Visit Bryson City, Despite The Shut Down

BRYSON CITY, NC – This small town is not going to let the government spoil their fall season if they can help it. The town has launched a social and video campaign (#shutdownshutup) letting people know that there is way more to do in Bryson City than just hike the trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding closed federal lands. Shut Down, Shut Up is now spreading across the internet and making its way in to the homes of thousands of potential visitors. I am currently sitting outside right at this moment enjoying the amazing fall air and watching the leaves fall all around, these mountains and this community are still an amazing place no matter what the government tries to do.

Watch Bryson City’s Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Am1m9hzMk

Here is a short list of places to visit that have not been affected by the government shut down:

-Go Zip-lining
-Ride the train
-Drive across 441 through the GSM National Park
-Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and visit unique small towns along the way
-Drive the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway
-Drive the Cherohala Skyway
-Rent Stand-Up Paddleboards and head to the lake
-Go on a guided fishing trip, or just go fishing
-Visit Fontana Dam
-Take a Jetboat ride
-Enjoy a local fall festival/fair
-Visit a state park, they are not affected by the shutdown
-Visit the Biltmore House
-Take a Brewery Tour
-Take a Kayak Tour
-Play Disc Golf
-Visit the Cherokee Indian Museum
-Ride the Tail of the Dragon (318 curves in 11 miles)
-Visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village
-Go rafting
-Enjoy local restaurants, coffee houses, ice cream parlors, and specialty and gift shops

We here at Yellow Rose Realty hope this shows you many things that you and your family can enjoy during your stay here despite the government raining on our fall parade! If you are still looking for a place to stay this October we still have a few cabins left if you are interested! Give us a call at 800-528-0760

Tubing at Deep Creek

Familly Fun at Deep Creek in Bryson City, NC

A favorite activity of locals on hot summer days, tubing at Deep Creek in Bryson City, NC is sure to be a highlight of your trip to the Smoky Mountains. Enjoying the splash of cool water as you float down a beautiful mountain stream is an experience you will never forget!

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your tubing adventure.

♦ Wear quick-dry synthetic clothing. Avoid wearing cotton, especially with young children. When cotton gets wet, it leaches body heat. Cold kids tend to complain and complaining usually puts a damper on the fun.

♦ Wear supportive footwear such as water shoes or an old pair of sneakers. Avoid flip-flops. They are likely to get lost in the water and are not particularly comfortable to walk in on uneven terrain.

♦ Rent a tube from one of the vendors along the road leading into the park. They will help you load them onto your vehicle. Beware! The tubes are light so they easily blow off the top of your car even when tied down. You will likely pass at least one person pulled over attempting to rescue their tubes from the side of the road. Don’t let this happen to you! Drive slowly on your way into the park.

♦ When you enter the park, follow the road until it dead-ends at the main parking area. Unload the tubes and walk up the pathway until you reach the point you wish to enter the water. There are several entry points, the furthest being about ¾ mile from the trail head.

♦ We recommend that kids under 75 pounds put in at the bridge about half a mile up the trail for their first few runs. There is a rapid a bit further upstream that can flip over the smaller tubes. Suddenly finding yourself completely submerged in cold water can be a bit of a shock and may lead to crying. Crying is no fun for anyone. To avoid this, let kids build their confidence with a few shorter runs before going all the way to the top.

♦ Little kids 30 pounds and under should wear a PFD, which can be rented along with your tubes. Though they may insist they want their own tube, this is not the best idea. Chances are, you will end up carrying the tube (and them) on the way back up and if they take a swim, there is likely to be quite a bit of the aforementioned crying. Have them ride with you. Trust us on this!

Tubing is a fun activity for people of all ages and is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. The best part is that Deep Creek is located just a few miles away from your Bryson City or Cherokee vacation cabin rental!  Have a great time!

Gem Mining in the Smokies – Turn Your Treasure into a Unique Work of Art

This is a beautiful example of a cut star ruby

So, while enjoying your vacation cabin rental near Bryson City,  you went on a gem mining adventure and found a beautiful native ruby or sapphire. Now what do you do with it? The stones themselves are interesting to look at but to the untrained eye, they just look like any other rock! When cut and mounted, however, they can be truly spectacular!

There are many artisans in the area who will cut and mount the stones for you. Most mines will be happy to refer you to a gem artist /jeweler who is both dependable and talented. Here’s a link to one of our favorite artist jewelers. Keep in mind that the cutting process can sometimes take a few weeks, so your stone will most likely be shipped to you once you are back home. When a stone is cut, the artist must around imperfections and determine the type cut that will produce the most beautiful finished gem. The cut stone you receive will be much smaller than the stone you now hold in your hand.

Some mines in the area are noted for a particular type of sapphire and ruby that produce six-pointed star when they are cut into a cabochon shape, with a smooth, rounded top. These are called Star-Sapphires and are considered to be rare. The star is the result of tiny inclusions that react with light, giving it a beautiful, lustrous star pattern.

Jewelry made from gems you found yourself is special and fun to wear because it has a story and will always remind you of the wonderful time your had on your vacation in Bryson City or Cherokee, NC and your rental cabin from Yellow Rose. Happy polishing!

Gem Mining in the Smokies – How it Works

Rubies!

While enjoying your vacation cabin rental in the heart of the North Carolina Smokies,  you may want to try your hand at gem mining. Our previous posts discuss what kind of gems you might find, where to go and what to bring with you. Now, let’s look at how it all works!

Times of Year To Go Mining: Most mines in the area are open from spring through autumn. While some mines charge a daily admission fee, most sell gem dirt by the bucket or bag. A few allow you to dig your own dirt from a specified area.

Two Types of “Dirt”: There are two different types of “dirt” you can get. Some mines have only “native” dirt, which means that you are getting a bucket of dirt straight from the ground in the mine. You may or may not find anything in it but whatever you do find is an authentic gem from Western North Carolina. Others have what they call “enriched” dirt in addition to native buckets. These buckets of dirt are “salted” with gems bought at shows. They most likely are not gems native to the area.

For beginners or for young children who want the quick payoff, an enriched bucket is really the way to go. The colorful stones are easy to see and exciting to find. For those with more experience, the native buckets are a great challenge.

Step 1: After deciding which type of bucket you want, it is time to get down to business. You will be provided with a sifter box; a wooden box with a screen on the bottom that lets water and dirt rush out but keeps your gems and rocks inside. Take your bucket and sifter box and have a seat next to the flume, which is a shallow trough with water running through it. The running water will help you wash the dirt of the rocks and stones in your bucket.

Step 2: Pour some of the dirt from your bucket into the sifter and place it in the water. Shake the sifter from side to side and move it up and down in the water to rinse away the dirt. If you have an enriched bucket, the job won’t be too difficult. Stones are clean when mixed into the dirt, so it will wash off easily. If you have a native bucket, it will take more time and effort. Rinsing the dirt off native stones is a bit more challenging and the gems are still surrounded by their matrix, a crusty gray protective barrier.

Step 3: Push large rocks aside and gather smaller gravel into a mound at the center of your tray. Push your hands down onto the pile and move it in a circular motion to help remove the dirt. Rinse your stones and rub again. Repeat the process until no more mud is visible on your hands. Spread your clean stones into one layer and look carefully for glints of lavender, pink or deep purple-red.  Don’t forget to check those larger chunks you set aside. Chances are they’re just rocks but you never know – there could be something amazing hiding within!

If it’s your lucky day, the mud will be washed away to reveal spectacular treasures in your sifter! Rubies are silky red; garnets reddish brown; and note that sapphires come in just about every color there is! Quartz, a favorite among gem hunters, is a smoky clear color. Mine staff are usually on hand to help show you what to look for because gem stones in their natural state look nothing like the brilliantly colored cut gems we see as the final product.

We hope you have a wonderful time on your gem mining adventure! There are a lot of gem mines in the area, many just a short drive away from Bryson City, NC and your vacation cabin rental from Yellow Rose. Happy hunting!

Hometown Throwndown Kayaking Event

On Saturday, July 2nd, the Nantahala Wave was the site of the third event in the Hometown Throwdown series. This event series gives paddlers a chance to experience competing in a casual and fun freestyle event. There was a great turnout for the event which started late in the day to finish up in the evening with the Nantahala Wave lit up for the paddlers.