Waynesville, NC Attractions
Cradle of Forestry
The birthplace of forestry in America. The Cradle of Forestry is a living museum with exhibits detailing the history of managed forestry and local craftspeople demonstrating the skills that early mountaineers used to carve their homesteads out of the forest.
Cold Mountain
The real Cold Mountain is located near the town of Waynesville, N.C. You’ll find Cold Mountain in North Carolina’s Shining Rock Wilderness, which was originally part of the Cherokee Nation until white settlers with a land grant from the state began migrating here in 1796. At 6,030 feet, it is the tallest peak in the wilderness area. Located in government-owned Pisgah National Forest, Cold Mountain hasn’t changed much since the Civil War in which the book is set. To find out more information and the source of this description visit
http://www.visitnc.com/region_article.asp?SectionGroupID=1&ArticleID=605
Cataloochee Valley
Cataloochee Valley is nestled among some of the most rugged mountains in the southeastern United States. Surrounded by 6000-foot peaks, this isolated valley was the largest and most prosperous settlement in what is now the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elk were reintroduced to the park in February 2001 and most of the elk are located in the Cataloochee area. The best times to see the elk are early morning and late evening and sometimes on cloudy summer days before or after storms. Once known for its farms and orchards, today's Cataloochee is one of the most picturesque areas of the park. Few people visit this beautiful valley, but spectacular rewards await those who do. http://www.nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/history.html
Cherokee Indian Reservation
The Cherokee Indian Reservation is located in western North Carolina and is home to 12,500 enrolled members. The rich cultural heritage of the Cherokee has been preserved here. Visit the craft shops and see original ceremonial dances performed. Explore the heritage, history & culture of the region’s Native Americans.
800-438-1601
www.cherokee-nc.com
Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre
This year-round community theatre group puts on 5 shows a year. The box office is located at Mast General Store on Main Street in Waynesville.
Old Pressley Sapphire Mine
Western North Carolina is a great place for rock hounds. The Old Pressley Sapphire Mine was the source for the 1445-carat "Star of the Carolina" Sapphire, on of the wolrd's largest. The mine offers you the chance to try a little mining yourself.
828-648-6320, 877-903-4754.
Shelton House Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts
The Shelton House was built in 1875 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum features comprehensive exhibits of 19th Century crafts and furniture. Artists who have participated in the North Carolina State Fair's Village of Yesterday ahve a selection of crafts displayed. There is also a fine collection of Native American artifacts. The museum collection includes hand-woven coverlets, quilts, sculptured porcelain, dulcimers and masterpieces of pottery work.
828-452-1551
Soco Gardens Zoo
Many wild animals, a petting zoo and shows make this an entertaining and educational stop. Also guided tours and a gift shop specifically for animal lovers.
828-926-1746
Lake Junaluska Assembly
Nested in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Lake Junaluska Assembly is a full service, year-round conference and retreat center. It is owned and operated by the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.
Wheels Through Time Museum
A consummate collection of over 250 rare antique American Motorcycles and Automobiles. Equally as astounding is the memorabilia collection that unites the "art of the motorcycle" with the generation of Americans that enjoyed a lifestyle peculiar to the "American Mainstream." The thrust of the museum is to educate future generations to a fascinating spectrum of Americana.
828-926-6266
www.wheelsthroughtime.com
Tsali Recreation Area
www.mtbikewnc.com/trailheads/tsali.html
The popular Tsali Recreation Area has long been a top destination for mountain biking in Western North Carolina, and even the entire eastern US. Containing nearly 40 miles of trails in a system with four excellent loops, it has been rated as one of the top 10 places to ride in the USA. The area is located on a hilly peninsula reaching into beautiful Fontana Lake, at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains. The four long main trails at Tsali wind along the lake shore and onto the wooded, steep interior ridges. There are several connector trails, gravel roads and extension trails that give a few more options for rides besides the main loops. Three designated overlooks along the trails provide sweeping views of Fontana Lake with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the other side. The trails are fast, hardpacked singletrack, and they're extremely well designed and well used. Trails alternate use between mountain bikers and horseback riders on different days; two will always be open to mountain biking. There is a $2.00 trail use fee for one day.
Pisgah National Forest
The most visited park in North Carolina offers over 400 miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, wildlife observation, fishing, horseback riding and more!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
www.nps.gov/grsm
The Park, set aside by the federal government in the 1930s is the largest protected land area east of the Rocky Mountains, encompassing 500,000 acres with over 270 miles of roads. It lies on either side of the boundary between North Carolina and Tennessee with about half of its area in each state. There are numerous pullovers, hiking trails, waterfalls, camping areas, picnic areas, biking trails, etc in the park. During the Ice Age, the Smokies were a refuge for hundreds of plant and animal species retreating before the glaciers. Today the park has more tree species than northern Europe and also contains one of the largest blocks of virgin forests in North America. Many forms of wildlife can be found in the park and this is one of the few places in the eastern United States where black bears can live in the wild, natural surroundings. At least 60 native mammals live in the Smokies along with over 200 species of birds and 58 species of fish. The “top of old Smoky” is known as Clingmans Dome and is the highest point in the park at 6,643.
Blue Ridge Parkway
www.blueridgeparkway.org
The Parkway connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (in North Carolina and Tennessee) to the Shenandoah National Park (in Virginia.) This 469 mile parkway, often called “America’s most scenic drive,” is like a historical corridor lined with breathtaking vistas and recreational opportunities. Originally, the parkway was to run through Tennessee, but a mountaintop-to-mountaintop route through North Carolina was finally chosen because of the breathtaking vistas.
