Relaxed, reinvigorated after Smoky Mountains trip

By Patti Nickell Tribune News Amenity Mark Van Osdal is a tree whisperer Owner of Carolina Bound Adventures he is leading a small group of us on the Deep Creek hike on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Bryson City During the hike we will see waterfalls a picturesque bridge over Deep Creek the last of the summer wildflowers and one rather belligerent squirrel angry that he dropped the black walnut he was munching on right in the middle of our group Oh yes and trees lots of them Van Osdal says that the national park America s majority visited has particular native species of trees more than the entire European continent And he appears to be on a first-name basis with all of them Deep Creek fall shot Handout Swain County Tourism Growth Authority TNS Van Osdal is just one of the people waiting to welcome visitors to Bryson City known as the quiet side of the Smokies Although just miles from Gatlinburg across the Tennessee line it seems a world apart in its peaceful serenity And in its welcoming residents who can t wait to make your stay as authentic as achievable People such as Rita Jones director of the Swain County Visitor Center Heritage Museum Make it your first stop you can t miss the imposing white-columned building on Everett Street which doubles as both a deposit for visitors seeking the area s best hiking rafting canoeing and biking spots and a museum of western Carolina heritage Swain County Visitors Center Heritage Museum Handout Swain County Tourism Maturation Authority TNS And then there s Rita pink-cheeked and exhibiting delight looking just like the adorable elf she dresses up as during the town s celebrated Christmas festivities Make a stop at Nantahala Outdoor Center starting point for all of the adrenaline-boosting adventures people come here for If you re lucky you will meet marketing manager Betsy Bevis and reservations manager Chris Aldridge who joined me for lunch at the Riverside Restaurant overlooking the Nantahala River Munching on my catfish sandwich I noted that the Nantahala is much more benign from a window table than from an overturned canoe courtesy of my last experience on it The -acre NOC is a one-stop shop for all things outdoor whether it be rafting mountain biking zip lining etc eating at one of the two restaurants buying outdoor gear or overnighting in the new mountaintop Hemlocks bungalows The leaves were just starting to turn during my excursion and I could only imagine what this would look like in peak season the view a tapestry of gold orange scarlet and russet Handout Swain County Tourism Advance Authority TNS Guests wanting to be closer to the river and trails can book private cabins and for the truly adventurous there are primitive campsites within the Nantahala National Forest Fun fact NOC s founder Payson Kennedy was a stunt double in the film Deliverance and if you remember the scenes filmed on the nearby Chattooga River you ll understand why Burt Reynolds and the other actors were keen to leave the paddling to those stunt doubles Although the movie may suggest otherwise Bevis and Aldridge say the film was responsible for a surge in the popularity of whitewater rafting Back on dry land you would be fortunate indeed if you crossed paths with Scott Mastej and experienced a dose of his southern hospitality Along with his partner Ron LaRoque he is the owner of the Everett Hotel a luxury -room boutique property repurposed from a bank building While I didn t stay at the Everett I did enjoy a dinner lobster bisque and Carolina mountain trout and a conversation with Scott in the chic Everett Bistro the hotel s in-house restaurant Downtown Bryson City North Carolina Handout Swain County Tourism Evolution Authority TNS Dinner another night was at the historic Fryemont Inn a Bryson City fixture and a nostalgic trip back to the s where there are no TVs in greater part of the rooms and no air conditioning as the mountain breezes provide natural cooling This is rustic luxury at its best with the large fireplace in the lobby and even larger open porch off that lobby competing for favorite guest hangout Dinner included an entr e plus choice of soup or salad and two family-style sides of the day If you can track down co-owner Monica Brown and ask her about the lavish Halloween festivities she organizes where repeat guests return every year for the spooky fun Related Articles In Orlando theme parks animatronics increase in number and in realism Women-focused resorts are the next big thing in wellness Set expectations high for Prince Edward Island and prepare to be wowed Here s what happened when my son and I turned off our screens for a day The shutdown has disrupted air passage Will that drive a surge in car rentals and train bookings Should you opt for a stay in a bed-and-breakfast you will find a charming one in the Folkestone Inn Those charms include a serene garden for sipping your morning coffee the -minute driving distance to the Smoky Mountains National Park and innkeeper Toni Rowe s delectable breakfast Croque Madame Since I had my two sisters on this trip with me we opted for one of Bryson City s plenty of cabin accommodations Our cabin in the Bryson City Village lived up to its name Creekside Delight The two-bedroom two-bath cabin had a large kitchen dining area and a large living room with a deck and hot tub overlooking a small creek While a large number of visitors prefer a cabin nestled in the mountains this one had definite advantages being just a short walk into town and the train depot The latter is central as it makes it easy if you book the area s top attraction the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Nantahala Gorge Excursion Fall overview of mountains and Fontana Lake Handout Swain County Tourism Maturation Authority TNS The -mile excursion is a four-and-a-half-hour trip including a stopover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center The scenery from your car s window is breathtaking the Nantahala River and along the shore of Fontana Lake before navigating the -foot Fontana Trestle into the Nantahala Gorge The leaves were just starting to turn during my excursion and I could only imagine what this would look like in peak season the view a tapestry of gold orange scarlet and russet If you book a first-class car like Harper you ll get lunch and a chance to engage with Steven the personable host Certainly there s no better trip-ender than toasting the sun setting behind the mountains with a not-to-be-forgotten experience at Long View Resort The Nordic-themed experience features a massage on the deck of the spa where birdsong was the only music needed to lull me into a semi-slumber as every muscle in my body went along for the ride Soaking tubs Handout Long View Resort Spa TNS Post-massage I had only to cross the deck and ease into the hot tub facing the mountains in preparation for my -minute sunset soak To say that this is a transcendental experience is not overstating the circumstance The only interruption to my zen-like solitude was the attendant bringing me a glass of ice water and a small charcuterie board to nibble on After four days in this part of the Smokies I left feeling relaxed reinvigorated and wanting to return soon to this authentic mountain destination Tribune Content Agency LLC