Mountain Towns by Bonna L. Nelson

Mountain towns exude their own charm, culture and personalities. This is certainly true of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Asheville and Bryson City, both in North Carolina. Bryson City and Gatlinburg are nestled in the Great Smok y Mountains (GSM), while the Blue Ridge Mountains (BRM) provide the backdrop for A shev ille’s ar t and music scene. Fresh mountain air, museums, recreation, shopping and a multitude of hotel and dining options are common to all three. The lesser known of the three, Bryson City, calls itself an outdoor

and nature vacation paradise with boating, fishing, rafting, kayaking, swimming and tubing available on nearby Lake Fontana, the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers and numerous crystal-clear streams. Sightseeing, hiking, skiing, horseback riding and beautiful waterfalls are available in the nearby GSM National Park just north of the town. The GSM Railroad is headquartered there. Established in 1887 and lauded by the Smithsonian as one of the “Best Small Towns to Visit,” Bryson City is located an hour west of Asheville via freeway and just 20 minutes

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