Vacation In Cherokee North Carolina

Entering the holiday season I start looking for a place to vacation with my extended family. We usually take one major trip a year and it is typically somewhere warm (Florida, California, Colorado, etc..). This past year my wife and I had the opportunity to visit Cherokee North Carolina in October.

The town of Cherokee lies in the westernmost region of North Carolina. Nestled against the forests of the Great Smoky Mountains, Cherokee is surrounded by breathtaking nature, clear streams and peaceful trails. The skyline of Cherokee North Carolina is also dotted with heritage home that evoke a sense of nostalgia. Here you can feel at peace as you stroll down sidewalks and explore the vintage shops, museum and art galleries.

After its groundbreaking development as a resort destination in the late 1800s, Cherokee has become one of the most popular vacation spots in Western North Carolina. Its picturesque mountain setting offers abundant opportunities to explore the outdoors.

Cherokee is a Native American tribe that has lived on the same land for more than 12,000 years. The Cherokee reservation in North Carolina is a reminder of the rich culture and history of this fascinating tribe.

Vacation In Cherokee North Carolina

Cherokee, North Carolina is a town rich in history and full of outdoor adventure. It has preserved the Cherokee lifestyle, due to its location on the reservation home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. It is also near the Great Smoky Mountains National park and thus has many places to hike and camp. And plenty of amazing accommodation options are available here too – from the best hotels near casinos to the top hotels by the river in Cherokee. With your lodging sorted, you can now go out and explore this amazing town. Take a look at these best things to do in Cherokee, North Carolina for your trip there!

1. Fire Mountain Trails – Bike Trail Head

Editor’s Note: Photo taken from the establishment’s official social account

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If you are visiting Cherokee for some adventures, Fire Mountain Trails is definitely worth a visit. Perfect for outdoorsy travelers, the trails here are ideal for hiking, cycling, and running. It features numerous paths that suit both beginners and experienced riders and hikers. Cross through the Great Smoky Mountains and enjoy some breathtaking views during your trip. For your convenience, there are parking spots within the area.

Fire Mountain Trails – Bike Trail Head

Address: State Rd 1361, Cherokee, NC 28719, United States

Website: Fire Mountain Trails – Bike Trail Head

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

2. BJ’s Diner

Editor’s Note: Photo taken from the establishment’s official social account

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Serving delicious American cuisine, BJ’s dinner is a must-visit in Cherokee if you want to enjoy some mouthwatering burgers. The establishment offers comfortable benches and umbrellas, so you can enjoy dining al fresco even on sunny days. Order a scrumptious bacon cheeseburger and pair it with some chili cheese fries or onion rings. They also have healthier options, like salads, for the health-conscious.

BJ’s Diner

Address: 840 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee, NC 28719, United States

Website: BJ’s Diner

Opening hours: Tue – Sat: 11am – 4pm (closed from Sun – Mon)

3. Mingo Falls

Source: Photo by Flickr user pulaw used under CC BY 2.0

If you’re wondering what to do in Cherokee, how about visiting Mingo Falls? Mingo Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the southern Appalachians, at 120 feet tall. It is just outside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. The hike up is less than half a mile, and not terrible difficult. The steps and paths can be slippery and it is a bit rocky, but over all any one in good health should be able to make the climb. It is worth it to see the breahtaking falls up close!

Mingo Falls

Address: Eastern Cherokee Reservation, Cherokee, NC 28719

Website: Mingo Falls

4. Museum of the Cherokee Indian (from NGN 5,026)

things to do in cherokee north carolina | museum of the cherokee indian

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The Museum of the Cherokee Indian presents Cherokee culture, art, and history is a variety of mediums. Here visitors will experience typical museum exhibits, photographs, digitals films and holographs. It reflect the Cherokee people and is truly unique. Exhibits are informative and interesting. It is a great place to learn the history of the Cherokee and the area.

Museum of the Cherokee Indian

Address: 589 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee, NC 28719

Website: Museum of the Cherokee Indian

Skip the Line: Museum of the Cherokee Indian Admission Ticket

Duration: 1 day 68 reviews

from NGN

5,026

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5. 3. Mountain Farm Museum

Source: Photo by Flickr user Robert Lz used under CC BY 2.0

Mountain Farm Museum is a collection of old farm buildings that were taken from through out the Smoky Mountains and preserved on one site. The buildings include a barn, a spring house, a smoke house, and an apple house. These are all available for visitor to explore and look through. It gives a sense of how things may have been 100 years ago. Mountain Farm Museum also presents agricultural practices, such as gardening and caring for livestock, as they may have been 100 years ago. It is a really excellent museum to see what life would have been like a century ago. Oconaluftee River Trail also begins here and follows the river 1.5 miles to Cherokee.

Mountain Farm Museum

Address: Cherokee, NC 28719

Website: Mountain Farm Museum

6. Oconaluftee Indian Village (from NGN 6,702)

things to do in cherokee north carolina | oconaluftee indian village

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Oconaluftee Indian Village is a “living museum” showing was a Cherokee community would have been like in the 18th century. Visiting the village is one of the best Cherokee activities as it will take you back to 1760 when the Cherokee were facing challenges of European settlers. Visitors will be able to interact with villagers, watching them make pottery, weave baskets, hull canoes, and go about daily life. Cultural dances, preparations for war, and blow gun demonstrations are things visitors will all have the chance to witness. There are even hand on Cherokee art classes for kids at Oconaluftee Indian Village.

Vacation In Cherokee North Carolina

Vacation In Cherokee North Carolina