daytripper
Spend the day in Cherokee
Symbols of the Cherokee tribe, such as this mask, are on display at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT
By Mike McWilliams WNC Parent contributor
No one is exactly sure how long the Cherokee have called Western North Carolina home. Artifacts unearthed show there have been people living here as long as 11,000 years ago. Today, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians is a sovereign nation of 100 square miles, with more than 13,000 enrolled members. Six family things you’ve got to see: » Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The main N.C. entrance to America’s most visited national park is in Cherokee. Take a hike or leisurely drive through the park and take in some of the most breathtaking views WNC has to offer. The Oconoluftee Visitor Center, 2 miles inside the park entrance on U.S. 441, offers interactive displays and a shop. It’s open every day but Christmas. Several roads close during the winter, including the road to Clingmans Dome. For general information and specific road closures, visit www.nps.gov/grsm. » Museum of the Cherokee Indian: The museum tells the story of the Cherokee people through high-tech displays and an extensive artifact collection. www.cherokeemuseum.org. » Cherokee Bear Zoo and Exotic Animals: In additional to black bears, get an up-close look at many animals, including grizzlies, tigers and monkeys. www.cherokeebearzoo.com » Smoky Mountain Gold and Ruby Mine: What kid doesn’t like finding treasures in the dirt? You could strike it rich here on gems, including rubies, amethysts, emeralds and other jewels. www.smgrm.com. » Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual Inc.:
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Stop at the new Oconaluftee Visitor Center on your way into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just inside the Cherokee entrance. JOHN FLETCHER/JFLETCHER@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM Founded in 1946, this is the oldest Native American arts cooperative in the United States. A variety of authentic handmade Native American crafts are available to buy. www.quallaartsandcrafts.com. » Oconoluftee Indian Village: Learn how the Cherokee used to live as you walk through this replica village and watch craft and dance demonstrations. The village typically opens in May and closes in the fall. Visit www.cherokee-nc.com. Best time to visit: Although Cherokee fills up on the weekends, any day of the week is a good day to visit. A good place to eat: Cherokee has everything from fast food, to buffets to fine dining. A few examples include: Little Princess Restaurant and Shop, 1681 Acquo-
ni Road, which features a menu and a buffet featuring Southern fare; Country Boy Barbecue, 1659 Painttown Road; and Granny’s Kitchen, 1098 Painttown Road. Along the way: You can take a detour through Waynesville or Maggie Valley, home to Wheels Through Time, the world’s premier collection of rare vintage motorcycles. Getting there: Cherokee is about an hour and 15 minutes away from downtown Asheville. To get there, take Interstate 40 west toward Waynesville. Take a slight right on U.S. 74 West/Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. After about 33 miles, merge onto U.S. 441 north. Four miles later, turn right at Old No. 4 Road and continue onto U.S. 19 South to Cherokee.
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