Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ Issue 003 June 2011 | Page 16

87% Forest
100% Adventure
I

f you love the great outdoors
check out Bryson City and
Swain County. Whatever you love
to do in this great outdoors of
America, chances are good you
will find it here. With 87% of the
county designated as national
forest, there is much unspoiled
beauty to see. You choose whether
to see it hiking, mountain biking,
horseback riding, on a motorcycle
or cruising in your automobile, to
name a few.
We made our first trip to Bryson
City on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Blue Ridge is one of those “you
gotta see it for yourself ” things. It
is hard NOT to stop at each scenic
overlook, especially after we found
wild blueberries growing along the
road. A word to the wise, do not
go farther into the woods, because
the bears like blueberries too.
We spent our first night in a motor inn just outside Bryson City.
We marveled at how bright the
stars are up here in the mountains,
and woke up next morning to the
sound of birds.
That day we planned a day of
hiking, wanting to see some of
the beautiful waterfalls in the area.
First, we filled up on breakfast at
the Everett Street diner, a place
worth repeating. Picked up some
great subs for lunch at the Filling
Station across the street, then
headed out to Deep Creek. Deep
creek is part of the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, and is
easily accessed through Bryson
City. It’s the perfect place to spend
a day hiking, white water tubing,
or getting up close and personal
with the three waterfalls, each of

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Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine