go for elaborate mini-golf courses, luxury hotels, or quirky attractions. However, it's perfect if you want to appreciate the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for what it is: a haven for all things nature."
Bryson City, North Carolina sits on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains and provides quieter, more remote access to the park than Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. The town lies about 15 minutes from Cherokee and can save over an hour of driving for travelers coming from Georgia. The town lacks large tourist attractions and instead emphasizes outdoor recreation: camping, cabin rentals, fishing, tubing, white-water rafting, hiking trails, and waterfalls. The Deep Creek area serves as a gateway to the park, and hiking routes there have tended to remain uncrowded, creating a slower-paced, quaint downtown atmosphere.
Read at Business Insider
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