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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Friends of the Smokies host a series of guided hiking trips. Called Classic Hikes, these trips aid hikers in getting the most out of a day hike. This month’s hike is to Smokemont in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, three miles north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. At 6.2 miles round trip, this hike is rated moderate in difficulty and has a total elevation gain of 1,400 feet. These hikes are both entertaining and informative. A $10 donation for Friends members and $35 for non-members is requested to benefit the Smokies Trails Forever fund.
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!
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.
