Blue Ridge Parkway
Unwind that ribbon of highway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are two of the most visited attractions in the National Park Service and happen to be immediately accessible from Cherokee. So while you’re here, be sure to take a ride on this glorious route. But hang on; this is a rollercoaster ride of magnificent views. The sensation of turning a corner to see a vast panorama of mountain peaks, valleys, and endless sky spreading before you is enough to cause even a city slicker’s heart to miss a beat.
What to do on your Cherokee, NC vacation.
Beginning on the edge of Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway travels 469 miles southwest along the high ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains, ending at the southern gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, right near Cherokee.
Enjoy hiking trails, breathtaking overlooks, and charming picnic spots as you learn about the geology along with the abundant plant and animal life of the area. In early spring, watch the redbuds begin to blush with eagerness in their anticipation of the lush green outburst of the summer months. Anytime is beautiful on the Parkway, yet the most spectacular may be the fall, when the calico quilts of trees dip and fold in a shockingly vibrant parade of natural beauty.
Stay and play
Each place you visit in Cherokee pulses with the stories and significance of a people whose roots run deep and whose ancient wisdom is fascinating to uncover. Nestled in the lush landscapes of Western North Carolina, Cherokee invites you to smell the wood smoke and open your ears. If you listen closely, maybe you can hear the chanting of the little Nunnehi people of the mountain peaks. No need to resist Cherokee’s invitations to dive right in. Fire off a blowgun if you dare, but make sure your spouse is in the clear. As you cast your line into the trout-filled rivers or wash your face in the sweet spray of a waterfall, let the powerful feelings of Cherokee carry you. Even if it’s just for a day or two.
