FAMILY TRAVEL ◆ SUMMER FUN
A DAY TRIP
SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT/HELEN MOSS DAVIS
Hiking opportunities and scenic lookouts abound at Grandfather Mountain.
IN EACH DIRECTION
There’s no need to travel far for a break from the everyday routine By Stephanie Azevedo WNC Parent contributor
M
ay means more flowers are opening, and so are some great locations for day trips. With Western North Carolina and nearby Upstate South Carolina so rich in both bounty and history, why not try some trips that feed both the mind and body? We’ve picked four locations, one north, south, east and west, to get your plans started.
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Oconaluftee Indian Village Out west is Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee, a live replica of life from 1760. Basket weaving, blow-gunner demonstrations, pottery and weaponmaking all highlight the life of the Cherokee from the 18th century as the villagers go about their day-to-day lives. A guided tour of Oconaluftee provides information about the way of life among the natives. This year, selfguided tours are an option for the first time, according to the Oconoluftee web-
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site. Inside the village there are also re-enactments and tribal dances. Starting May 30, there will be a hands-on pottery session for children ages 6-13, from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. each day. The fee is $10, separate from village admission, and each child is required to be supervised by a parent. The village is open every day, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., from May 15-Oct. 25. There are tours on the hour and the half hour, except breaks at noon, 12:30 and 3 p.m., with the last tour at 5 p.m. The Sunday-Wednesday guided tour is $20