The 17 best things to do with kids in Bryson City

We did a last minute trip on saturday. We were able to get 2 last minute tickets 20 minutes before it left. We were on the Royal Palm car. Our guide was Jacob. He was amazing. He told us so many facts about the area, and pointed out all kinds of cool things. I highly recommend this trip. Jacob made sure we were taken care of on our beverages and was fun to talk to.

We came to this area to watch 1702 under steam and after chasing the train for an hour or so down the line, we came back to go through the museum. Wow!! The layouts are incredible! The biggest O Scale layout we’ve ever seen! The pre-war room with all the vintage trains is one area not to miss!

Great little stop if you’re passing through! The train museum has an awesome collection of model trains on display and many of them are actually for sale. It’s the perfect pit stop to stretch your legs, browse, and take in some railroad history. The staff are friendly and clearly passionate about trains, making it a fun and unexpected find on the road!

Fun museum with loads of model trains! Admission is free if you have a ticket for the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad tour. Very nice gift shop, super nice employees. Definitely worth a visit if you enjoy trains.

Listen. This place had better PR. You would be so busy prices would not have to be that high. It's the Smokey Mountain railroad. Why not have a mixture of natives utilized in the Soviet Empire? Their experience and surroundings should draw people in. Listen money is green and all cultures love a great train excursion. Make it a better experience please for the greater future of Smokey Mountain Railroad. Seriously do better 😒

The scenery was wonderful. The car surroundings brought a nice bit of realism to what train travels would have been like. The girl that worked in our car was great. She did well with what she had to work with. The gift shop was nice and had a wonderful selection. Overall, worth the time and money.

You get in free with a train ticket, this was such a fun surprise to me. They didnt hype up just how awesome it would be. Fun for adults and stuff for kids to do. I was amazed.

Our family took the Nantahala Excursion Steam Engine on Oct 3rd and it was amazing. We definitely recommend the open air car if the weather is nice, like it was when we went. The views were great and the overall ride was a good length. The website said 4.5 hours total but we arrived back at the station 5 hours after we departed. It gives you time to take plenty of pictures and videos as well as time to just sit back, relax and enjoy the views. During the layover, we opted to grab lunch from the food car and eat at the picnic tables by the river instead of attempting to get food at one of the restaurants at the NOC. It looked busy and an hour isnt enough time to make the walk, get your food, eat and be back on-board in time. We really enjoyed the ride and highly recommend it.

This was a great experience! We were in town for our anniversary and this was a perfect 1/2 day trip. We left at 1030 and saw some beautiful scenery along the way. Some interesting facts were shared with us such as the train wreck scene from The Fugitive was filmed on this rail line and we got to see the wrecked train, which is still there, along the way. We arrived in Dillsboro and had about 1.5 hours for lunch and looking around the small town. The ride back was fun because we saw things from a different perspective. Well worth the time investment! Highly recommend this if you like trains and wonderful mountain scenery!

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad scenic railroad located in Bryson City is a wonderful experience that should be recommended for anyone and everyone that appreciates the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and Western North Carolina. A great ride for families, couples, individuals, and even large groups, age does not matter. Regardless of the time of year, you will have an opportunity to enjoy endless scenic views. The typical route will last roughly a total of four hours, and can be most enjoyed on an open air car, especially if you are able to secure seats on the south side of the train. This affords the better vantage point. Depending on your class of seats, light refreshments and snacks are available and sufficient for a picnic afternoon, but don’t expect to be wowed by food. The town of Bryson City is also an attraction in and of itself, and the railroad company has installed several attractions and shops for visitors, including a historic train museum. We selected the Nantahala Gorge route which afforded beautiful views of the Nantahala River, along with a great number of tributaries, lakes, and mountains. The one very glaring and very negative part of the experience is parking. Parking is an absolute nightmare, especially on days with more full trains. Despite an enormous staff on site to direct guests, there is either not enough parking to accommodate all visitors, or they have not efficiently crafted a method for directing traffic. We arrived on site 40 minutes prior to our schedule train ride (2 P.M.) and did not depart our car in a parking spot until after 2 P.M., despite having traveled less than 500 feet. Thankfully the train was held, but the delay was also unexpected and unnecessary. That would be the only variable preventing us from a second visit. Also, in case of inclement weather, there is no covered seating adjacent to the train station to accommodate visitors waiting to board the train.

What a great time!! We decided to get tickets in an open air car so we can get better views and for the picture opportunities and it did not disappoint. The views are spectacular especially sitting on the station side of the train going to the NOC. The bridges and and the lake views almost are worth the ride alone. We will definitely be back for another ride.

We reserved the 9am ride and it was very cold. We brought blankets and hot coffee. Conductors were very informative. Scenery was absolutely breath taking. Extremely relaxing. 1 hour stop was along the tracks with not much to do with the time given. Lunch was rushed with a mediocre bbq sandwich which was overpriced at a food truck located along a park. We didn't purchase the bag lunches. Other than that, the trip was a great experience. We rode in the open air caboose which allowed for the best pictures.

Magical ride through the mountains! We took the Tuskegee Expedition on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, and it was an unforgettable experience — especially with the beautiful Christmas decorations! From the moment we arrived, everything felt festive and well-organized. The staff was cheerful, helpful, and really added to the holiday spirit. 🎅🏼🎁 The train itself was cozy and clean, with twinkling lights, garlands, and Christmas music playing softly in the background. The scenic ride through the Smokies was breathtaking — we even spotted some snow-dusted peaks! ❄️🚂 Snacks and drinks were a nice touch, and the narration about the area’s history made the trip even more enjoyable. It’s the perfect mix of holiday magic and mountain charm — great for couples, families, or anyone who loves a good Christmas experience. We’d absolutely do it again next year! 🌟❤️

We did the Sunday, 10-19-2026, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Train Ride in an Open Car from Bryson City, NC. Train ride and Great Smoky Mountains were awesome and beautiful. The uncooked cheesy ham and potatoes were nasty. The uncooked biscuits were awful. The fruit cup they bought at the local grocery story is what you feed kids. Overall the food was absolutely horrible and an extreme disappointment. If we had a do over, we would NOT have bought tickets in a car that included their nasty “fancy” food but instead bought tickets in a car that did NOT include food but we would have brought our own food or bought the box lunch of sandwich and chips. Surely they could not screw that up. Plus if cold, most of those type of sandwiches are served cold. I thought the stop toward the end at their food truck was just for them to make money since most people threw away the nasty food and had to buy food at their food truck. The stop to me was very very bad PR - public relations and corporate greed. It really put a bad light on the overall experience. Overall the nasty food and their stop for more money in their pockets did not overshadow too much the awesome beautiful train ride and the Great Smoky Mountains. We would do again, but differently.

This museum offers a very large collection of historical fly fishing equipment and informative exhibits. It's completely free to enter, and it is attached to the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium, which is also free.

We really enjoyed the Fly Fishing Museum. It was fascinating to see all the different flies and read about fly fishing in this area. When we were there, they had a scavenger hunt for children in the aquarium as well as the fly museum. After the children found all the items on the list, the curator awarded each child with a small prize.

We checked out Bryson City's aquarium and the fly fishing museum, there is no entrance fee, just donations, we saw the whole thing in about 45 mins and dogs are allowed in!

I was pleasantly surprised and so happy we stopped in. I'd never seen a real life hellbender, so that was awesome. Great free activity and great for kids. I completed the scavenger hunt but they didn't give me a prize but it's okay because I still had fun! 😂😂😂 If you are around Bryson City, this a great trip and just a good experience to have. I'll be back with my little ones so they can enjoy it too!

I found this place while researching things to do in our way from Atlanta to Pigeon Forge. My husband fly fishes and he enjoyed it thoroughly.

Great collection of Southern Appalachian Fly Fishing history. I can't wait to see the expansion of the aquarium and even more historical information of a great pass time.

Great little spot while in the area! Free entry. Donations accepted.

Mark and his lovely wife, Joanie are the best guides. This was my second tour with them and I could not imagine using any other company. Mark is an experienced guide and able to tell the history of the area and identify different plants and animals along the way which adds to the complete experience. The Bigfoot and breweries tour was great. We were able to identify different tell tale evidence all while getting a good hike in. The breweries afterward offered not only good beer but an opportunity to get to know Mark and Joanie a little better.

What a wonderful day we had with Mark and JJ! Started out with waterfalls, and loved learning bits of history along the way. We’ve seen the waterfalls, but never from the vantage points that Mark showed us. Gave us a new appreciation, and some great pictures. Enjoyed the wineries, each completely different and just beautiful! We laughed and just had a great time. I highly recommend Carolina Bound Adventures and hope to book again soon.

My partner and I snuck in a last minute SUP adventure while we were visiting the Smokies. Mark booked us the morning of and made it super easy by meeting us at the lake with all of the gear we needed. The equipment was in great shape (we especially appreciated the rigid SUPs) and we really enjoyed how quiet the area we dropped in was. We’d absolutely book another adventure with Carolina Bound Adventures.

Our Bigfoot and Breweries Expedition by Carolina Bound Adventures was exactly the fun experience we were looking for! We traveled from Chicago specifically for this excursion and they delivered. Our entire group was impressed not only with the Bigfoot 'signs' but also the stories of the local history and the in depth knowledge along the hike. Mark and Sarah were a wealth of knowledge and a ton of fun. We would all highly recommend!

What a great way to end celebrating my son’s 21st birthday! We were met right on time with the kayaks. The equipment was clean and in good shape and any needed extras were covered. Great day on Lake Fontana, would definitely book another outdoor adventure with Carolina Bound Adventures ! Mark also shared some knowledge of the lakes history which only added to our kayaking experience.

To celebrate our anniversary, we chose to do Mountain Biking Adventure Tour. This experience was filled with fun and history. We loved biking the mountain and seeing the scenery. We appreciate our guide, Mark's, knowledge about the area. He made sure to be mindful of the biking pace and taking breaks as needed. Mark also provided us with suggestions of what to do in the area afterwards, which we took and added into our day. If you love biking and being outdoors, this is a great experience to add to your adventures of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Concierge-level service, outstanding knowledge of the history and unique features of the National Park, National Forests, trails, and more. Frame-worthy photography skills! But most importantly, Carolina Bound’s staff are warm, friendly, experts guides for adventures in and around Bryson City. We booked two separate kayak paddles on Fontana Lake, the first a sunset paddle and the second an early morning paddle. The view from the water offers stunning panoramas of the surrounding forest and mountains. The lake was quiet and serene and the fish literally jumped out of the water just about everywhere we paddled. We even caught a glimpse of an eagle! We can’t thank Mark & JJ enough for the memories that will last us a lifetime and we look forward to our next adventure with CB!

One of the best experiences I have had for local dining. It was super busy, we missed breakfast, due to the wait, and it did not matter. Lunch was awesome. The food tasted good, sweet tea was good, the staff friendly offering to display the kids artwork. I would highly recommend you stop in. The desserts looked amazing too.

We must have arrived at the perfect time! We were seated immediately, and helped quickly. The service at Everett Street Diner is amazing! Shortly after we were there, the line was forming out front! The menu is exactly what you would expect from a diner - we were not disappointed. I got the Diner's Famous Biscuits n' Gravy Combo. The bacon was crispy, just how I like it; the grits were nice and creamy; the biscuits and gravy were delicious. My only critique of the food is that it could use a little more seasoning. My wife got the French Toast Combo. The French toast was perfectly cooked. She also got the hot chocolate, which was perfect for a chilly day like today! If you're looking for diner food and atmosphere, you need to try Every Street Diner.

This place is 10/5 stars! From the older guy greeting and talking to everyone like we're all old friends, to the super friendly and attentive server, such kindness was unmatched even with how busy they were. The food was absolutely amazing. The best tasting food during our whole week long Bryson City trip. The sweet tea was perfect. I recommend the fajita omelet for breakfast. It was fantastic. Prices were very reasonable. I highly recommend this as a must stop for anyone visiting Bryson City.

You just know when a place does breakfast right — and this is one of them. From the minute you walk in, it’s clear this is more than a diner. The owner (Mike) personally greets guests, checks on tables, and works the room like it’s his second home. Watched him hang a little girl’s drawing on the wall, chat with a table of EMS workers, and genuinely care about the people there. That tells you everything. Food was excellent across the board — homemade, hot, and flavorful. Pancakes, biscuits and gravy, grits, eggs — all done right. Nothing over the top, just a rock-solid breakfast cooked by a team that clearly takes pride in it. If you’re anywhere near Bryson City, this is the breakfast stop. Strong local feel, great food, and the kind of place that leaves you in a better mood than when you walked in.

Arrived about 9 for breakfast and there was a line out the street. But wait was only about 15 min and week worth it. Very generous servings, cooked to perfection. Gracious, attentive staff. Fair prices. Interesting and attractive local-type decor.

Folks this place is genuine. I've eaten there twice during my travels to the Great Smokey Mountains and the food, service and interaction with the owner and employees has always been great. Both visits there I've taken my traveling friends with me and they've always raved about the food and service and friendliness of the staff. My first visit there was a bit on the chilly side and there was a good size line to get in and the owner rolled out a huge stand up propane heater for everyone to get warmed up. I'm from Kentucky so I know good southern food and they serve some of the best. If you ever get to Bryson City for some reason give this place a try. I'm sure you'll love it.

This place was disappointing. Our food took 45 mins to come out, despite just ordering two sandwiches and the place not being that crowded. Once it came out, my patty melt had the most pitiful burger patty that was overcooked and less than half of the size of the bread. When I mentioned it to the server, she said that is just how they come. I was very disappointed in our experience. Probably won’t be returning.

I scream I went from one extreme to another. Started with a plain waffle cone filled with and excellent Black Cherry Icecream Topped with a Magical Toasted Coconut.. Down side is it's gonna run you about $8 like any good Icecream.. It's worth it.

Classic stop-in spot if you’re walking through town. Milkshake hit the spot – rich and smooth without being over-the-top sweet. 🍫 The chocolate itself? Pretty average, especially if you’re coming in with high expectations. It’s a candy case you’ve seen a dozen times, but still fun to browse and grab a few treats for the road. Good energy inside, staff was nice, and the whole space feels like a working kitchen — love seeing the equipment and process. Definitely worth a few minutes if you’re already in town — and especially if you’re traveling with kids or sweet tooths.

We tried a few waffle cones of ice cream and sat on their street benches and enjoyed the beautiful area

What a great place to stop by to satisfy ones sweet tooth. The ice creams were creamy and refreshing, but not too soft to the point of melting in your hand perfect for a warm day. The dipped waffle cones were also top notch. If you're ever walking the strip of central Bryson and crave something sweet this is the place to go!

Gem of a place that makes you want to explore all the shelves and nooks for delightful surprises. The decor, the treats, the colors, the textures, etc all offer that magical old world quality that boosts your mood. In the end I just got the chocolate milkshake, which hit the spot on a hot summer day.

I love this place! I've visited a few times and the service is really great, chocolates are delicious and fresh, and there is so much variety. My favorites are turtle pretzel sticks, peanut butter fudge, chocolate cashew cluster, cinnamon sugar bark, and their AMAZING peanut butter cups. 10/10 - highly recommend!

My favorite place in Bryson City. They sell handmade authentic chocolate. The moonshine cherries were amazing. The chocolate pretzels, bark, buckeyes, truffles, clusters, and their ice cream is amazing. They even have Harry Potter candies from the books.

Great brewery in downtown Bryson City. Amazing location with amazing service on both levels. The rooftop bar is a must visit and the service was impeccable. The beers were probably our favorite of the trip. And the peach wine slushy was top tier. 10/10 would recommend. Visit here next time you're in the area

The secret to this place is they have small downstairs bar that is full with locals. Do not be discouraged. Walk past that. They have a larger and way cool bar upstairs. They have a rooftop view of downtown. Emily and John are friendly bartenders. Their food truck, The Rice Wagon is a very high rated food truck. Due to stairs, this place is not dog friendly. They do flights. They also do 5oz pours.

Great brewery in downtown Bryson City. The beer selection offers a variety of great choices, perfect for any beer lover. There are multiple seating areas, so finding a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy your drink is never a problem. Just outside the brewery, there’s a food truck serving up some delicious options making it an ideal stop for both drinks and a bite to eat.

Everytime we visit Bryson City we love coming here. Great beer selection and quite tasty, all kinds of styles for all palates. They even have wine, prosecco, NA drinks. There is a permanent food truck on site called the Rice Wagon, we ate there and the food was yummy. This place has a small bar downstairs with about 10 seats, but go upstairs and there is more bar seating and a patio that overlooks the Main Street, so fun people watching. One sad thing, last time we where here we could view the river, now someone has developed the property next door and blocked the view. Maybe someone could do a cool mural that would hide the plywood and create a nice vibe. John and Emily were the best, loved chatting with them and they gave us great recommendations for things to do and places to go. Live music, check their schedule for events.

Tasted one of their beers at the NOC, Hazel Creek Blone and really enjoyed it. Stopped in as we were staying in Bryson City. Tried a wheat beer Smoke Over Lublin which had a nice smoky flavor that I enjoyed. Also had Elk Watch a dry stout that was very good as well. Loved sitting in the rooftop patio. Had great weather and enjoyed watching the folks walk up and down the Main Street. Right next to the Rice Wagon which smelled great so plenty of food options near the brewery.

The lady behind the bar is awesome. The place doesn't serve food, so you can go to the back food truck and get food to bring in or eat out. As long as you stay in the gravel area, you may bring your beer out with you. Their hazy IPA is delicious. The food at the Hawaiian Rice Food Truck is amazing. I tried something that I didn't even understand all the ingredients, and I'm glad I did! It was a delicious breaded chicken over rice with a real nice sauce and a side of purple slaw. My husband and I enjoyed every bite and every sip!

★★★☆☆ – It’s Fine Tried the lager here—it’s… fine. Crisp and cold, which is nice on a hot day, but nothing that really stood out. Mild flavor, low bitterness, and a slightly watery finish. Not off-putting, just kind of forgettable. It does the job if you’re looking for something easy to drink, but don’t expect to be wowed. Good enough for one pint, probably wouldn’t go back just for this.

I was wary about stopping at The Rice Wagon for a Sunday afternoon lunch because of reviews mentioning bad service, but we visited anyway after hiking the falls along Deep Creek. The guy taking our order was nice and answered hubby's question about most popular menu items. We got the garlic chicken, kalua pork and hurricane chicken. I subbed the macaroni salad for Asian slaw. The garlic chicken was very tasty and definitely garlicky. I didn't like that some of the chicken pieces were stringy. Hubby said the pork was moist and flavorful. We both agreed the hurricane chicken was by far the best, and wished we'd ordered some to go. The sides were good. We'd ordered our plates and headed to the upstairs bar in the brewery to grab a table and try some drinks, but there were tables open at the food truck. Hubby went back down to pick up our food when he buzzer went off.

The food was delicious! We came up from Walhalla, SC to ride the #GSMR and wanted something different for dinner before the long ride home. Love supporting FoodTrucks so we did a Google search and found “The Rice Wagon” My son had the KaluPork My wife got the Chicken Katsu I got the Yellowfin ahi tuna All of it was so tasty and we ate in the Mountain Layers Brewery great atmosphere upstairs. We will definitely be back to eat after our next trail ride 5⭐️for The Rice Wagon ❤️

My Husband and I ate here on our honeymoon to Bryson City! We got the combo plate and had the Garlic Chicken along with the Loco Moco! The combo came with both entrees, 2 scoops of rice and Macaroni Salad a ton of food for 2 people to share. The flavors of everything were phenomenal, and went so well together!! We will definitely be stopping in one more time before we go home! All in all we give them a 100/10!

This food truck is part of Mountain Layers brewery, so you can take your food inside to eat. They have a few outside tables if you don't want to go into the brewery. It was highly recommended by the staff at ML. We went for a late lunch and did not want a massive amount of food. Thank you for offering the mini plate which comes with your choice of protein, rice and Mac salad. Just enough food and we ordered 2 different things so we could try different items. We got the garlic chicken and chicken katsu, both were good. I liked the garlic chicken best. Great service, they give you a buzzer so you can go back to your friends and beer while waiting. My only thought is I'd rather not have 2 carbs for my sides, but the Mac salad was so good.

Absolutely incredible gem tucked in the mountains. My partner and I shared combo plates to try 4 different meats and every single dish was delicious. A must stop if you’re in the area.

Amazing flavor! I live in Alabama went to a long weekend vacation with my husband to the mountains, we casually found the place when looking for food. So glad we ended eating here! I ordered the chicken katsu & was delicious (reminds me to the one I had in Japan, very authentic flavor) I will go back next time we visit the area!

The food truck tasted like authentic Hawaiian food. We ordered the shoyu chicken, chicken kastu, hula burger but substituted the meat for tuna, and mac salad/rice. Wonderful choice for lunch!

The atmosphere and service were pretty good and above average, nothing exceptional. The food was incredibly disappointing. The wings were soggy/not crispy (though the sauce was good). The pizza was advertised as having chicken/tomatoes on the one and the other was advertised as a Philly cheese steak pizza with steak, peppers, onions. Both pizzas were extremely greasy and completely lacking toppings. They were just more expensive cheese pizzas. Not worth it

This is our third visit to Anthony's and we've always been pleases. The food is good, the server was very good and attentive. The problem is a bogus surcharge for credit card when none was used. The young hostess shrugged her shoulders when asked about this. Receipt (pictured) indicates a discount applied for cash. When change was returned the CC fee was not refunded. In fact, even the change provided was not correct. Often when an invoice is a few pennies over a round dollar the establishment rounds back which is their choice. The returned small change was not provided as they rounded up charging me more, that was not MY choice. Typically, I'm a extremely generous tipper. Not today, this event leaves a sour taste following an otherwise good meal. Food here is recommended but watch the invoice!!! Sorry we won't be back.

We stopped in Bryson City for lunch and found Anthony’s. It was a beautiful fall day as we sat outside and enjoyed the atmosphere and train station. We had the calzone and a fried chicken sandwich. The calzone was fantastic with amazing dough. The fried chicken sandwich was less than average. The waiter was pleasantly helpful.

Service was good. The burger and fries were good. The spaghetti and meatballs was just ok. Cool spot to eat if you want to watch the train passing.

Food was a bit pricey, but all was great. I loved the decor inside and is close to the train tracks if you like watching trains.

We were in the mood for pizza so we tried Anthony's while in town. The cocktails were really good. The goat cheese appetizer was different and tasty. The pizza was good but could have been hotter. By the time we got to our second slice, it was cool. Still tasted good but no one likes cold pizza. I would try the place again. Service was attentive and friendly!

Anthony’s has been our go to stop for years when coming to the Polar Express with our children. Today made the last time I will be there!!! Our service was horrible, food was cold, and couldn’t even get a refill on drinks! First thing when we were sat at our table it took forever for our waitress to take our order. She kept bypassing us after bringing our drinks in a very fast walk not making eye contact. After our food arrived she disappeared. You could see her running everywhere but avoiding our table still. Food was very cold and we were missing items. I finally had to ask another waitress for our waitress that we were out of drinks. Finally ours shows up and when we complain about our food and drinks she rolls her eyes and storms off. Then brings back the wrong drinks. She never offered to compensate us for the food. After waiting forever on our tickets we continued to get horrible service and I asked for a manager. Come to find out she is the manager! Explaining the issues I had as well as my entire party of 9 she argued with me and continued to have an attitude! It went as far as having to get the waitress to the table to be on my side that I had asked for refills because she disappeared. The manager threw $15 at me to cover the service charge we had while saying “I only make $2 an hour, you go ahead and don’t tip me I don’t care.” Very unprofessional! Manager or not providing service we should have never been treated so poorly. I WILL NOT BE BACK!

At first, I was a tish worried. Maybe I should backtrack a bit—Jimmy Mac’s is tucked inside a cool old mountain-town building, with all the charm you’d hope for. Dark wood, quirky chairs, that lived-in kind of oldness that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled onto a local gem. They were out of a few things—baked potatoes, coleslaw—and for a minute, I wondered if we’d made the right call. But that worry vanished the second our food hit the table. My blackened trout was delightful—perfectly seasoned, cooked just right, and the fresh veggies on the side were surprisingly delectable. And those onion rings? Exactly what onion rings should be. My husband’s burger and fries were also top-tier—juicy, flavorful, with fries that actually made you stop and appreciate a potato. And then there was our waitress. Hands down, one of my favorites in a long while. Fun, quirky, totally dialed in. She made the whole meal better just by being herself. Jimmy Mac’s might run out of coleslaw sometimes, but they’re not short on charm, flavor, or hospitality. I’d come back in a heartbeat.

A great restaurant where throwback diner meets fine dining. The grilled trout was excellent. The mixed vegetables side was one of the best ever; stewed and well seasoned. My spouse had the crab cakes which were also very good!

So delicious! Their 'Merica French toast is some of the best ever with an incredible homemade cream cheese and fruit. My bacon was cooked exactly how I ordered it.

Checked out Jimmy Mac's for breakfast. They just opened about 2 months ago. The food was great. Biscuits and gravy were amazing. Omelette was really good, I added some sausage gravy to it. Kids love the French toast and pancakes. Scrambled eggs were not a big hit but not a big deal.

Honestly, the only good thing I can say is the staff was friendly. What a JOKE!! My husband ordered the S.O.S platters ($22+) with FF and slaw. There were 4 shrimp, 3 scallops, and 3 oysters. There were just as many FF as seafood. We have never seen a seafood plate so sorry. He said the oysters in a can are bigger and better than what he was given. Yet, I ordered buffalo chicken plate and got 1/2 a chicken? It makes no sense! Very frustrated and extremely disappointed since this is the first I have eaten there and had heard great reviews. We are so disappointed at this point, I don’t believe we would try it again nor recommend.

I have not eaten here in a few years because usually there’s a wait. Since we were later than the usual lunchtime, we were able to be seated right away. The local trout was delicious, as well as my onion rings, which were lightly battered in house… The best that I have had! You go here for home cooking, and that’s what you get… Or what you should expect 😋

I absolutely loved dining here. It was a last minute decision and was incredibly happy we stumbled upon this place. The New Orleans chicken with the loaded mashed potato’s was VERY good. Nice portion size as well. Will be coming back.

Let's talk apple fritters. We were waiting a table at Everett diner next door. We went next door to honey bear got some coffee and apple fritters. The fritter was gigantic, can easily feed 3. It's nice that the glaze isn't overwhelming, it's just right. The breading itself is not too sweet, the apples were caramelized before it was fried. It was not slapped together like some I've had. It was purposefully made. It was not overly sweet, good chewy texture, with a hint of sweetness, it was heavenly. The coffee is excellent, it's nice that it's from a local roaster. The coffee is fresh, not some watered down swill. I will be back next time I'm in town

This is now one of my favorite businesses in town. Really fun atmosphere, always cool in the summer and toasty in the winter, the staff was so friendly to me and all my kids. I came here with my mom, with my sister, with some out-of-town friends, and with my whole family, and every experience was fun and comfortable with plenty of seating, even during peak tourism season. The menu is vast, with a little bit of something for everyone. My friends got coffee (one hot, one iced) and said it was excellent, my kids and I got ice cream (TRY THE PURPLE DAZE FLAVOR!!) which was also excellent, and I’ve had friends who have tried their baked goods and loved them as well. I also appreciate that they have clean bathrooms and free water! I only wish this place existed when I was growing up in Bryson City! <3

Nice little shop we found during the 4th of July festival. Staff is super friendly and the snack choices were top shelf. Would definitely recommend it to friends and family visiting the area.

Went by on a Saturday afternoon for coffee and a cupcake. Both were really good. Bought a pound of coffee and it was so good at the cabin. Gets a little loud and bathrooms were not working.

My family and I are from Tampa, Florida. We have visited Bryson City for vacation twice in 2024 and now 2025. All 3 times we swing by Honey Bear’s Bakery for the Apple fritter!!! Unfortunately this might be the last time we go by there since we heard that the apple fritter might be going away🙁 hopefully that doesn’t change… Thanks, the Rivers Family

The packaging for the cupcakes is absolutely horrible. The cupcakes were good, accept for the fact that the cupcake holders were so shallow that all of the cupcakes fell all over the place in the box as we went up the windy roads and got totally ruined which was extremely upsetting especially because for six cupcake and two large teas I was paying over 40 bucks. Every single cupcake fell out of its holder despite the box staying in the same place in the car. Kind of ruined my day.

This place has great cupcakes and yummy coffee. I would definitely recommend going and trying the blueberry cupcake... So good. Very nice people that run this place and make all kinds of goodies fresh daily. Go in the morning for the best selection on cupcakes. We always get 6 and take them home. You won't be disappointed.

Although the winter time is slow here and we are from NC, the wildlife is similar. But the local aquarium shows people the lives that live and flow in the rivers of North Carolina and Appalachia. The staff was friendly, and there was a scavenger hunt for kids. Not little kids, perhaps, but the reward at the end is a pretty cool sticker. It helps support the preservation of wildlife.

An amazing little aquarium with no entrance fee! While it's very small, it offers a rare opportunity to see hellbender salamanders! It's also adjacent to the Appalachian Fly Fishing Museum, which is also free.

A must-see while visiting Bryson City. If you’re into fish or other pretty rare species, this is the place for you. The ladies at the front entrance were super kind and had a big dobson fly on display. We nerded out for a while! Make sure you PURCHASE OR DONATE as there is no admission fee.

Cute little one stop aquarium and fly fishing museum. The volunteer staff are very sweet, and the scavenger hunt is a lot of fun for the little bit it of space they have. Great for kids of all ages, and men will love the fly fishing museum. They accept donations and deserve them. FREE admission makes this a can't miss stop for tourist and visiting families. The parking lot is easy to use but hard to find.... totally worth the drive or walk around. We'll do it again soon.

This was the perfect stop during our trip! Educational, unique, and engaging! Entry was free but I strongly encourage leaving a donation to support their education based adventure!!

Free and entertaining is all you need to know to spend some time here. Staff was super nice and the displays were awesome. It is small but if it was any bigger it wouldn’t be free.

A nice quick stop! This is a very small place (that is also free) so don’t come expecting a large aquarium! For being such a small town it is very well maintained and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. There is a small gift shop with some handmade goods that are very cute, also their is a place to donate some money which is suggested as it is free! Just a heads up that there are some cats that do wander around and inside this building if anyone in your group has allergies!

Came here in the off-season and needed something to do. It was a great little park. Evidently, there is a pool and waterpark, skate park, courts, and that disco golf game.

Just a delightful scenery with a creek in the background. And just a short walk to a waterfall

Owner super friendly and staff is too. Cool beach entrance. Deepest side is 8 ft. There's a kid pool and a splash pad. The splash pad though I think they are working on it cuz I have yet to see it in action 🎬 You'll come across some entitled Karen's who think little kids should know not to jump in the water by them and they throw a fit because apparently paying $5 to get in on the weekend entitles them to not have people in their personal space and we all should know her name was engraved in a 5 foot circumference around her everywhere she goes. 🤣 next time I'll sit on her cuz I too paid $5 too😂

* the playground needs major.updating, needs shade. Would love a smaller.kids play area, plenty of room. And a walking trike track around the playground would.be nice. There's missing swings. And I know some toys were missing. Hopefully the metal car is painted returned with shade. It needs more mulch. Definitely need $ put into the rec park.more. Also why is there not a bathroom open anymore? Before the pool was updated there was a bathroom you could access. There needs to be a bathroom by a playground with little children. We love the pool. We get the family pool pass, $150. There's a lot of tables, my kids love the pool. It's clean. I wish bathrooms would be updated though. The pool was updated and is really nice. You can walk into it like a beach, it slowly gets deeper. This is great for littles. There's still a smaller pool for little ones. There are water feature but hasn't been working this year (2023) Playground is nice as well, I do wish more playgrounds would put more toddler play areas and more shade. But it's still very nice and a lot of fun. There's also a walking trail, ball fields, disc golf, a skate park, and small indoor gym (across the road). There's a smaller playground above the pool, it really needs to be updated with more features added. And there's a covered area up there that you can rent out for the day. It's really nice, has two bathrooms, fireplaces and electricity. You can also rent the covered picnic area at the playground for the day, you just don't get the playground fully to yourself. These are great options for parties. You can also rent the pool for about $150 I believe for private pool parties. You get it for a couple of hours in the evening and it's a lot of fun. The recpark also offers several sports throughout the year including football, flag, football, cheerleading, t-ball, baseball, softball, basketball.

On the website it says they’re open 8 to 8 but when we got there at 5:30 they were closed pls fix this.

Always clean and fun park for kids and parents

Our family uses the pavilion every year for our Maney family reunion. It's always great there.

We waded with Johnny and did a float trip with Dawson. Caught trout both days. Guides were on it and knowledgeable. Learned a lot and had a blast. I just found fly fishing and am not a pro by any means. They made it comfortable and fun. Great guides and neat shop to check out as well. Beautiful rivers to fish. I’ll definitely be back.

I just returned from the best float fishing trips I’ve ever taken. Our guide, Colton, knew the river and every great trout hole in it. He’s also totally versed on other fishing and the area in general. Super guy. I caught 20+ trout (Rainbows/ Browns) in less than 4 hours. Outstanding.

We’ve been to the Smokies many times but have never fished there. It was my wife’s first time trying. Our guid in June was Johnny and he was great. Ask for him. We caught several small rainbows in the Pigeon. It was a 5 hour trip which was a great value with lunch. Besides for the beautiful mountain scenery this was the favorite activity of the weekend trip. Great job!

We had a 5 hour float trip with Kevin! He was very knowledgeable and great to work with! Great outfitter and great guide. We hope to be back next spring and will definitely ask for Kevin!

I recently surprised my husband with a 5-hour float trip with Fly Fishing the Smokies in Bryson City. Our guide, Colton, was knowledgable, safety-minded, patient, fun and had a great sense of humor. Literally, everything you could want in a guide. It was a cold and exceptionally windy day, but we still managed to bag 29 rainbow and brown trout so you could say we didn't go fishin' - we went catchin'! I recommend this fly shop and guide service 100%.

They hooked us up! Awesome guys. They made sure each kid caught a fish. One of them (maybe not the youngest kid but he had never been fly fishing) caught 10!

Fred was an excellent resource for me as I traveled thru the area. He was very knowledgeable, I picked up a license and flies here. They are well equipped with waders, rods, everything you may need!

Great team of actors and actresses for any play. We just finished enjoying the radio version of "It's a wonderful life" and can't wait for the next show. Great value and a good time for all. I hope you enjoy the theater as much as we do. Pleaae support our local artists.

Small theater group whos performances are anything but small! Absolutely a truly amazing experience! I want to be there every new performance! And at the low admission price, I can! This is something everyone should experience! These people work extremely hard to give you amazing performances and they are very successful!! Watch for shows amd showtimes! Then don't miss it! You won't regret it!

Very quaint place, great staff and great acoustics. Air had to be turned off before play due to sound of ac drowning out actors voices. With air off the acoustics were so good that the actors did not have mics on.

Great community theater in a historical cinema building (built about 1950). Very passionate and talented people on and off stage. The concessions are delicious, homemade and cheap.

Great place

Small group of vendors, but some lovely things. Also, political signs, it'd be nice to not have to see that at an arts market, but it's a free country!

The locals/vendors are great.

Great fresh produce, jarred salsa, pickles, relishes, jams and jellies by Darnell Farms. There soft serve Dream Whip with toppings is delicious. They have bouncy houses, stage for live performances and a tented eating area to enjoy fresh cooked meat, etc. Stop by. You won't be disappointed. Free parking and restrooms.

I absolutely love this place. There is a special feel to this family farm. Anytime I venture to Bryson City, I make a special trip out there. The staff is friendly, informative and kind. Whether it’s a veggie run , vending or just need a little time to relax; this is a great place to be! Don’t forget to be kind, respectful and polite when you’re there. I love Captain Jer, Theo the cat and the Darnell family. When the world gets overwhelming..get off your phone and go touch the grass at Darnell Farms!

Wonderful place to visit, it's a must if you're in the area and looking for some time to kill, shopped here for fresh fruits and veggies to stock up our rental kitchen. We just had to order the hyped delicious dole whips and dubai strawberry cups. Kids got to run around and have fun on the plentiful playground equipment after eating. It is such chill spot right on the river to take in beautiful views and relax after shopping.

This farm was awesome. We usually go to a local farm (45min) which is ok. This was next level in terms of scenery, quality of pumpkins and other produce, and other amenities. Clean restrooms, friendly staff, and the corn maze was 10/10. Would love to come back next year!

This place is very cool and there is so much to see and do at the farm. There is so much amazing food and treats for everyone. Awesome family environment and you will enjoy the day, the Hayride and the entire fun experience. You can't go wrong checking this out.

We had so much fun! Plenty to do without spending any money but the little store was great and the pumpkin soft serve was amazing. Very toddler friendly and just overall a great time.

Darnell Farms is the place where you will find the locals shopping for the best fresh produce and canned goods. Today they are getting ready for the Christmas holidays and live Christmas trees are already on display. Live music, check their schedule for events. There is a lot to see and do here. Plan on spending at least an hour when you come out. Plenty of free parking.