The 19 best things to do with kids in Cherokee

Very nice Museum that teaches us about the amazing history of the Cherokee peoples and also the indigenous peoples that preceded them. The museum told us that they may be working towards a new museum in the near future and that some of the exhibits were either down or being updated. There was also a great gift shop as well. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We have much to learn and appreciate about the Cherokee people.

Nice small museum that opens a window to past. Good opportunity to learn more about when Indians lost their land. They have gift shop inside. Entry fee is $15 per person. Free parking.

Interesting aspects of Cherokee culture,language & lifestyle exhibited here in the museum.I wanted to invest time & money in the area so chose to spend approximately an hour inside. It was spacious had low lighting & easy to read descriptions of each display or artifact ; i.e 7 Cherokee clans or the wasps nest mask.I'm really into anthropology and found info on the peoples in this region fascinating but would have liked detail about life - choosing a childs name, education, marriage/partnership practices, funeral practices. Overall a really interesting visit I look forward to the installation of the forthcoming interactive informatio.Tha

This is an excellent destination for learning about Cherokee history and culture. The exhibits are engaging and educational, offering meaningful insights into the heritage. The staff members are welcoming and approachable, and the gift shop features a wonderful variety of locally crafted items perfect for souvenirs.

A well designed beautiful museum pertaining to the Cherokee Peoples. There weapons, games and utensils that were used. Great displays that are very informative. Staff was very polite and helpful.

I feel like describing this as a cool or interesting place to visit is disrespectful of the history represented within the museum, but if you're looking for a way to connect with the actual culture of the Cherokee people while visiting then this is it. You move from era to era, learning how the Cherokee nation lived, worked, and played then learn about the Trail Of Tears and the treaties written (and broken) 2 centuries ago. It is eye-opening and appalling but I think it's absolutely necessary for those of us living today to study and understand the mistakes our forefathers made so we never do the same. There are wonderful exhibits of arts & crafts and the gift shop is filled with goods from indigenous artists and shop owners. One exhibit has the Cherokee alphabet on push buttons so you can hear the pronunciation which was really neat. There are just a lot of great things to see here!

This museum has great information about the history of the Cherokee People. They are undergoing a review and re-envisioning of the displays and items shown to represent these people by these people. The lighting on the exhibits needs some rethinking because for some of the exhibits it is hard to see. Overall we loved the museum.

Beautiful pottery, baskets, jewelry and knives, all handmade by Native Americans. Some are antique, with information about the people who made them. Also general information and photos about tribal culture.

This shop/art gallery has a huge selection of gifts and different Cherokee pieces of art. I was very impressed y the hand woven baskets and jewelry that they have for sale.

This shop had a gorgeous range of art crafted by artists of the Cherokee as well as other nations. It is all certified as being made by people of that nation. They have carvings, paintings, intricate baskets, blowguns, knives, baby dolls with the softest hair ever, jewelry of every kind, and pottery. Plus more I am forgetting. The staff are kind and helpful.

Beautiful set up, almost like a museum display throughout, not just in the gallery, but everything outside the gallery had price tags and the items were available for purchase. There were blurbs about the artists and craftsmen beside the work.

This was an amazing 🛑 stop. Creative artists producing fantastic work. The staff are lovely 🥰 and it was worth going in.

Beautiful authentic crafts in thoughtful display cabinets. Very reasonably priced. I really enjoyed this store. Best place to shop in the town, as it is by local artists.

The staff is very knowledgable. And the Hand made crafts are Amazing. If your looking for Authentic hand-made Cherokee crafts like Beaded earring's/Necklace's, Wood/Stone carving's, or Beautifully done White Oak Basket's and Rivercane basket's this is the place to go.

We like to visit Cherokee & sit along the river. We are here for the summer/ fall & will drive to have a picnic lunch, read a book, walk around the park. The island has a beautiful bamboo forest with a trail amongst the bamboo. The river is safe for swimming, be careful of the slippery rocks. The park is clean with several picnic areas, family & pet friendly. It's a very relaxing and peaceful place to unwind. There is also a clean restroom on one of the wooden bridges across to the island.

🌿 Oconaluftee Islands Park gave us such a peaceful and memorable experience. We dipped our feet into the cool river and let the calmness of nature surround us. The sound of the flowing water, birds chirping, and the lush greenery all around felt like pure therapy. It was the perfect escape from the noise of everyday life a place where both our bodies and minds could truly rest. Simple, yet incredibly beautiful. If you ever find yourself in Cherokee, this park is a must visit. 🍃💧

Love this park! Spent a couple hours walking around, enjoying the fresh air, skipping stones, and putting our feet in the water. We saw people picnincing, people with kayaks, and people wading in the water. It is a great place to spend some time outdoors. It's not even 2 hours from Pigeon Forge. I will be back to explore more of the town!

Very nice, family friendly and pet friendly park. Had plenty of picnic tables. Has benches overlooking the water, where children and pets were playing. We went specifically to see the bamboo forest and really enjoyed it.

We like to stop at this park on the way back from pigeon forge It's a nice place to relax as a beautiful stream where people fly fish and it also has some beautiful scenery like a bamboo forest and another creek on the other side has bathrooms on site nice little cute bridges so cozy little place to relax at.

I found this on our way back from Gatlinburg and it is exactly what I expected. The Bamboo forest was our focus point and it was very unique and worth the trip. The water and dog friendly place was also a reason. Our dog loved the water and I regret coming with my sneakers and leaving the slippers in the car. I would have definitely enjoyed the water. If you come with an inflatable tube and your kids you will love it here.

This was a neat park. The entire town was basically in the creek tubing and swimming. The small bamboo forest was cute too. We didn’t see any elk at this park. But we did see them at the visitor center down the road.

This Farm Museum is located in a field behind the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. Wonderful location, along the river, surrounded by mountains, and full of history. Even if you don't need/want to go to the visitors center, the museum is worth the stop. Also close by is the Mingus Mill and the Smokemont church, highly recommend adding all three to your road trip!

Great place to go and learn about the history of how mountain people lived. They have plenty of walking trails by the river. They also have a free museum. This is a beautiful place to visit.

The Mountain Farm Museum in Bryson City is a peaceful, scenic spot that offers a glimpse into 19th-century Appalachian farm life. The restored buildings, roaming animals, and river views make it a relaxing and educational stop for all ages. Worth the visit

Wow, this place was awesome. Driving to Pigeon Forge and happened to see this place. I absolutely love history and how people lived some 100+ years ago. This definitely shows you how life was. People complain today about having it so bad. People that lived on this farm, all they did was work every single day, mostly just to have food to eat. And nothing to just put in the microwave and take out and sit in front of a TV set. Everyone should have to live a week on a farm like this to know how good they have it. Rich or poor.

Before heading into Gatlinburg we made a stop here, and really glad we did. This was a pleasant surprise and a wonderful walk along the river to indulge in learning about the history of the items on the farm and the way of life. Run by the park service, and free it was great to get to walk and read about how things were utilized back in the day. I would recommend spending some time here and enjoying the walk-through time.

Well preserved farm in the national park. Loved seeing the chickens, pigs and historical buildings.

This was the coolest place ever!! The trails were well maintained and close to the river which was cool, the museum was very nice and informative! The visitors center was awesome, lots of friendly workers, a great gift shop, and an interactive exhibit for those that want to learn more about historic farming life within the area! Also, there was so many elk, they were everywhere nearby and it was so cool! This was in mid March btw, hopefully they’ll be there next time I come to cherokee!

We visited on July the fourth. Decided to take my granddaughter who is 2 she is the right age for this park not to mention to get to see Santa in July. She absolutely loved it from the playground in the back to the rides in the middle. I believe she rode everything more than once just an old feeling of fairground rides nothing fancy just something for the little kids to enjoy .I know it can depend on the day but no lines for my little one I really prefer it over Dollywood for her age just because it was not stressful getting in and out of the park and hardly no wait time . People were so nice that worked there but if u are looking for a big theme park this not it just a little place to play . They also have some old time play ground equipment to play on to me ,If you go u have to ride the rude coaster a little rough riding but u have to do it . It’s a tradition in my family to ride it .my 2 year old rode it . The only reason i gave 4 stars is because I do believe it needs a a little more love on the playground equipment maybe just little pressure washing . Like I said nothing fancy just old time vibes . I took my kids when they were little now I take my granddaughter who absolutely loved it and the animals .so if u close by and have little time stop on in .

BE AWARE: THEY COOK THEIR FOOD WITH PEANUT OIL!!! If your child has a severe nut allergy, do not get fish food for the koi pond, it contains whole peanuts. $29.50 for one adult ticket, animals in TINY concrete spaces. Kids were having a great time, but things definitely need an update for the animals' sake though.

It was cute. 4 year old loved it especially the roller coaster. I will say not to buy any chocolate from the gift shop as mine was stale.

Great fun with my daughter, grandson and co Grandparents. Along with one of my bff's daughter and granddaughter! Beautiful day and what a great venue for our grands! We'll be back with the whole gang of grands soon!

These days everything is corporate, and this little place is cute and looks "homegrown". All zoos are a blessing and a worry for me...hate that they are caged, but a wonderment to get that close. Enclosures were clean and animals looked healthy. Rode on the ferris wheel that is 70 years old and still fun. All staff were friendly and helpful. I wish I had littles to take there. The folks that brought their kiddos and grands were having fun. (I'm a senior citize who went alone...because I wanted to see it.) Four stars because some of the tree roots on the paths could trip folks up, and it is time to paint some of the statuar. Over all it was adorable and I enjoyed it.

What a charming little park & zoo! It exceeded my expectations for an older kiddie/family attraction. The signage, buildings, paint colors, etc. were all wonderful.

First time here today! We had a blast!!! Super cute place! Decorated so neat! Definitely worth the drive to go check it out! My boys loved meetin Santa! Everybody that worked there was super friendly! Mili at the rudicoaster was AMAZIN! We just really loved her personality!! She's so good at her job! We will definitely be comin back! Thanks a bunch for such a cool day!

Fantastic public mountain bike park. Smooth, flowy trails with lots of tabletops and wooden features that are a lot of fun. This place is worth a trip.

These trails are some of the best in NC. I never had so much fun on a mountain bike!. Trails have so much flow and well marked. You can thank Eduardo and Marco from Trail dynamics. Not only are they great trail builders but are the nicest guys you could meet. Their trails are clearly made with love for the trade and for people. Kudos to them. If you ride here you will always come back. The city of Cherokee did very well with this whole project.

Our first experience mountain biking! We took Uktena trail up, hit the drop kick woody feature then stopped for a breather at a lookout shelter. Spearfinger brought us down to lazy elk and both were faster than we were anticipating but manageable and fun. Ended the day with a quick run to the lower port of kessel run and lazy elk. Highly recommend. 1 of our vacation highlights.

Rode fire mountain trails this morning, first time for me riding in North Carolina. The trails green and blue are good to do! Didn’t do any features there I rode by myself. A good friend was aware of me riding and I let her know I was of the trails. But from flat texas the climb to Ravens Roost was intense coming up via Uktena. Had to dismount a couple of times. Nevertheless I enjoyed the ride and the down hill back to the parking lot was smooth. A bit slippery on the leaves in some turns, but that was expected in Autumn. Can recommend it to ride here! Stopped by after the ride at BC outdoors in town. Made a small donation to the trail system. Wanted a beer but their tap was down.

Great mountain bike trails and dog friendly. But pooch is supposed to be leashed. However I do see many dogs there and they are off leash. But they are all well behaved. They finally put in a couple of porta potties which was critical. Now all we need is a couple of picnic benches.. This trail is also located within the Qualla boundary where soon, 2023 you can get medical weed. Wooo who!! Just gets better every time. May 2023 update. Looks like they're going to build another 15 miles of mountain bike trails cannot wait definitely a must stop for all mountain bikers. Best flow trail in all of Western North Carolina 😁 and when you're all done had to Bryson outdoor center for a beer and some Chow. This place is even more beautiful during the fall when all the colors are there. Also there are so many other things to do after you're done mountain biking. Don't forget to visit the museum. In return for all the beautiful changes in season. Just make sure you use the bathroom before you visit the porta potties here can be filthy sometimes.

Very nice trail system offering some challenging terrain. Even "Tinker's Dream", which is rated easy, is a formidable mountain bike trail. You start off with a good climb right out of the parking area but are met with plenty of flats along the way to rest. The reward when getting to the top is a nice bench area and view.

Fire Mountain We are a well travelled couple looking for a resort within driving distance to unwind and found Fire Mountain. From our early conversations to our arrival, we knew it was the right decision. Hiram and Matthew are hoteliers who have a passion for what they do and an appreciation for the beauty that surrounds them. This is not just a business for them and it’s obvious. This place is magical. We stayed in the Red Thunder accommodation and it was exactly as described. It has the perfect amount of luxury with quality amenities, a very comfortable bed, sitting area, elements from a few of our favorite brands and we believe, the best views one could ask for. On the recommendation of Hiram and Matthew, we did some incredible hiking and had a few unexpected adventures that will give us great stories from the trip. We also had massages and the therapists were the best we’ve ever experienced. We enjoyed a romantic picnic lunch (which we had for dinner) and the presentation, the wine that was chosen for us, the freshness of the food was pure deliciousness. Farm to Table is not a catch phrase for this property; it’s the real deal. Matthew and Hiram are so knowledgeable about the area, there is always something to do. And there is enough acreage to just roam around the property if you don’t wish to leave. We are so grateful we found Fire Mountain we made a reservation for our next trip while we were still there. If you’re looking for an adult, beautiful, peaceful, magical place to unwind, this resort is for you. Thank you Matthew and Hiram. We can’t wait to return.

Great place! It’s the only place we found that you can pan for gold. We’ve never panned for gold before. The staff was incredibly helpful. We thought we could get the biggest bag. The staff showed us the technique first encouraging us to start out with the smaller bag. We took their advice and were very glad! It’s a slow process. We found little gold flakes. It was a good memory. I highly recommend visiting this gold & gem mine. There are others but this one is the best!

Exceptional fun and exciting! Great time for the adults and the kids. Exciting to find the various gems. We even had one blue topaz made into a 4 ct tear shaped pendant for a necklace...extra charge of course.

We have been having fun here for many years! After finding rubies, we have jewelry created. This place will give you many great memories to enjoy for years to come. It's a great group activity. Staff was polite and helpful. Kids of all ages have a good time here!

Had a wonderful time and met some great people and found lots of Wonderful Gems. Shout out to Mrs Kathy. She's so helpful and friendly. Definitely recommend!

This place was great, staff outside was wonderfull and showed us what and how to spot the rocks we got, The inside, Kathy the rock-olgist amazing and helped us call out what we had, and was able to leave some rocks with her to get them cut shined and looking pretty! 20/10 would recommend

We bought an 2 buckets for 15 each. Had a blast. Found lots of emeralds and Ruby's. We sat down with Kathy in the assay office and she took the tile to explain everything that we had and then had some ruby earrings made for my wife. They were cut and set the next day. They came out beautiful. When we came back to pick them up Kathy gave my wife a little butterfly and said it reminded her of her nails. Thank you for taking time with us and making our experience even better. Highly recommend coming here

Loved this. Great fun and excitement. I got me some good keepers between Emerald, Garnet and Amethyst. Next time I will go earlier to experience the Gold!! After your find go and visit with Kathy who has vast information on all stones. Ohh and you can get your stone turned into jewelry.

I love this quiet little place. It has many bears, goats, lemur and a baby bear you can get a photo with for $25. Cost to get in is like $6. Very clean and the animals are well taken care of. You can feed the animals. Some of the bears will wave back at you. One of my favorite places to visit.

It's a great place I visited it a few years ago and took pictures with a baby cub named Luna and today I feed her apples and she's gotten so big and beautiful and so healthy and happy..I love this place and look up to the owners for taking care of these beautiful bears and keeping them safe...they also have some other wild animals...

When you pull up you wouldn't know it was bear zoo. The staff was very friendly & it was laid back atmosphere. We were able to feed the bears. The bears were excited to see people. They waved back to us & stood up to see us. We did see the baby bear it seemed happy as well. The kids petted it & took a picture with it. The pens were very clean & the animals looked healthy. I'm not an expert on animal care or their enclosures so I won't comment any further. They had lemurs, goats, & foxes. It was a fun, up close, wholesome experience for my animal loving kids.

Please do not support this business. This man has 10 bears, 9 adults & 1 six month old cub in enclosures that are equivalent to jail cells, with the cub in its own cage separate from his parents. There are 4 block enclosures with the 2 smallest ones housing 3 bears each. This is quite honestly the worst description of a zoo that I have ever seen.

The poor bears have no grass to walk on- only hot concrete- small water area for them. They all looked sad and miserable. They had other animals that lookd do sad. The baby cub that you could take pictures with rinds ypu of an indentured servant- very sad place

Not sure how humane it was, but the bears and goats were awesome. I got to Kobe some apples in a bears mouth. They also wave in the middle area. More of a come here so I can eat you wave. But a wave nonetheless.

We always stop to see the Bears! 🐻 The owners are so nice and friendly and the bears are well taken care of and loved!

It's a nice little stop, parking area, plaque giving history of the mill and a short little walk down the water supply. There was another walk trail but we didn't walk it...we were on our way home and had just stopped to see the mill. The little trail is an easy walk for pretty much anyone and very short, I'm happy we stopped.

Just after the southern entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway on 441 from Cherokee, the Mingus Mill is quick and easy stop that's free to explore and enjoy. This grist mill was in operation from the 1800s up until 1930 and it has been well preserved as original as possible. Lots of room to explore and see and various information plaques to read thru. The ground is easy to traverse even for people with a cane or mobility issues, but probably not recommended for wheelchairs.

The Mingus .ill is a fascinating place to visit. The workmanship on the mill is outstanding. I took a picture through a hole that was in the door. I got to see a glimpse of the inside of the mill. The trough that directs the water from the mountain stream to the mill was expertly made. This is a great place to take a walk and commune with nature.

Nice if on your way but don’t go out of your way to stop here. Very small, trails are easy to walk not good for old people very wet and you can slip. Bathrooms were closed when we were there but you can pee in the woods.

While there technically is no cost the park is now charging a parking fee for stops over 15min. I did not see a pay kiosk here. For me this hike in May was rather muddy but I didn’t get muddy by the mill. It can be a quick and easy walk and see. After enjoying the mill and reading the signs; I then hiked to the cemetery. That hike is about 2 miles in and out. There were only 3 ppl I saw the entire time and they were hiking the opposite way. The cemetery while very cool is old and you can’t read the stones, not sure on details of who is laid to rest there. The cemetery is surrounded by mountain laurel which was in bloom. It appears that at some point it had been fenced with barbed wire. It’s all dilapidated now. While this is not a hard hike be advised the last little bit to the cemetery is up hill, again it was spring for me and waterproof footwear is advised. Today I also saw a female elk just barely off the path, she watched me pass and I was glad she seemed subdued. I always carry bear spray for those just incase moments but I kept a wide birth from her. Her ears were twitching and she didn’t take her eyes off me. I didn’t see any others. The bridges are narrow and unique but do the trick of keeping you dry. A lovely spot of woods!

Really cool looking historical place. Unfortunately, when we were there, it was closed because it looked like it would have been neat to get to see inside.

It was a nice place to stop and go explore the area there is a trail that will lead you to the mill it will lead you onto a small bridge then the mill is right there definitely enjoy these historic side areas

This show was awesome. I'm so glad we got to attend. Story is very moving. The actors were superb. The Eagle dance was my favorite part. Learning the history of the Cherokee people has me Googling to find more information. Highly recommend.

The show was absolutely incredible. Snacks and drinks were very fairly priced. The outdoor theater itself was amazing. Guides were available to assist in parking. Amazing job all around by actors and staff. Highly recommend seeing show.

The staff is friendly and nice. The show itself is great. Lots of action, and yet gives you a complete story. Very well done. And for short people they supply step stools for sitting in the seats. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. We sat in row D and had a great view. As for the meal, not worth the $20 per person. You are better off to get advanced seating/VIP and either eat in town, or eat at the concession stand at the show, better value. They have pizza and popcorn and several other choices. The $20 meal was a 1/4 of bbq pork, oven roasted hush puppies, 1/4 cup of Mac n cheese, 1/4 cup of Cole slaw and 1/4 cup of baked beans. Not bad flavor but not worth $20.

The acting was great but we couldn't hear half of what was said so it made it difficult to follow. Only the narrator's voice was loud. Everyone else you could barely hear them and we were only about 10 rows from the stage. Need better microphones!

We loved the show! The cast was amazing and everyone we met was extremely kind. The weather wasn't great and climbing the stairs for every lighting pause was not great, however they can't control the weather. We will definitely come see the show again, but will look at the weather better.

The whole production was very well done. The acting was superb and not over the top.

We came at the beginning of July of 2024, and we LOVED the show. The show started at 8 pm but before the show, around 7:30 there was a performance by some singers. Very nice and good vibes. We arrived around 7:20 with regular tickets, and we were able to sit on the 3rd row. We could see everything perfectly. I was very touched by the story of the Cherokees and made me respect them even more. The show has a break of 15 mins at 9 pm and the show ends at 10. It lasts about 2 hrs. The seats are made out of metal, so they are uncomfortable, so plan on bringing a cushion. Be aware that there are some special effects of guns that can scare small children. They sell very affordable snacks. The actors did a very good job. I would have liked to see more "native-looking" people, but I assume it was not easy to find that many actors. People who sell their hand-made jewelry should stay after the show. I bought something before. But after watching the show I wanted to buy more and nobody was selling. I'm glad that this show has been performing for 75 years now. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SHOW! Don't listen to bad reviewers. It is 100% worthy.

Really glad we gave this place a chance. Fantastic experience, the perfect amount of chillness mixed with adventure. A few class 1 and class 2 rapids really added to the fun. Time on the water is just under two hours if you don't stop to swim or take photos or anything. They have tubes for coolers and ones with bottoms for younger kids. It's also half the cost of what we paid in Asheville. Can't wait to go back.

Best First-Time Experience! For the first time ever, a friend, our kids, and I went two days in a row! On the first day, OGANA caught me, the cooler, and two of the kids right at the end—it was all part of the adventure. The route is absolutely beautiful and lasts nearly two hours. It was so relaxing being out on the water, surrounded by awesome people just trying to enjoy some summer fun. When you return to the main sit you can even enjoy the most amazing ice cream. All the employees are amazing. We had an amazing time, and we’ll definitely be back. Happy Customer 😁

It was great, but not for the faint at heart. There’s lots of rapids, you will get soaked, and bouncing off of rocks and through branches of trees of course unless you can navigate a tube.

This was by far the best tubing area I have been to yet. Cherokee Rapids Tubing seem to be efficient and organized in their ticket sales and boarding. The driver was very informative in what to expect and how to navigate the river. The tubing lasted about 1.5-2 hours depending on stops for swimming. Parking is limited and you may have to park elsewhere with a short walk to the facility. I would recommend taking a staff or stick to help guide you as you go down the river. My wife and I (no stick) were carried to a bank and got into a rather large hornet nest. Fortunately, we were able to get away from the swarm with only 1 sting. Had we had a stick or staff, we could have avoided getting into that. But it is nature. So be observant and cautious, but have FUN!!

Had amazing time need to clean sides of river where the drop people off to tube tho bec the rapiers pull u right into the downed trees I had to flip off my tube that was tied to my 5 year old so I cld keep her from fliping in the water u cldnt Nt touch and thank god church family member it happened to him so he got to the side and tried his best to swim and help the rest of us coming behind but I told my child put ur head in ur lap lay down I pushed up the tree she got under but I had to flip off to push her under it so she didn’t go in and me not be able to grab her it was a blast but where u drop people off I think u shld go down the river and cut the trees that the hurricane probably brung down cut them away so it’s a very fun experience then it was beside the multiple trees we had to push off of it was work at times but cut them away down to where customers get off at your building that wld be amazing because we had fun but lil frustrated at times with so many trees we had to go under or hit bec the current pulls u right into them

Absolutely wonderful. The owner was very knowledgeable and friendly. The river was a great experience. I loved it for we didn’t get stuck or hit rocks all the time. I highly recommend them.

My husband and I had so much fun and we even saw elk!!

Very short trail, didn’t actually finish it but loved the experience. Wanted to see some elk, so got there about 7:30 am. Parking lot was still pretty empty and we saw plenty of elk in the pasture. Walked down the trail, pretty easy, flat, runs by the river. About half mile in trail was blocked by a group of female elk and their young ones. Got to watch them for a while until the bull elk came in and started driving them back. Then got to see them cross back over the river back into the forest. Was an amazing experience.

A beautiful short 1.5 mile trail. You are able to bring pets. Trail goes behind the visitor center and follows the river to the edge of the national park.

Nice well maintained walking trail along the Oconaluftee river. About 1.6 miles to Cherokee with several nice restaurants nearby.

I love this trail!! Very relaxing and you may see an elk or two on your journey!!

Great little spot.They put cute bears out for pics.

The Oconaluftee Trail is nicely maintained. Most walking trails in the area don’t allow dogs. This trail allows them to be walked on a leash. The trail is well marked and mostly shaded. It was very peaceful to walk beside the river. There are several benches along the way to sit and rest.

Beautiful trail that i hiked with my family and dog. Everyone loved it. Lots of elk.

A neat little Cherokee village with numerous offerings in terms of food, options for riding intertubes down the river, seeing a Mill, and crafty shops.

Hours are 6 am to 1 pm Sunday- Monday. Good weed.

Just used the northern end of the parking lot to start our hike up the Ocanoluftee River trail.

Very nice and clean great place to relax and enjoy

This place has closed down permanently.

Loved the cart ride it was a blast

Fun park closed now

The quarters here are tight which is why I have 4 stars for atmosphere-you will literally rub elbows with other people because the space is small and the crowds are big! We came at 1:20pm on a Friday-had a ten minute wait which was quicker than expected since the line was out the door! It’s $13.95/Per person but a drink is not included-it’s $3.95 a drink which I found totally excessive and gouging! Water is free. The salad bar was good-not great-canned mushroom instead of fresh was disappointing-the lettuce mix was weird too but lots of options! The buffet has limited options-it’s not huge. This is not Golden Corral! But what they do serve is delicious. I’ve grown up in the south so at 56, I do have a taste for true southern food. The green beans are perfect, as is the fried chicken and the simple chicken gravy over rice-mmmmm-made me wanna slap my momma! It’s a great value except for the drinks-those should be $2.50 max! It’s off the beaten path but totally worth the deviation! I don’t recommend if you’re a true vegetarian because veggies had meat for seasoning. But we were thrilled to have a hot lunch that was made with Whole Foods for less than $30!

My server was a very pleasant lady named Mary Ann with 20 years of service here @ Granny's‼️ Ms. Ann then introduced me to the Owner Mr. Ray Williams whom has been in business for over 41 years ... since 1984 Mr. Williams added! Yikes‼️😊 (That's A Long Time!) First time patronizing this Restaurant, had a great overall Experience. Staffing was Classy and Professional. ❤️'ed Ms. Mary Ann‼️ Food was Downhome good, Reminding me of how my mother would cook. They got me to try their Baked Chicken‼️ I've not eaten chicken on the bone in I've 30 year ... and it was good‼️Meat falling off the bone! Did l mention the bar is all you can eat!? I Will Certainly Be Back Here Soon‼️

I only come here on my vacation but when I'm here it's the only place I go to eat. It just perfect everything is perfect for me. The food is home cooking excellent comfort food. The staff is friendly and quick with a refill. Priced right and the buffet is all you want. I'm sure there's other places in Cherokee but, why go anywhere else when you know Granny's is perfect already. Note: I don't give many 5 stars unless the place really deserves it. This place earns every star everytime. Please don't change a thing. I'll be back soon 🤠

Went today for the very first time for lunch. We will not be back. The server was very sweet the hostess not so much. But the food was just terrible! You could taste it was all from yesterday apart from the fried chicken. Salad was brown and old as well box Mac and cheese with some extra cheese baked on top. Paid $13.25 and $3.25 for watery coffee as well. The meat loaf had tons of filler and was watery the green beans tasted sour. There really need to up there quality.

Great experience! Buffet style, with 3 meats and multiple sides to choose from. No deserts really, except for pudding. If you go in a group of 4 or smaller you may sit with people you don't know. Great way to meet people especially if your just visiting or passing through.

We stopped at Granny's while passing thru the area. We stopped because of all the cars parked and we did not realize it was a buffet. We got there at 11 am, breakfast buffet just ended and they were now serving lunch. The main entrée included fried chicken, fried haddock, ham and a delicious roast beef. There were several sides, salad options and chocolate pudding for dessert. Everything was good & hot. We got seated after a 10 minute wait, but when we left it was a 30 minute wait. One thing that did impress me, we met several "local" people who visit Granny's frequently. That definitely tells you it is one of the better choices in Cherokee.

Only offer buffet. But if you are looking fir home cooking this place is for you. Mu husband said the green beans were the best he's ever had at a restaurant. I particularly enjoyed the cabbage. Definitely will go back if in the area again

A group of us (8) decided to stop here one morning for breakfast. The service and the food was absolutely amazing. Right on the river. The blueberry pecan pancakes and bacon was probably some of the best I’ve ever had. Wish we were in town for another couple of days so we could have eaten there every day. Our server was so kind, friendly, and very attentive. Food came out super quick. Must try when you’re in town…. Now that I think about it, I might move here just to eat at Peter’s every day.

This was a fantastic experience. Food, atmosphere, and service were all incredible. I sat at the bar solo so I was seated quickly; if you come in a group get here early, it was packed! Loved my "Huevos Enriques" and the blueberry pancakes were from heaven. Solid coffee too. Definitely worth it!

Such a wonderful experience, at our first visit to Peter’s. Although we experience Cherokee frequent times a year, we had never enjoyed a meal from here. We had such a wonderful time, from the minute my son saw the autumn pumpkins, to our interaction with the hostess, service from the waitress, and of course the quality of the kitchen staff. We truly enjoyed our late breakfast. The food was out quickly after ordering. The staff was kind. Would definitely come back again during our next trip to Cherokee.

Eating here was such a treat coming back to Atlanta from Gatlinburg. The staff is super friendly and the food is delicious! We had eggs, biscuits, grits, French toast, and beef hash. Food was served quickly, and we had a great time sitting at the counter watching the cooks do their magic. They were busy even on a Friday morning so I can imagine the weekends are packed so plan accordingly. We will definitely be back here when we are in the area. Or maybe we will just have to detour even if it’s not on our way!

Went on Saturday morning. It was busy. Had to search a bit for parking but it wasn’t too bad. Initially said 20 min wait but we got seated prob around 10m later. Service was great people were so friendly. Food was wonderful. We got blueberry pancakes and eggs potatoes bacon between the two of us and shared. Definitely a place to go! We even bought a cup.

Peter’s Pancakes & Waffle House Vibes 🥞☕️🍳 We’ve driven past this place a few years ago🚗 and I was tickled when I said, “Peter’s Pancakes!” 😂 No idea why it cracked me up, but it stuck. This time, we finally pulled in—and I’m so glad we did 🙌 It’s got that old-school Waffle House feel—nothing fancy, just cozy and familiar. The coffee was hot and strong ☕️, and the food? Delicious. I had the blueberry pancakes 🫐🥞 with country ham 🍖. The ham was perfectly salty—just what I needed to balance the sweet maple syrup 🍁. The potatoes 🥔 were cooked just how I like them 🔥. My husband? Total opposite—he wants his extra crunchy, almost burnt 😆🔥 He ordered the biscuits and gravy 🍽️. He really liked it but he particularly loved the biscuits. In fact he like them so much he got a second helping of biscuits 🧈 And of course, he added extra crispy bacon 🥓 Our friend Ed was digging into a loaded breakfast bowl 🥣, and his girlfriend Elle, pictured here, had a full-on feast: two eggs 🍳, corned beef hash 🥩, and pancakes 🥞. Serious breakfast goals. We left full, happy, and still quoting “Peter’s Pancakes” on the way out 🚘💬

I watched the cooks while I waited & it made my mouth water! Everyone that I asked left satisfied! The food was magnificent! I enjoyed every bite!

The place to stop if you are looking for information and cash. Lots of room for parking. You could get an RV in if needed

Quick stop conveniently located in lots of information. This is a great little community.

Tons of nats but beautiful area and we saw big elk a little past the center toward dusk. There is an area to walk around the settlers log cabins. No food vending machines... Just drinks.

My partner and I were in Cherokee for a few days and we began the "Great Bear Hunt" which is a hunt for the life-size bears around town. After finding one, we researched it and found out that there were 20. So on the hunt we went, but as we came to the Welcome Center, we were playing Pokemon Go and noticed that a Pokestop was a bear and it was located at the Welcome Center, but we couldn't find it. I decided to go in and ask and boy am I glad I did because the woman working informed me that some of the bears had been removed due to damage or to be repainted. She said if we showed her photos of at least 7 bears around town, we could get a collectable medallion. So I showed her my photos and received my medallion. Absolutely the best Welcome Center I have been in. She even gave us a lot more information on things to do around town and when was the best time to return in the near future. I highly recommend you stop in and check it out.

This is a nice welcome center with all information you need. We bought our fishing permits here to fish in the river. (Though we caught nothing, it’s nice to fish in the beautiful river.) For the fishing permit, you will need to present your ID, give details about your weight, height, eye color, hair color… (08/16/2021)

Great visitors center. Small but cute inside. What makes it great are the staff members. Very courteous and well informed. They will help you with any question you may have. Lots of brochures and maps available. For solid info about the area drop by.

Great place to stop by and relax for quick break. Welcome center staff were very courteous and friendly.

Just left this shop. I'm the only customer. I ordered hot fudge and caramel for a vanilla double cone, to be assembled down the road at my campsite. One of the guys behind the counter is extremely pleased to let me know that they're out of cups with lids, but he's improvising by putting my cone over the toppings. No toppings. Great job! UPDATE: I left a message with the number on Google, and the owner returned my call. It seems the employee is saying something different happened, and there's a huge miscommunication. Easy to understand given he and the other dude barely stopped talking to each other. I was clear. But kudos to the owner for backing up his well trained employee. 👏

You have to come visit this place it is worth the money. The ice cream was very delicious. The funnel cake was very delicious and fresh. It was cool getting to watch the guy make the whole thing from the start. Very good, very fresh and very clean.

Stopped by to get a quick ice cream break. Got peach and homemade vanilla. The best vanilla have ever had and very different from regular vanilla flavor (which I don't like)! Peach flavor has fruits in it. Great combination and highly recommend! Melted a little quicker so enjoy soon LOL

Had the funnel cake with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and whip cream. It's a nice treat to have and enough to share with at least 2 adults and 1 child.

The sweetest people working. We got the chocolate explosion and it was AMAZING! Funnel cake was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside.

Spring breaking and enjoying the funnel cake and ice cream. The funnel cake was $7 and ice cream waffle cone $3.50. I loved the fact they have fried Twinkie’s and other carnival greats out of season.