Santa’s Land
There are few places in America where vintage theme parks still exist in all their glory. Santa's Land in Cherokee is one of them.
Santa's Land is not a place to write off as gimmicky or hokey. The park's attractions come from a timeless era, truly tailored to children and not the latest commercial trend.
The grounds are clean and well-kept, the rides are safe, and the staff is friendly. A trip to the small park will live on as a cherished family adventure in your kid's mind for years.
Santa's Land is ideal for kids 7 and under, but has enough to keep the interest of older children as well. There's a fairly large Ferris wheel and the famous Rudicoaster, a small rollercoaster with a couple of stomach-dropping hills and fast spiral curves.
Scenic Byway: 65-mile route winds through the Pisgah National Forest
North Carolina's Forest Heritage Scenic Byway winds for 65 miles through the heart of the half-million-acre Pisgah National Forest, and during the fall foliage season it is one of the most beautiful drives in the mountains.
The byway is one of only four in the state to be named a national scenic byway, the highest designation a route can receive, due to its proximity to the birthplace of the U.S. Forest Service. The byway begins on U.S. 276 at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest, near the town of Brevard.
Christmas Trees galore
Christmas tree farms throughout the region begin selling trees the week before Thanksgiving. Many farms offer pre-tagging, allowing families to pick out the tree they want as early as the first week of November and come back later to fetch it. All farms continue selling trees until a few days before Christmas, and some up until Christmas Eve.
Off the path: Try these less-visited, family-friendly spots
Some of the best places to visit in Western North Carolina are those that aren't typically found in any visitors' guides. Get off the beaten path for some great experiences and local culture.
Indoor fun for kids in the winter
Cold, cooped up, nowhere to run? Sometimes cool falls and cold winters in the mountains can pose a challenge for kids who need to burn off energy but can't play outside. Here's some options available to parents for active, indoor fun.
The past comes to life at new visitor center
Know what a sidehill plow is? Want to hear a first-hand account of a panther run-in? Curious how much tobacco a basket of eggs could buy? Step in to the new visitor center at the North Carolina entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and take a step back in time among the early settlers and Cherokee who called these mountains home.
America's winding road: The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road that winds for 469.1 miles from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive in Virginia to U.S. 441 at Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee.
