Gia's Guidebook
Food scene
Cardinal Coffee
22 Needmore RdSmoothies, bagels, chocolate, locally made gifts, great coffee
Visit the hives on the self guided tour behind the building. Many local gifts including artisan cheese, jewelry. Mead tasting. The best bubbly mead ever. Call ahead for food truck info.
34 locals recommend
Wehrloom Honey
257 Willie Colvin RdVisit the hives on the self guided tour behind the building. Many local gifts including artisan cheese, jewelry. Mead tasting. The best bubbly mead ever. Call ahead for food truck info.
Great coffee, the Italian mama makes all the desserts and gelato from scratch!! Sit at the bar and watch the downtown bustle and the train go by.
29 locals recommend
La Dolce Vita Bakery
191 Everett StGreat coffee, the Italian mama makes all the desserts and gelato from scratch!! Sit at the bar and watch the downtown bustle and the train go by.
Very popular place at the edge of downtown Bryson City. Outdoor seating, local food menu. Arguably the best place to eat in town.
95 locals recommend
Nantahala Brewing Company
5 Deep Creek RdVery popular place at the edge of downtown Bryson City. Outdoor seating, local food menu. Arguably the best place to eat in town.
Local outfitter for hiking, kayaking, camping needs. Local food truck and tap beer.
57 locals recommend
Bryson City Outdoors
169 Main StLocal outfitter for hiking, kayaking, camping needs. Local food truck and tap beer.
Popular coffee shop/cafe with many gluten free options. Indoor/outdoor seating.
36 locals recommend
Mountain Perks
9 Depot StPopular coffee shop/cafe with many gluten free options. Indoor/outdoor seating.
Sightseeing
Fontana Lake
Beautiful place to rent a pontoon and explore
Hammock/ net playground for kids, open air bar and restaurants on river, gift shop, hiking, gravel beach and picnic area
446 locals recommend
Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 U.S. Highway 19Hammock/ net playground for kids, open air bar and restaurants on river, gift shop, hiking, gravel beach and picnic area
Relaxing, scenic train ride for all ages. Steam train is amazing. Busy, book ahead!
306 locals recommend
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
18 Fry StRelaxing, scenic train ride for all ages. Steam train is amazing. Busy, book ahead!
Hiking, trail running, see 3 waterfalls in one easy loop! 4 if you add another nearby trail. Also tubing down deep creek, very popular.
8 locals recommend
Deep Creek Campground
Hiking, trail running, see 3 waterfalls in one easy loop! 4 if you add another nearby trail. Also tubing down deep creek, very popular.
Recreation area, mountain biking, trail running, horseback riding, hiking, picnic area. Most of the trail follows the edge of the lake, up and down, single track with some old logging road. Swimming access also. 10 minutes from the camper.
14 locals recommend
Tsali Campground, US Forest Service, Cheoah Ranger District
Recreation area, mountain biking, trail running, horseback riding, hiking, picnic area. Most of the trail follows the edge of the lake, up and down, single track with some old logging road. Swimming access also. 10 minutes from the camper.
Incredible old growth forest, magical hiking.
106 locals recommend
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Cheoah Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest
5410 Joyce Kilmer RdIncredible old growth forest, magical hiking.
Beautiful drive, hiking, swimming and large drive through lookouts for photos along many mile markers.
250 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge ParkwayBeautiful drive, hiking, swimming and large drive through lookouts for photos along many mile markers.
Neighborhoods
Downtown Bryson city is an artsy southern town with gift shops, art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, an antique store in an old pharmacy with pet songbirds, a quaint used bookstore with an original 1950s bar, a 1950s ice cream parlor with original furnishings, old fashioned hardware store and more.
168 locals recommend
Bryson City
Downtown Bryson city is an artsy southern town with gift shops, art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, an antique store in an old pharmacy with pet songbirds, a quaint used bookstore with an original 1950s bar, a 1950s ice cream parlor with original furnishings, old fashioned hardware store and more.
Small town surrounded by national forest, located between Lake Fontana and Bryson City, near Nantahala. Scenic highway with a lookout, home to famous mountain biking at Tsali Rec Area. Rent stand up paddleboards or kayaks at NOC and explore the the finger lakes. The camper is in Almond.
Almond
Small town surrounded by national forest, located between Lake Fontana and Bryson City, near Nantahala. Scenic highway with a lookout, home to famous mountain biking at Tsali Rec Area. Rent stand up paddleboards or kayaks at NOC and explore the the finger lakes. The camper is in Almond.
Small country/farming town, home to Wherloom
Honey, Tapoco Lodge, Lake Fontana and famous “the dragon” road, Joyce Kilmer, Appalachian trail access.
11 locals recommend
Robbinsville
Small country/farming town, home to Wherloom
Honey, Tapoco Lodge, Lake Fontana and famous “the dragon” road, Joyce Kilmer, Appalachian trail access.