11/06/2023
Need a break from the daily grind?
I can make it happen for you Michael Blair - Key to the World Travel
Recently, my wife and I took a mini vacation to celebrate 30 years of marriage. We didn't want to go too far from home, but we still wanted to have multiple options for entertainment and dining. We found it in the Great Smoky Mountains! We stayed in Cherokee, NC near Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, which I will talk more about shortly.
Day 1: We set out to explore the Great Smoky Mountains, but not before getting fueled up with some breakfast at our favorite spot in Cherokee, Peter's Pancakes & Waffles. The food and service never disappoints.
Afterwards, we journeyed up the mountain, stopping at several look-out points. As you can see from the pictures, these views are breathtaking and amazing and should be on everyone's bucket list of places to visit and things to see. After reaching the peak, where North Carolina & Tennessee border one another, we went for a short hike.
Our next goal was to visit Gatlinburg, TN, where we had hoped to spend the day sight-seeing and visiting the local attractions; however, the driver of a tractor-trailer (18 wheeler) decided to take the scenic route and proceeded to get stuck in a tunnel, which had traffic stuck for quite some time.
So, we turned around and upon reaching the starting point, we decided to go to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Here, you will find exhibits that tell about the rich history of this area in the Appalachian Mountains. Just a short walk from the visitor's center is a mock village with several historical structures that are on display. Beyond the historical side of this location is the sheer beauty of the landscape. For our evening meal, we went to All Fried Up for some of the best fried seafood and chicken.... anywhere!
Later that evening we headed Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort. The accommodations and amenities are top-notch, as are the options for entertainment. Upcoming entertainers include Travis Tritt, C**t Ford, Gabriel Iglesias - "Fluffy", and many others. Dining experiences are exceptional and boast Gordon Ramsay’s Food Market, as well as Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen & Bar. If shopping is on your agenda, they have that too! Shops feature everything from ladies fine apparel and jewels from SWAROVSKI to locally-owned Hazelwood Soap Company’s handcrafted soaps, candles, and beauty products. Additionally, the resort also has a Bowling Alley and Arcade.
Day 2: We began the day making preparations to go tubing along a portion of the Oconaluftee River but I forgot to bring water shoes so we went to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 at the Cherokee Cinemas followed by a visit to the Cherokee Museum Of The Cherokee Indian. The museum was absolutely fascinating, featuring many cultural artifacts, and informative exhibits, while chronicling the life and history of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
For dinner we ate at Kobe Express Japanese Restaurant. The food was incredible and authentic, and though the atmosphere was lacking, the restaurant appeared to be very clean and our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the cuisine.
As for the rest of the evening, we ventured back to the casino where I watched game 1 of the NBA Finals on one of the many large TV screens.
This is obviously not our first time going to this destination, but I had more fun on this trip than any other time in the past. They have added so many new attractions and things to do that we could have spent a whole week visiting.
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