This Short Drive is a Trip Worth Making
A long time ago, the Cherokee Indian Nation covered 135,000 square miles, including portions of Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Today, the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina, also known as the Qualla Boundary, encompasses just 56,000 acres (approximately 88 square miles), high up in the Appalachian Mountains, along the southern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
For visitors to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Cherokee is just a short one-hour drive away on Route 441. It’s a trip well worth making. The historical attractions are fabulous, giving a rich overview of the Cherokee history and culture. Their multitude of shops offer everything from Indian souvenirs to first-class Indian art and handmade Cherokee crafts. Cherokee also has great fun activities for kids, while many adults head straight to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino to play.
A Lot of History
The Cherokee history is the story of a proud nation, a talented people, a rich culture and a sad sequence of betrayal and ethnic cleansing. Several cultural attractions explore these different aspects of their heritage.
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, is a state-of-the art, interactive museum whose exhibits span 10,000 years. Visitors walk through “time zones” from prehistory through modern times. The Oconaluftee Indian Village re-creates a traditional 18th-century Cherokee village, where visitors see live craft demonstrations. The highly acclaimed Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama begins with the arrival of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and concludes with the infamous “Trail of Tears.” The cultural exhibits at the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual and the Cherokee Heritage Museum and Gallery provide additional insight into Cherokee’s heritage.
A Lot of Fun
Families have many fun activities to choose from in Cherokee, ranging from the amusement park Santa’s Land Family Theme Park & Zoo to the rides at Cherokee Fun Park. Other popular attractions include the Smoky Mountain Gold & Ruby Mine, Chief Saunooke’s Trading Post and Bear Park, the Cherokee Bear Zoo, Chief Henry’s Golf and Games and the Smoky Mountain Jubilee Theater. Cherokee also has many outdoor activities to enjoy: trout fishing, tubing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, even a chairlift up into the mountains.
The most popular attraction for adults is, of course, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, which is open 24 hours a day. Visitors will find over 60,000 square feet loaded with 3,000 video games at which to try their luck, as well as three great restaurants. There’s an activities room for older kids and childcare services for younger children.
For more information, including hours of oper- ation and special events, visitors are invited to stop at the Cherokee Visitor Center, call 1-800-438-1601 or visit online at www.cherokee-nc.com. |
