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Mother’s Day In The Mountains
Mothers are special and we know that, and we know that we should celebrate what they do for us more than one day out of the year, but tomorrow is their day. A day where a mother should feel super special and appreciated for all that she does on a day to day basis that does not even get noticed! If it were not for my mother I would not be here today and you probably would not either, and yes we know not all mothers are the same and there are plenty of mothers that probably do not deserve a special day, but we are going to focus on the positive!
We here in the mountains love our mothers and we think that they should be celebrated on a daily basis, but we fall short on that task. So this Mother’s Day be sure to spend time with your mother and enjoy the beautiful weather, maybe go for a hike or pack a picnic lunch (do not let your mother pack it) You make the plans and make sure the day is as little stress on your mother as possible!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there!
Easter Train Ride
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad will be celebrating Easter with the Peanuts gang. April 4 & 5th hop aboard the Easter Beagle Express. The train departs from the depot in Bryson City at 11am and follows along the Tuckasegee River into Dillsboro for a 1.5 hour layover on Friday and a 2 hour layover on Saturday. The longer layover on Saturday gives train guests a chance to hang out for Dillsboro’s famous Easter hat parade. Activities on this ride include an on-going Easter egg hunt, crafts, temporary tattoos, coloring sheets, snacks with Snoopy, and more. Don’t forget your camera, as there will be lots of great photo-ops. And remember to call ahead for reservations as seats are limited and tickets go fast.
Call 1-800-872-4681 for reservations.
Mountain Pose
The mountains are a peaceful place to escape the noise and bustle of the big city. Sometimes the stresses of work are hard to leave behind. Need some help letting your shoulders down so you can fully enjoy your time here? Then after checking into your cabin, make your first stop the Nurture Wellness Clinic. The mountains can offer a mental and physical retreat. The clinic is located in Bryson City, surrounded by the beauty of the Smoky Mountains.
They offer Hatha yoga for any level on Monday nights 5:30-6:30, Tuesday mornings 9-10, Wednesday nights 5:30-6:45, and Friday mornings from 9-10. Go join them for a class on Friday, we can’t think of a better way to start the weekend off right. Walk-ins are welcome. Individual classes are $10, cash or check only.
Not sure about yoga? The clinic also offers massage and acupuncture. Take some time for yourself. You deserve it.
Take Me to the River
At the end of March, elite slalom paddlers and wild water racers will converge on the Nantahala River for this year’s Whitewater US Open hosted by the Nantahala Racing Club. The precision and speed with which these boaters maneuver within the falls is a sight to be seen. Spectators are welcome to enjoy the race from the paved walkway along Nantahala Falls just upriver from the NOC‘s River’s End Restaurant. This is a Forest Service path and offers great views for both races.
| Check-in & Late Registration | 3-5pm | Rivers End Restaurant |
| Open Practice | 12:30 – 2:30 pm | Nantahala Falls |
| Course Construction | 2 – 5 pm | Nantahala Falls |
| Demo Runs | 5:30 pm | Nantahala Falls |
| Saturday, March 28 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Late Check- In | 7:45-8:15am | Big Wesser BBQ |
| Volunteer Meeting | 8:15 am | Big Wesser BBQ |
| Competitors Meeting / Bib Pick-up | 9:00 am | Big Wesser BBQ |
| Foreruns | 9:45 am | Nantahala Falls |
| Slalom 1st Runs | 10:00 am | Nantahala Falls |
| Lunch Break | 11:30 am | N/A |
| Slalom 2nd Runs | 12:30 pm | Nantahala Falls |
| Demo Runs | 5:00 pm | Nantahala Falls |
| Banquet Dinner | 6:00 pm | TBA |
| Sunday, March 29 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Competitors Meeting | 9:00 am | Big Wesser BBQ |
| Foreruns | 9:45 am | Nanthala Falls |
| Slalom 1st Runs | 10:00 am | Nantahala Falls |
| Lunch Break | 11:30 am | N/A |
| Slalom 2nd Runs | 12:30 pm | Nantahala Falls |
| Awards Ceremony | 3:30 pm | Big Wesser BBQ |
Wildwater
| Saturday, March 28 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | 8 – 9 am | River’s End |
| Competitors Meeting | 10:00 am | River’s End |
| Sprint Start | 11:00 am | Patton’s Run |
| Sunday, March 29 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Competitors Meeting | 10:00 am | Ferebee Park |
| Classic Start | 11:45 am | Ferebee Park |
| Awards Ceremony | 1:00 pm | River’s End |
Painting with Charles
Bryson City artist, Charles Heath, offers affordable and fun art classes. On Thursdays, he hosts the Come Paint with Charles Kidz Program at his gallery on Everett Street. There is a new and fun project ever week. Today they painted green landscapes, next week they’ll be painting flower pots.
$20 per child per class. Cost includes materials and snack. Please call 828-538-2054 to register.
Entertainment for the kids and an hour of child-free errand running for you!
Back Porch Jam
On the first and third Saturdays of each month, all year, you are welcome to bring an acoustic instrument and join in on this old-time jam. Not a picker? We’ll grinners are needed too! Come kick back and enjoy the sights and sounds as others play traditional Appalachian Music. The jam takes place on the covered porch at the Oconaluftee visitor center, located at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park on Hwy 441 in Cherokee.
Music on Tap
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.
Hiking in the Smokies
Hiking Trails of the Smokies is a book that was originally published in 1994 by the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association. Filled with maps and detailed trail descriptions written by 15 different hikers, this is one of the most popular hiking guides for this area. This book aims to help you plan your hiking and backpacking trips, as well as guide you along the trails. The book provides such information as trail mileage to elevation gain, trail difficulty to trail cautions and highlights. Find trails that are great for viewing wildflowers, or maybe it’s a mountain top view you’re after. Find waterfalls and venture to spots you never knew existed. New editions of this book have been released so trail info is accurate and up-to-date. The Great Smokies Mountain Association is a nonprofit and operates several bookstores within the park at various visitor centers and park ranger stations. You can also shop their online bookstore from home.
Just a little winter left! Plan your spring hikes and backpacking trips. Not a camper? Plan a day hike then find a cozy little mountain cabin to stay in close by. There’s something for everyone in western North Carolina.
Dreaming of Spring
Sure there’s snow on the ground now, but soon it will be melted by the spring sunshine. I can already see the daffodils poking through, ready to jump up and burst into a beautiful display of yellow flowers. So while you are stuck inside because of the cold, use this time to plan that spring break vacation. Find a place in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to day hike or plan a weeklong backpacking trip. Maybe you’ve never been fly fishing, the guys at Tuck Fly Shop are always ready to guide a beginner or show you the best places to head out on your own.
So pull out the maps and trail hiking guides and get to daydreaming. Hang on, all you winter bah-hum-bugs, it’s almost over.
NC Smokies Things To Do 