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July 4th Celebration At Fontana Village Resort

Fireworks and Fun In the Smokies

Fontana Village Resort. Fontana Dam, NC- The barbeque pit is ready, the music line up is hot and the fireworks are aimed towards the sky for this year’s annual July 4th Celebration at Fontana Village Resort. This year’s celebration includes a full slate of activities and entertainment for the entire family. The holiday activities schedule runs from Wednesday, July 3rd, through Saturday, July 6th.

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Parkway Outlook

June 6-11, 2013

Safety Message

Parkway resource managers are already seeing a lot bear activity this season. While visiting the park please remember the following:
- Please do not feed bears or other wildlife.
- If camping or picnicking, keep your area clean and store all food items out of sight.
- If a bear approaches you, move away slowly to your vehicle or other secure area.
- Report all bear incidents to a park ranger, by calling 1.800.PARKWATCH (1.800.727.5928).

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Great Smoky Mountains Railroad debuts the BBQ & BREWS Train!

What: BBQ & BREWS Dinner Train! Featuring slow-cooked BBQ prepared fresh and beer tastings showcasing our local breweries! Partnering with Nantahala Brewery and Heinzelmӓnnchen Brewery each will be sponsoring trains and providing exclusive tastes of their craft beer! This train travels to the Fontana Trestle and arrives just around sunset for a spectacular view! Arriving back at the depot promptly at 9pm, it will make for a wonderfully complete evening!

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NOC's Best Raft & Zip Packages

Book now to save $13 per person!

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The Azalea Garden at Stecoah Valley Center Is In Full Bloom

What a perfect way to relax and enjoy an afternoon. Bring a blanket, sit back and enjoy the variety of colors and sweet aroma of our azalea garden for the next few weeks while the flowers are in full bloom. The 1/3 mile paved nature trail and free high speed wi-fi service are always available.

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Bring DAD Camping @ River Vista

Father's Day weekend all dads receive a Smoker/BBQ grill raffle ticket at check in. Weekend activities for dad includes: Texas hold em., breakfast, horseshoe tournament and guys movie. Father's Day weekend is coming soon June 14th, 15th & 16th. Call today to book your dads fun get-a-way.

New Festival Unites Blues, Brew & BBQ on Village Green

The village green in Cashiers springs to life this Memorial Day weekend with a new festival: Blues, Brew and BBQ.

This family-friendly event takes place Saturday, May 25, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It mixes local barbecue, craft beers, and one of the most popular blues bands in the Southeast.

Headlining the festival is Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’ Blues. Arnold, of Pelzer, S.C, was a nominee for best traditional blues artist at the 2012 Blues Music Awards.

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Summer Series Brings Concerts to Sylva's Bridge Park

The Concerts on the Creek summer music series returns for its fifth season with 14 weeks of Friday evening concerts from late May through August.

The free outdoor performances take place at the Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scott Creek in downtown Sylva on Fridays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. All shows are family-friendly, drawing diverse audiences comprised of locals and visitors alike.

This year's lineup is an ideal fit for the North Carolina mountains with an emphasis on bluegrass, country, blues, and gospel. Other genres include: beach, oldies, rock, and 80's music.

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Jackson County Visitors Guide Now Available

Details about hiking, rafting, fly fishing and other outdoor activities are available in the 2013 NC Mountains Visitors Guide, available free of charge from the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority.

The 48-page, full-color guide explores a variety of leisure pursuits in Jackson County’s popular mountain towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Cullowhee, Dillsboro and Sylva.

Folks can learn about unique destinations like the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, the nation’s only fly fishing trail, and the Richland Balsam Overlook, the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 6,053 feet in elevation.

There’s also information on shopping, dining and lodging, as well as a detailed pull-out map of hiking trails and waterfalls. Lodging options include cozy bed-and-breakfast inns, cabin rentals, riverside hotels and notable mountain getaways like the High Hampton Inn and Balsam Mountain Inn.

“Unplug from the hustle and bustle and relax in the scenic mountains of Western North Carolina,” said Julie Spiro, executive director of the Jackson County Chamber.

To receive a complimentary NC Mountains Visitors Guide, call (800) 962-1911, or submit a request online at: www.MountainLovers.com. The guide can also be downloaded online.

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