Summer is almost here, and we’re ready to (safely) get out of the house for a little adventure. Here are 4 outdoor destinations to check out in the mountainous Bryson City, N.C. area; a quick drive from Greenville.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Experience: High mountain views (and sunsets), hiking, biking, Deep Creek tubing, lush forest and spring wildflowers, picturesque falls, fishing, elk watching, historic structures

Drive time: 2 hrs

Details: The Park is made up of a half-million acres, equally divided between Tenn. and N.C. Most of the N.C. side of the park is centered around Bryson City (including three entrances into the Park) – so the quaint town is a great spot to grab an Airbnb or camping spot for a weekend getaway (away from the more touristy Gatlinburg + Pigeon Forge).

Fact: GSMNP is the nation’s most-visited national park – but most visitors only experience a small portion of the expansive Park.

2. Nantahala River Gorge

Experience: Rafting, kayaking, zip lining, canopy tours, fishing, jeep tours, horseback riding, hiking, gem mining

Drive time: 2 hrs, 22 min

Details: The Nantahala River carved out an eight-mile gorge that has become one of the most popular whitewater rafting rivers in the Southeast; bringing in 200,000+ paddlers every year. Several outfitters offer guided and self-guided trips on the Class II and III rapids – suitable for the kids + grandparents, but exciting enough to be the site of the ICF Wildwater World Championships in April 2020.

Fact: The Cherokee named the gorge ‘Nantahala,’ which means “Land of the Noon-day Sun.”

Nantahala Outdoor Center | photo provided

3. The Road To Nowhere

Experience: Driving, hiking, horseback riding, biking, fishing, history

Drive time: 2 hr, 17 min

Details: Known geographically as Lakeview Drive, the “Road to Nowhere” is a scenic mountain highway six miles into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, ending at the mouth of a tunnel. Walking the tunnel leads to great hiking, horseback riding + trout fishing. The nickname was given by locals after private land was sold to the Federal government to create GSMNP and Fontana Lake, but the old highway was never replaced – cutting off locals’ access to old family cemeteries.

Fact: On summer weekends, the Park Service still ferries locals across Fontana Lake to visit their family cemeteries.

4. Downtown Bryson City

Experience: Shopping, dining, craft breweries, arts, small-town charm

Drive time: 2 hr, 7 min

Details: Bryson City is a laid-back, non-touristy town of 1,300; ft. local bookstores, galleries with working artisans, family-friendly museums, craft breweries + a surprising variety of restaurants. Downtown map here. Bonus: It’s easily strollable and dog-friendly.

Fact: You can take virtual tours of downtown attractions here.

Shopping in downtown Bryson City | photo provided

Click here to start planning your weekend road trip and to see what else the Great Smokies have to offer. Ⓟ