Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA16
NANTAHALA
OUTDOOR CENTER
For 2016, in celebration of Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) athlete Michal Smolen
being an Olympics hopeful for the United
States in paddle sports, the NOC is hosting
competitions in the spirit of the Olympic
Games. That includes the NRC Family
Whitewater Weekend (May 28-29), when
families and youth paddlers gather for the
Nantahala Gorge flat water and whitewater
activities - with an emphasis on the skills of
balance, surfing speed, strength and stroke
technique. Later, come join NOC's Sizzlin' 4th
of July (July 2-3). Then sign up to participate
in the Whitewater Junior Olympics (July
29-31), a national-level youth event featuring
slalom, downriver and freestyle competition plus just-for-fun events for beginners
through advanced paddlers.
STEVE MCBRIDE
STEVE MCBRIDE
TOp: Nantahala Outdoor Center offers guided whitewater trips in the Great Smoky Mountains.
AbOvE: Nantahala Outdoor Center specializes in water sports on the wild rivers of the Smokies.
LEFT: Come paddle or play while enjoying the wild rivers at Nantahala Outdoor Center.
16 SOUTHERNHIGHLANDS.ORG
true. But perhaps nothing compares
to the annual NOCtoberfest (Oct.
22), when participants dash through
Nantahala Falls, hilariously collecting pumpkins that have been tossed
into the river.
On board the Great Smoky
Mountains Railroad (800-8724681/gsmr.com), remember to wave
to boaters as the train crosses the
splendidly scenic Fontana Lake.
This railroad provides a 44-mile,
round-trip ride from Bryson City
and courses through the Nantahala
Gorge, where you can watch the
whitewater rafters from the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
Close to Christmas, thousands
board "The Polar Express" at Bryson
City during November and December. Other times, you'll find the
train's comfortable cars decorated for
"BBQ & Brews" (featuring food and
handcrafted beer) and the "Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience"
(when you can sip what's being locally
distilled in Swain County). You can
also combine a train trip with Wildwater Jeep Adventures, which picks up
passengers and whisks them along a
back roads journey on a Jeep, taking in
trout farms, waterfalls and a 400-yearold tree.
From Bryson City, the Southern
Highlands adventure heads west to
Cherokee at the eastern base of the
Smokies, where the culture and sacred
customs of Native Americans remain
revered on hallowed ground.
Ancient artifacts reveal 11,000
years of tools, weaponry, wardrobes,
jewelry, games, pottery, basketry and
manuscripts at The Museum of the
Cherokee Indian (828-497-3481/
cherokeemuseum.org). This facility
explains the exile of the Eastern Band
of the Cherokees to Oklahoma on
the "Trail of Tears" in 1838. Yet it also
shares the rainbow of hope that arose
- with Cherokee heroes of resistance,
http://www.gsmr.com
http://www.cherokeemuseum.org
http://www.SOUTHERNHIGHLANDS.ORG
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016
Contents
Happiest Towns in the Blue Ridge Region
Summer Photoessay
Great Unusual Sleep Spots in the Mountains
North Georgia Dining
Special Section: The Southern Highlands Attractions 2016 Grand Tour
Letters/Worth a Click
From the Editor
Contributor Bios
Mill Creek Stories
Great Buys
The Hike
Festivals & Events
Creature Feature
Country Roads
Mountain Report
Singing in the Garden
Guest Column: John Manchester
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 5
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Contents
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Letters/Worth a Click
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 8
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 9
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 10
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 11
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - From the Editor
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Contributor Bios
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Mill Creek Stories
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 15
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Great Buys
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 17
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - The Hike
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 19
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Festivals & Events
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 21
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 22
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 23
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 24
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Creature Feature
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Country Roads
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 28
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 30
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Mountain Report
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Happiest Towns in the Blue Ridge Region
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 34
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 36
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 38
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Summer Photoessay
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 41
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 43
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Great Unusual Sleep Spots in the Mountains
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 45
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 46
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 47
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 48
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 50
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Special Section: The Southern Highlands Attractions 2016 Grand Tour
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA2
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA4
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA5
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA6
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA7
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA8
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA9
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA10
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA11
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA12
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA13
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA14
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA15
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA16
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA17
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA18
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA19
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA20
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA21
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA22
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA23
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - SHA24
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - North Georgia Dining
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 52
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 53
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 54
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 55
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - 56
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Singing in the Garden
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Guest Column: John Manchester
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2016 - Cover4
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