Our visit to Cherokee, NC was during Rob′s birthday week. We stayed at Harrah′s Cherokee Casino. Traveling to Cherokee via I40 will take you to Route 23/74 to Route 19 passing through Maggie Valley before tackling the winding hills up and down to get to the Casino in Cherokee. If you want something to drink stronger than water or soda, please stop at the little liquor store in Maggie Valley before arriving on the Indian Reservation – no fire water served in town. Going down hill you actually ride your breaks and there is a small souvenir shop at the bottom of the hill where most people stop before continuing on to the casino. When you get out of your car you can smell your brakes and others from the ride. There is another entrance but it takes you approximately 5 miles out of the way. This is the way we use now.
There are many attractions here from the Cherokee Bear Zoo & Exotic Animals, Helicopter Rides, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Oconaluftee Indian Village to my favorite, Santa′s Land Family Theme Park & Zoo. Santa′s Land is truly an interesting place to visit where you can ride the Rudicoaster known as Santa′s favorite ride, paddle the lake and feed Santa′s fish, ducks and monkeys. Enjoy the Magic Show in the Jingle Bell Theatre and watch the baby bears being fed. You can also bring your picnic and visit with Santa and his elves. One would think they would be opened during the holiday season, however, they are only opened from May through October each year. To learn more about Santa′s Land click here.
Cherokee is always on our stop by list when traveling in the Western part of North Carolina. It′s a great stop over to relax before continuing on your merry way. The mountain scenery in this area is breath taking. It′s amazing to see homes far up on the hill with smoke coming out of their chimney stacks and a winding road leading up to their door. There are road side stores that actually look like shacks but have great items inside. You can get anything from flags to wood carvings to homemade jams, jellies, ham, etc. We will probably visit Cherokee sometime after the first of the year, if not for Christmas.