You’ve booked your travel. You’ve got the PERFECT vacation rental. Now, what do you do? Here’s 25 things to do in Bryson City, NC! GO!
Bryson City, NC is a hidden gem located smack in the middle of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This quaint “Hallmark town” has been the best kept secret of The Smokies for years. If you’re looking for a place to experience awe-inspiring nature that will give you the perfect reset, this is it.
We’re Bryson City locals and here’s a list of 25 things to do in this magical mountain town. For the last three years, we’ve been living and exploring this area (while chronicling our journey on Youtube). We specifically chose this place to move our lives to because we think it’s truly special. We also want people to experience its magic in the hopes it will do for them what it did for us, so we opened two vacation rentals 1 minute from downtown and 5 minutes to many of the hikes and attractions below.
25 things to do in Bryson City, NC
1. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
All aboard! Easily one of the biggest attractions in town, the steam train takes folks down the Nantahala river for a scenic drive making stops at the Nantahala Outdoor Center or Dillsboro so passengers can soak in more sights on foot and stretch their legs.
Named “One of the Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, the NOC is a highly rated vacation destination and training site for top Olympians and aspiring paddlers! You can try a number of water sports here, shop for outdoor gear or take a number of trails (including the AT)! Also a great spot for lunch or a BYOB picnic 😉
3. Deep Creek
Deep Creek is Bryson City’s treasure. You can see beautiful waterfalls, take a number of hikes (of all levels), go biking, camping, have a family picnic and more!
This is a unique site with an interesting history. The tunnel runs 6 miles into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park seemingly leading, well, nowhere. There’s a terrific hike once you cross the tunnel and plenty of opportunities for photos along the scenic drive there!
Clingmans dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains! This popular destination is the ultimate photo opp promising travelers the most stunning 360 views of these special mountains.
This second-generation family run local farm has all the small town charm! With swing sets and playgrounds for kids, picnic tables for families to enjoy and seasonal activities, like strawberry picking and hay rides, this is a perfect stop for a fun-filled family day. Also, you can grab one of their famous “Dream Whips” (just try one, trust us) and pick up a few locally farmed foods for a sustainable dinner at home.
Queue the Cheers theme song everybody, this is our hometown gathering place! BCO is a community hub for all the locals, an outdoor shop, a taproom and an epic lunch spot (with a rotating food truck available every day of the week). We highly recommend stopping by for beer or lunch and picking up a souvenir to remember your travels by!
An adorable coffee shop with delicious baked goods and a big window view of downtown! This is one of our favorite places to grab coffee or a snack while catching our breath or getting some work done.
A local brewery with delicious craft bear brewed right here (on tap!) with a rooftop… need we say more? Enjoy a local pint with 360 views of downtown and the mountains. Bonus: you have a Hawaiin food truck downstairs for all your delicious snacking needs!
Easily our best restaurant in town! Definitely save one dinner for this delicious spot and #treatyourself to a hearty home-cooked meal.
Hmmm…. how to describe this eclectic boutique? This special shop is part art studio for local artist Ashley Hackshaw and part store. Her uniquely curated items include art supplies, books and an assortment of interesting gifts to take home and remember your visit by!
12. Go see the elk!
Don’t leave Bryson City without checking out the elk! These majestic creatures tend to gather around the earlier morning or late evening hours in Cherokee, a 20 minute drive from town.
13. Mountain Perks Coffee Shop
Mountain Perks is our resident hippie coffee shop. The coffee, bagels and baked goods are amazing, the staff is super friendly (and they rock some epic tie-dye shirts!) and you’ve got a front row seat to the Smoky Mountain Railroad.
14. Go fly fishing!
Another famous thing to do in the area! Fisherman from all over the country travel to get a peaceful fish in our epic streams with stunning mountain views.
Sit back, relax and let the Nantahala river take you for a ride 😉
16. Soda Pops
You’ve got to visit this old-fashioned ice cream parlor, which was featured in Airbnb magazine! It’s truly a unique place kids and adults will love. And, yes, it’s totally photogenic!
Similar to Bryson City, Fontana Lake is known to be the Smoky Mountains’ best kept secret. You must see this gorgeous lake surrounded my mountains. There are a number of ways to enjoy it, from paddle baording, to kayaking, to renting a pontoon boat for the day!
Take a scenic drive and catch a trail on the famous Blue Ridge Parkway! This is a definite must do if you’re in town.
19. The Appalachian Trail (known as the AT)
The best section of the AT is here in The Smokies! We may be biased, but see for yourself 😉 catch a number of hikes along the AT right by town.
20. Kayaking and paddle boarding
Don’t miss out on either of these epic water sports we are known for! There are plenty of businesses in town that are affordable and will get you out on the water.
21. Self care spa day overlooking the mountains
Quite possibly the best part of any vacation is some pampering. There are a number of places nearby to call, but we definitely suggest reserving a soak in a tub overlooking the mountains! ENJOY!
Okay… you gotta do this and take some home for your friends. The ones you like the BEST. Our local Chocolate Shoppe makes fudge, ice cream, cookies and anything else you can think to dip in chocolate. All made right here in town!
23. Unplugged Pub
If you’re looking for a cocktail, some live music and a chill ambiance, definitely stop by Unplugged Pub!
24. Build a fire overlooking the mountains
We felt we needed to include some of the things you want to look for in a vacation rental! No trip to the mountains feels complete without building a fire overlooking the mountains! We’ve got an epic one available for all our guests 😉
25. Have a coffee moment in your vacation rental
Again… why come to the mountains if not to wake up and have a freshly brewed cup of coffee soaking in the mountain views?!
Stay with us on your next trip to The Smokies
We’d love to host you in one of our two hygge suites (pronounced hyoogah) designed with the Danish concept of conscious coziness in mind. Wake up in a warm apartment that feels remote yet is a 1 minute drive into downtown and a 5 minute drive to Deep Creek, The Road to Nowhere and other nearby hikes.
Psst… looking for a quickie all-in-one guide to Bryson City (Western North Carolina area)? Check out our one-page Bryson City travel guide! These are our favorite spots we’d recommend to friends and family.
Ps. We create weekly videos of life here in Bryson City and things to do in town and the surrounding Great Smoky Mountain area 😊 Subscribe to our channel for a weekly dose of life in the mountains.
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Great content! Keep up the good work!