This Friday the weekend warriors will meet to pedal it out at the 2015 South Eastern Regional Championship. Dubbed the Knobscorcher, this race will take place at Tsali Recreation Area located just outside of Bryson City and is #3 in this SERC race series. These trails border the shore of Fontana Lake and the edge of the Great Smoky Mtn National Park. The views are beautiful, if you have time to look up. The race is open to all ages and skill levels. No pre-qualifying required. Races are Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th.
Are you learning how to play a stringed instrument and looking for somewhere to sit in? Got a couple old-time tunes in your heart that you love singing along too? Maybe you’re just looking for some old time music to tap your toes to?
The Marianna Black Library, in downtown Bryson City, hosts a Community Music Jam on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. The jam goes from 6pm-7:30pm in the library or, weather permitting, on the front lawn of the library. All unplugged instruments, vocalists, and listeners welcomed. The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett who starts things off by calling out a tune and its key signature for the group to play together. From there, everyone on the circle will have a chance to lead the group in a song of their choice. Open to all levels of musicians.
Marianna Black Library, a member of the Fontana Regional Library, is located in Downtown Bryson City at the corner of Academy and Rector. For more information or driving directions call the library at (828) 488-3030. This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts, which believes a great nation, deserves great art.
A new business opens their doors today in Bryson City, NC. While Bryson City Outdoors did exist last season as a standup paddle board rental company, this year they made dreams a reality with an actually brick and mortar location. Expanding from just paddle board rentals into a full outfitter’s store, Bryson City outdoors aims to help you and your family get outside and enjoy the beauty of the Great Smokies.
The building itself was an amazing transformation to watch. Their love and respect for the outdoors really showed. A lot of thought went into the renovation of the old pawn shop on the corner of Everett St and Main St in downtown Bryson. Using as many locally sourced and reclaimed materials as they could, the environmental impact was low. Read more about the entire project here.
So stop in to say hey! They have a little bit of everything for the outdoor lovers. Maybe all you need is info, they can help with that too. Brett, Ben, and Dwayne are all avid adventurers and are ready to help you get out on the trail….or the river.
Nantahala Brewing Company is the hub for live music in Bryson City, NC and April’s lineup is looking pretty good. Music on Tap is a concert series that starts in the spring and keeps us on our dancing feet until fall. The taproom has plenty of room for cutting a rug. So come shake a leg, or just sit and tap your feet while you enjoy one of their many tasty brews.
This weekend will mark the first day of spring. In celebration, Nantahala Brewing Company will be releasing a Trail Magic Ale. A term used by long trail hikers, “Trail Magic” refers to little moments or gifts that they may encounter after a long day of hiking. Something to brighten the day for these path worn travelers, and the Trail Magic Ale Releases do much the same. After a long cold winter, spring emerges and so does the ale.
Trail Magic Ale #10 will be a Tropically Hopped Abby Ale Aged with Plums. Sounds good to us. The first keg will be tapped tonight, Friday, March 20th at 6pm. Bottles will be available for $15 each at the taproom starting at noon on Saturday. And if the beer isn’t enough to get you there, maybe the music will be. The brewery’s Music on Tap series is underway, with music starting around 8:30pm tonight and Saturday night. Tonight taking the stage will be The Freeway Revival. This band has played the brewery before and always packs it out. An amazing blend of rock n roll and southern soul. Then tomorrow, Saturday March 21st, they’ll have Fritz Beer & the Crooked Beat. This is a fun rockabilly style trio that plays great original music. His bio starts out, “Fritz Beer writes and sings down-to-earth, spirited, songs about good-hearted people who sometimes go astray.”
Looks like it’s going to be another good season here in Bryson City. Getting spring started right.
This Tuesday, March 17th, is St. Patrick’s Day. That means this is a holiday weekend! Tomorrow night, Saturday, March 14th, the band Bean Sidhe (pronounced Banshee) will be at the Smoky Mountain Community Theater playing traditional cletic tunes and ballads from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Using a variety of acoustic instruments, these guys are sure to entertain.
The sledding adventures are over and Nantahala Brewing Company has their eye on spring. As the air warms, the main tap room reopens and the Music on Tap Concert Series begins. Over the last two years, this local brewery has consistanly brought quality music into Bryson City. The acts range in genre from country and Americana, to rock n roll and soul. There’s something for everyone.
Saturday, March 14th the concert series kicks off with The DuPont Brothers. These songwriters wear their hearts on their sleeves and the harmonies are cause for melting.
Friday, March 20th The Freeway Revival takes the stage. These guys are rock n roll souls and shouldn’t be missed. They head out for a Europe tour later this year.
Saturday, March 21st Fritz Beer & the Crooked Beat is an acoustic/Americana rock band headed by songwriter, Fritz Beer. Beer writes songs “about good-hearted people who sometimes go astray”.
All music starts at 8:30pm and continues until about 11pm. These shows are free. So grab a pizza from Anthony’s, take it to the brewery, pull up a pint and a seat to a good night. Cheers!
The Nantahala Brewing Company is located at 61 Depot Street. Parking is on the corner of Depot Street and Richmond. Check website in link at top for daily hours. Family and dog friendly.
Combining fresh farm ingredients and their love for baking, Gianna Carson and Pat Tagliarini opened La Dolce Vita Bakery. This little bakery is another of Bryson City’s businesses that stay open year round, pushing through the slower winter months here in the Smoky Mountains. Their baked goods are an assortment of healthy breakfast muffins and real fruit danishes, cookies, cupcakes, pastries, and more. During our last visit, we enjoyed a muscadine cream cheese danish and a perfectly made cappuccino. La Dolce Vita also makes their own gelato featuring interesting flavors that are sure to please the taste buds. While you are there don’t forget to check out some of their gift items. On the shelves you’ll find handmade goat milk soap that Gianna makes herself, with milk from her goats!
We love their passion for all things natural and we share their passion for this area. La Dolce Vita Bakery represents an appreciation for the finer, yet simpler, things of this world. Stop in today to satisfy your sweet tooth or grab a cup of coffee to get your day back in line.
The winds have been strong here in Bryson City this week. They are bringing in the cold winds of the north. But while the breeze has been chilly, the sun has been shining down on our little mountain town. The bright sunny days are leading us into the clear winter nights. Nights so crisp it seems you can almost grab a star. Nights that make the moon seem a lot closer.
Bryson City is nestled right up to the border of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. In town, we are in a magical valley with a wide river bringing fresh mountain water and trout. The majestic mountain peaks surround us, some still covered in the snow and ice they protected us from. This is a place where you come to feel one with nature. This is a place to remind us of our roots. This is a place that helps us to reconnect with life, ourselves, and each other.
Come find out why we love it here. Come visit for the day, the roads are clear enough to make the drive safely. Come visit for a weekend, in a warm cabin or bravely with proper camping gear. Come as you are. Winter is a slow, peaceful season. Come enjoy it with us!
Looking for a special way to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day? Then plan a trip to the Smokies and let the magic happen!
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad has announced their special sweetheart train ride for this Valentine’s day. Join Charlie Brown’s gang for the Valentine Express & Sweetheart Train. The ride departs Saturday, February 15th at 11am from the Bryson City Depot. Travel along the Tuckaseegee River to the quaint town of Dillsboro. There you and your sweetheart can enjoy a 1.5hour layover. Plenty of time to enjoy lunch or just stroll town and peruse many of the shops and galleries there.
This is great for the whole family and not just for couples. However, if you are a couple looking to bump the ride up a notch in the romance department, you can upgrade your ticket to Adult First Class. There you can enjoy a delicious lunch served by a private car attendant. Adult tickets are $94. Make sure to reserve yours now!
Find Things To Do In The Area in and Around the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina! This blog provides info on events, happenings, and things to experience with your family while on vacation in the Bryson City and Cherokee, NC areas. The locals always know best!
This Friday the weekend warriors will meet to pedal it out at the 2015 South Eastern Regional Championship. Dubbed the Knobscorcher, this race will take place at Tsali Recreation Area located just outside of Bryson City and is #3 in this SERC race series. These trails border the shore of Fontana Lake and the edge of the Great Smoky Mtn National Park. The views are beautiful, if you have time to look up. The race is open to all ages and skill levels. No pre-qualifying required. Races are Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th.
NC Smokies Things To Do 