If you are looking for a family beach that also has a lot of fun things to do, Carolina Beach in North Carolina is an excellent choice! KAG contributor Jennifer and her family checked out Carolina Beach at Pleasure Island and found it to be the perfect mix of family entertainment and beach fun.
Read all about what made this beach town a hit for her family and why your own may want to visit soon!
What makes Carolina Beach special?
My family recently headed up the North Carolina coast and discovered Carolina Beach. Located approximately five hours from the Upstate, Carolina Beach makes the perfect beach destination for summer vacations.
This popular NC beach is an excellent choice if you are looking for a family-friendly beach. How you choose to take a beach trip is a personal preference. Some families like to go to beaches like Myrtle Beach, with many entertainment options and crowds, whereas others prefer quieter beaches with fewer entertainment options.
This beach fits right in the middle of these categories. It has plenty of things to do with the whole family, such as the Boardwalk amusement park; however, it is not as crowded as other beach destinations. Plus, with tons of vacation rentals, you can choose to stay closer to the Boardwalk where the action happens, or you can stay further away from the crowds.
The Boardwalk at Carolina Beach, NC
The standout feature of Carolina Beach is the Boardwalk. It is one of the few true boardwalks on the East Coast. And I don’t mean just a simple pier. This is a true boardwalk with amusement park rides, a Ferris wheel, shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The boardwalk comes alive in the evenings, so be prepared to spend lots of time there after lounging on the beach daily.
Carolina Beach Has A Family-Friendly Shoreline
Another big plus for Carolina Beach is its family-friendly shoreline. Unlike more isolated beaches, the beach has several lifeguard stands along its three miles of shoreline. With ever-changing currents and hesitant swimmers, I always feel safer knowing there are lifeguards nearby.
Additionally, Carolina Beach is wheelchair accessible. Directly off the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, there are accessible walkways making it accessible to those in wheelchairs or families with an extra set of wheels.
Worthwhile Things to Do: Carolina Beach
On top of the fun standard beach attractions, such as mini golf, my family absolutely loved visiting the nearby North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Fort Fisher State Recreation Site is only ten minutes from Carolina Beach, and visiting the aquarium is a must! The North Carolina Aquarium has several hands-on exhibits, plenty of marine life to observe, and even a fantastic playground.
Outdoor Adventures
While you are visiting the aquarium at Fort Fisher, be sure to check out the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, where you can hike, explore the dunes, and maybe even see Loggerhead turtles nesting (from a distance, of course!)
You can also head south to the Fort Fisher State Historic Site at Kure Beach, a civil war site that makes a great educational lesson while you’re vacationing. There are guided tours to take, exhibits to view, and an impressive fort.
If you’re feeling up to an outdoor adventure during your beach trip, check out Carolina Beach State Park, where your family can hike, bike, and even camp if you’re up for it! Fun fact: the state park is home to the Venus Flytrap, so you can teach your kids about this near-carnivorous plant while you venture through the coastal park. There is also a 50-foot sand dune, Sugarloaf Dune, that will have them in awe.
If you’re wanting to stay close to town, the Carolina Beach Lake Park is a wonderful lake to spend an afternoon kayaking, have a picnic, or let your kids burn off some energy at the playground. There are also free outdoor movies on Sunday evenings, perfect after a long day on the beach.
Delicious Eats Near the Beach
Of course, we couldn’t spend time exploring Carolina Beach without sampling some of the most popular restaurants. We tried out Hang Ten Grill after hearing about its popularity. After eating there for lunch, we understood why so many people headed in that direction! Hang Ten Grill is a typical beach restaurant with surfboards decorating the walls – and even the ceilings.
The menu has plenty of seafood and grilled favorites. I had a shrimp burger, and it was delicious! But, it was the kid’s menu that sold it. My son had a hamburger, and my daughter had nachos – and each came with an ice cream sundae!
The restaurant regularly has live music, food and drink specials, and events like yoga and coffee. Check out the Hang Ten Grill Facebook page to see what events are happening while visiting the area.
Some additional restaurants you may like to check out with stellar reviews include SeaWitch Cafe and Tiki Bar for live music, Cape Fear Boil Company to satiate your seafood craving, and Kate’s Pancake House for a delicious breakfast! If you are into craft brews, Good Hops Brewery is a highly recommended local brewery that is located in the heart of this beach city!
For those families looking for a beach that is quintessentially beachy, then head to Carolina Beach. With the lively boardwalk, the beautiful shoreline, and pastel-colored beach houses, it screams “Summertime Fun!”
Looking for a wild ride on a beautiful river in North Carolina in the Smoky Mountains? Smoky Mountain Tubing in Cherokee, NC, is the place to go.
Thanks to Smoky Mountain Tubing for hosting us!
Beautiful scenery, the possibility of elk sightings, fun rapids, and nice and cold water await in Cherokee, North Carolina at Smoky Mountain Tubing. My daughters, ages 10 and 14, and I had such an awesome time tubing here and would recommend it to anyone looking to cool off on hot, summer days while also enjoying the beautiful town of Cherokee, NC.
Just chillin on the river
Watch! Our Trip on the River
About Smoky Mountain Tubing
Smoky Mountain Tubing has been running the Oconaluftee River since the 1990s. The owners are local and are well-acquainted with the town, the land, and the river. The customer service was great as well. It was an easy check-in process and our driver was super helpful with getting us on the water and telling us exactly where we needed to go on the river and when to get out to get back to the outpost.
Our Experience Tubing the Oconaluftee River
Once you sign your waiver and apply sunscreen, you can leave your keys with the company so they aren’t lost in the river. Then you’ll hop on a bus and head to the put-in area along the river.
The water is quite chilly but it feels amazing on hot days. Once you are in the water, just chill out and try to avoid branches in the water and get in the current.
If you want to be tethered to your kids/friends/fellow tubers, be sure to ask the driver or the attendant when you check in so they have them available. My youngest daughter got a tube with a bottom but my other daughter and I had bottomless tubes, which was fine. I think they use the bottom tubes for younger tubers.
The Oconaluftee is not a lazy river. There are lots of rapids! Some of the rapids are faster and bigger than others so be sure to lean back and keep your feet up going through them. One of my daughters flipped on her tube going through one but the water isn’t deep so she was able to stand up and grab onto my tube while we chased hers down. I also got a dip when I ran into a tree branch – whoops. Maybe use a broomstick or large stick to maneuver in the river!
One of the rope swings on the river
My daughters and I had a lot of fun. The scenery is just beautiful as you are right on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While we didn’t see any elk, the owner of Smoky Mountain Tubing said they can be in the river sometimes so you’ll have to be prepared to hang tight while they cross. I think elk are pretty cool so I was disappointed we didn’t see any that day.
There are some swimming holes and rope swings on the river plus places to stop and hang out if you want to extend your time and enjoy all the fun things.
And yes, there are snakes around because it is their home after all. We didn’t see any in the river or on the banks but are always on the lookout and try to stay in the middle of the river to avoid the banks.
The trip was a lot of fun and took about two hours. Some days it can be shorter if the water level is higher and the river is running faster and other days it can take longer depending if the water level is low.
While my older daughter and I did not use a life jacket, I would recommend them after running this river due to the faster currents and rapids. We are all good swimmers but I think it’s always a wise decision to choose safety when adventuring so will definitely make that choice when we go again. Smoky Mountain Tubing does have life jackets available.
Need to Know
Bring cash. SMT only accepts cash.
They have life jackets. Kids 12 and under must wear a life jacket but they have them for those older than 12 if you want to use one.
Trips are usually a couple hours. Plan to be on the water for around two hours depending on the water level.
Wear sunscreen and a hat. Most of the river is in the sun and it’s hot.
Bring a change of clothes and a towel. There are changing rooms available and wet clothes are no fun.
Kids need to be at least 5-years-old to tube. No lap riders.
Since SMT is about a 2.5 hour drive from Greenville, you may want to call them the night before or the morning of to make sure the water level isn’t running too high and they are closed that day.
Booking Your Tubing Trip
Tubes are first-come, first-served so get there with plenty of time to enjoy the river and have fun! They have an abundance of tubes, so you should be able to get one whenever you come. Tubes are $14/person + tax (it comes to out just over $15).
Dogs are allowed to tube but if damage occurs, the guest will be charged $50.
Other Things to Do in Cherokee, NC
Cherokee, NC is honestly such a cool place to visit. The history of the Cherokee Nation runs deep and we recommend checking out the famous Unto These Hills show. Bethany went with her family and absolutely loved it.
Also in Cherokee is the Oconaluftee Visitor Center where elk are frequently seen and where they have an awesome Junior Ranger book that kids (and adults) can work on.
There are tons of shops with authentic Cherokee-made goods, which are beautiful. There are also restaurants – we wholeheartedly recommend Peter’s Pancakes. Oh my gosh, that breakfast was amazing. Anything on the menu is great.
If you want to stay overnight, you can camp nearby at Smokemont in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We’ve camped there and loved it. We’ve also stayed at the Rivers Edge Motel, a clean and comfortable motel right on the river (you actually tube by it on the tubing trip). It’s in a great location and every room has a balcony that overlooks the river.
Waterrock Knob
On your way home from Cherokee, you can stop at Mingo Falls, an easy (but steep with lots of stairs) and short hike to an incredibly beautiful waterfall. Keep heading east and hit the Blue Ridge Parkway and hike the half mile up to Waterrock Knob, the highest point on the Parkway. It’s stunningly gorgeous and you feel like you’re on top of the world.
Thinking about a couple’s day trip somewhere near Greenville, SC? If you want to plan a dreamy day trip with your significant other this summer, we have many ideas for couples. We have put together a whole list of romantic day trip ideas! Whether you want to do something romantic, visit a new town, or have some adventure, our list will help you plan the perfect day trip.
We heard about a place called Midnight Hole in North Carolina that featured an emerald lagoon, one that would likely have mermaids, or so we hoped.
Are you looking for a romantic day trip for you and the apple of your eye? A new place to take the family for a nature-inspired adventure? This beautiful natural swimming hole, Midnight Hole, is located in the Big Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it might be just the place for your next outdoor family quest.
What’s Inside: A fun, family-friendly guide to the best eats, sights, and nostalgic experiences in Andy Griffith’s real-life hometown!
Curious what it would be like to step back into a different era and vacation in The Andy Griffith Show’s Mayberry? Well, we packed the van with the grandparents and headed to Mount Airy, NC, Andy Griffith’s hometown to find out. We came home with full hearts (and stomachs) after experiencing three days of true Southern hospitality, classic diners plus homemade baked goods, and old-fashioned affordable fun (including a tour in a squad car).
Here’s everything we did, ate, and explored—organized by category so it’s easy for your family to plan your own Mayberry memories.
Thank you to Visit Mayberry for hosting us during our stay.
Where We Stayed in Mayberry
We stayed at a rental home just 5 minutes from downtown titled “Mayberry’s Best”, and it was definitely a spot we would recommend for other families. Our home was spacious, pet-friendly, and just right for three generations. It had a game room with a real Atari arcade machine, a big yard with a deck, and a stack of Andy Griffith DVDs in the family room.
Kid favorites: The home was stocked with kid-friendly games, Magna-Tiles, puzzles, and even an arcade machine.
Grown-up wins: Clean, roomy layout, two full bathrooms, and a great kitchen, plus we were even greeted with fresh flowers, moonpies, and a bottle of wine.
Pet-friendly: We didn’t bring our dog, but the home also allows you to bring a dog with a small fee. There were dog bowls and treats available. Note: The yard was not 100% fenced in, but the street wasn’t busy, and there was plenty of space for a dog to run.
The area has a number of family-friendly rentals plus hotels that aren’t far from the center. A new hotel is being built downtown that should open in Spring of 2026.
You won’t go hungry while visiting Mount Airy, NC, with several diners that have been open for decades and lined with celebrity photos, to family-friendly breweries.
Eating lunch at Snappy’s is a bucket list item when visiting Mount Airy, NC, and the best part is that you can still order a meal there for around $5. We kicked off our trip by splitting four signature sandwiches on the menu—The Ultimate Pork Chop Sandwich, Fried Bologna, Breaded Cheeseburger, and the Ground Steak Sandwich with slaw.
The booths, counter, and vintage photos made it feel like stepping into the show. We heard from one local that they once met a group that drove all the way from Ohio just to pick up a cooler of pork sandwiches.
Tip: We got in fast during our trip in the off-season, but heard the line can sometimes stretch down the sidewalk in the summer.
The Derby has been a local favorite since 1937 and has remained family-owned through 3 generations! We enjoyed eggs, potatoes, and southern hospitality. The biscuits were amazing, and we loved the skillet breakfast.
Dairy Center
📍 407 W Lebanon Street 🔗 Dairy Center-Trip Advisor
We ordered sweet potato pancakes, omelets, bacon, and homemade strawberry jam. Everyone thought the strawberry jam was amazing. This diner is known for its delicious ground steak, typically served as a sandwich, but we got a great tip to order it in an omelet for breakfast. The open kitchen and retro ice cream window made this spot feel like a step back in time.
We stopped here for lunch and again at the end of our trip for a traditional milkshake and homemade slice of pie at the soda counter. The Barney Burger was great, and the homemade Coconut Pie totally stole the show. My dad said it tasted just like his mom used to make it.
You know you are in a spot where the locals eat when you get asked where you are from while you are waiting for your meal. This brewery specializes in small-craft beers and artisan pizzas. The atmosphere was chill and family-friendly (you could even relax on a couch if a traditional table wasn’t your style). We got to stay long enough to not only enjoy a delicious flight of beer and a couple of pizzas but also to compete in a game of trivia.
This was yet another great trivia night stop! We shared cheese curds, fried pickles, fish and chips, pizza, and salad. This family-friendly brewery has not only a beer menu and full cocktail menu but also some fun mocktails for the kids (or non-alcohol drinkers).
If you only do one thing in the town of Mayberry, this is it. This is one of the top Mount Airy, NC activities, and it’s no surprise why. We rode in a real 1960s squad car just like the ones in the Andy Griffith show and learned all about Mount Airy and the people and industries that make it famous. The tour takes you downtown, to the largest open-face granite mine in the world, by Andy Griffith’s childhood home, and past local architecture, much of which was made out of the local granite.
Our local guide liberally used the car’s siren and kept us laughing the whole time with his stories, and yes—it was hot inside that car since it didn’t have AC, but totally worth it.
Next to the Squad Car Tour, you can lock yourself up inside the jail at the Mayberry Courthouse or grab ice cream. This entire area is free to enter and full of fun photo ops. It’s also a great area to purchase souvenirs as they had a wide selection of Andy Griffith themed shirts and memorabilia, including even fun nods to the show, such as a jar of Aunt Bee’s Pickles.
If you want to experience the town at night, get on the trolley for a spooky ghost tour. The ghost stories were funny, spooky, and also touched on local history. Great for adults or older kids and tweens. Walking ghost tours are also available.
We sat in the same chair Andy and many other celebrities once did. You can peek in this Barber Shop even if you don’t need a haircut, but if you need a haircut, make an appointment. Not only will you see the famous barber chair, but also a child-sized barber chair and a cash register from a century ago.
We took a backstage tour of the Andy Griffith Playhouse, where we learned all about Andy’s early life and career. The tour also allows you to stand on the original stage that Andy performed on in 3rd grade, as well as takes you back into the dressing rooms of the theatre.
The Playhouse is an active theatre with a performance always in rehearsal. Another way to experience the theatre is to purchase tickets to one of the many shows.
The Andy Griffith Museum showcases the largest collection of memorabilia connected to Andy Griffith, much of which was collected by a childhood friend. Inside the museum, you can watch snippets from his movies and see artifacts from his life.
Adjacent to the museum, you can also check out the Betty Lynn exhibit. Betty Lynn was known for her role in the Andy Griffith Show as Thelma Lou, Barney Fife’s girlfriend. Betty Lynn relocated to Mayberry in retirement and has played an important role in the area’s connections to the Andy Griffith Show.
This museum is best suited for older children who can read and understand the significance of the museum exhibits. For those who are Andy Griffith fans, it’s the best place to get a fuller glimpse into his life.
Museum tickets also grant access to go inside the Historic Earle Street Theatre during select times.
We crossed the street after visiting the Andy Griffith Museum to tour the Siamese Twins Museum. This museum tells the story of Chang and Eng Bunker, the first fully documented set of conjoined twins.
Chang and Eng were born in Siam (now Thailand) but moved to the United States as adults after years of traveling the world as part of an exhibition. As young adults, they managed their own contracts and eventually amassed enough wealth to marry sisters and settle in Mount Airy.
This museum tells the story of Chang and Eng Bunker with photos, texts, artifacts, and even a life-size statue of Chang and Eng. It’s compact but fascinating. We recommend this museum for older kids and adults.
This multi-level museum surprised us with its variety of exhibits and appeal to a wide range of ages. The exhibits range from local history to a floor dedicated to fire history, complete with three retired fire engines. Since the history of Andy Griffith is prominent throughout Mount Airy, NC, especially at the Andy Griffith museum, this museum focuses mainly on additional history and people connected to the area.
If you are looking for an indoor activity to keep all ages entertained, this museum is a good choice. It offers an extensive play area on the top floor. The play area includes a playground, a full dress-up bin, puppets, a small house, and a fire pit. While there, we saw that it was a popular local hangout for small children.
While still in construction, visitors will soon be able to enjoy a new industry-themed exhibit that includes a model train room.
This outdoor concert venue was one of the highlights of our trip. If you live near the area, season passes are pretty affordable and include over 50 concerts a year, but even for a night, the tickets are just $20. Kids 12 and under are free.
You can bring your own chairs, sit on the grass, or get there early enough to snag a table. The venue is casual with plenty of green space for kids to run around and dance.
If you’ve visited before, what are your favorite Mt. Airy, NC activities?
Where to Shop in Mt. Airy
Of course, we saw a couple of the normal tourist shops, but downtown Mount Airy, NC is fun, quirky, and full of local flair. We browsed everything from local sweet shops to antique stores and even found a store full of quirky socks at discount pricing, a cat cafe, and a boutique/arcade.
This vintage candy store is just down the street from Snappy’s. It’s not just any candy shop, though, with its vintage candy jars, ice cream counter, bottled sodas, and even old-school candy that’s hard to find, such as candy cigarettes and vintage gum.
Miss Angel’s Heavenly Pies & Hillbilly Creamery and Gluten-Free Desserts
This store is literally lined with pies. You can buy everything from a strawberry rhubarb pie to an apple pie with cinnamon buns on it. We bought perhaps the largest peanut butter cookie sandwich we have ever seen just for $4. The smell inside was amazing, and the desserts lived up to the hype. The Gluten-Free Desserts are extensive and in a separate but adjacent store. This store is also known for its moonshine-flavored desserts.
The Mayberry Antique Mall is just one of many antique shops lining Mount Airy’s downtown, but it must have been the largest.
Renfro Sock Outlet Store
📍229 N Main Street
We accidentally wandered into the Renfro Sock Outlet Store while waiting for the history museum to open. This store was truly a hidden surprise as it was full of all types of socks, from fun and quirky designs to practical white socks for tennis shoes. These socks were all amazing prices, too, since it’s an outlet of discontinued patterns.
This store labels itself as Mount Airy’s very first Bocade (Boutique plus Arcade), and honestly, we hadn’t heard of that either. It was a Bocade, though. You could shop on one side and play a game system or arcade game on the other.
We discovered this cute and big-hearted cat cafe while exploring downtown, and it even had kittens. For a small fee, you can play with the cats for half an hour, and the funds go towards the cats’ care, and your play helps socialize them so they can be adopted. All the cats at this cafe are up for adoption, so watch out or you might come home with a new pet.
Why We Loved Mount Airy, NC
Mount Airy offered a beautiful mix of nostalgia, local charm, and family-friendly fun. It wasn’t just a trip down memory lane for my parents—it was a chance for three generations to connect and create shared memories.
The people we met were just as warm and welcoming as the characters in the show. Locals stopped to chat and share their town with us like we were neighbors.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Andy or just looking for a relaxing, affordable, and unique place to bring the kids, Mount Airy hits the mark.
Have you visited Asheville Adventure Park? In Asheville, NC, this zipline course offers so much for adventurous kids. We visited the Asheville Adventure Park for some fun so we could tell our readers all about it, and help them plan their own trip!
Complimentary tickets were provided for this review in 2018, and it has been updated with 2025 information.
Last week the kids and I took the kind of adventure you just want to share with everyone you know. (You guys – it is just so fun to have big kids!) This adventure involved helmets and heights and wires and harnesses and conquering fears and pulling together as a team. And it was pretty close to home too.
The Adventure Center of Asheville is just a couple of minutes from downtown Asheville, NC. As soon as I heard about their KidZip, the first kid zip line in the country to be built especially for kids ages 4 to 10, I wanted to try it with my kiddos. (Our family received tickets for writing and reviewing and sharing about the park. Our opinions are absolutely all our own.) P
Plus, they have one of only a few Asheville zip-line canopy tours located only minutes from downtown Asheville with beautiful views of downtown. Sounds like the perfect day trip to me!
Find a place to stay in Asheville, NC. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
Our day at the Asheville Adventure Park at the Adventure Center of Asheville
We arrived a little early because I wasn’t certain how long the drive would take or the length of the paperwork process. The check-in process was laid back and simple. There was a waiver to sign per kid, of course. And this time, for the first time, I actually had my writers fill in their own info and sign their own names. Man – that made that process so much faster.
We watched zip liners climb way up high on the adult course and wondered if our zip lines would be that high. Turns out – they were not. For which all of the kids were grateful.
At the course, we were given helmets and harnesses and instructions. I’m not going to lie – the older I get the more young adults look like children to me. And a lot of the workers at the KidZip area certainly looked young. I watched closely as they harnessed my kids in and checked the equipment. I can tell you this – these young men and women were professional, calm, well-spoken, and careful about their work. I saw zero cell phones in their hands. They all kept their own helmets on and they were focused on their jobs at hand.
Maneuvering the KidZip Course at Asheville Adventure Park
After we received our instructions we started on the kid zip line. There were nine ziplines I think and each had an obstacle before you zipped off down the line.
At first the zipping and the obstacles were easy but goodness, they got more complicated. You are always attached by your trolley to the zipline and always harnessed in but you had to maneuver your trolley over several tracks and something they called “sharks” which could be a little tricky for tiny hands and arms. The kids did a stellar job though.
At tough obstacles, they talked through them and worked together to help their younger siblings reach the sharks and conquer the heights.
If I had realized this would be helpful, I would have positioned myself between the kids differently. Once your trolley is on the zipline you can’t change orders or get off so occasionally I was several kids behind Otto and Piper and they could have really used a grown-up’s helping hand. Or – if you were zipping with multiple grown-ups you could plan to stagger grown-ups and kids accordingly. We managed just fine in the end since Berg and London and Mosely really helped out a lot.
(Actually – I think one thing I most valued about this entire experience – aside from the fabulous just plain fun factor – was the fact that the kids really pulled together. They spoke encouraging words. They laughed. They gave each other a helping hand. They were a family – up high and all together.)
The climbing wall on the next-to-last zipline was my least favorite – I seriously did not like balancing on that high-up wall and trying to pull down the sharks for my trolley to pass over. Piper almost panicked at that one, but she reigned it in bravely and conquered it.
Can you guess which little Keigley was the least afraid throughout the entire experience? If you guessed Otto then you guessed right. That little man is as fearless as they come. He was usually the leader on our excursion and would continually look back at us and ask, “Can I head to the next one guys?” with the biggest happy grin all shining out of his sweet boy face.
One thing I really appreciated about the Asheville Adventure Park was that, after we finished our zipping, I assumed we were done. One ride, so to speak. But nope – the staff smiled and said, “Want to go again?” Which we did, of course! Because on the second round, you felt more like an expert and could be a little bolder. By the third round, yep – the third round – Bergen was putting his hands behind his head, relaxing style, and zipping across like a champ. I loved that you could go round and round as often as you wanted. It certainly would make you feel as if you received your money’s worth.
The Big Courses at Asheville TreeTops Adventure Park
After we had all the zipping we could handle, we stared up in wonder at the Asheville TreeTops Adventure Park, situated right beside the KidZip area. It looked fascinating and terrifying and awesome and challenging and exactly like something we all wanted to try but were afraid to try – all at the exact same time. The TreeTop Adventure park ages range from 4 and up, though some of the higher-up and more difficult courses should be reserved for older kids and adults.
The obstacles were wild – lily pads two stories up that you jumped across, a kayak strung between trees about five stories high that you paddled across on ropes and air, skinny wires to walk on, trapezes to swing through the trees, hula hoops dangling between trees, ropes swinging for balance, a slide to come down and so so much more. We gulped and decided we’d try that adventure too.
The really great thing about the TreeTops Adventure Park is the fact that its appeal is so wide to so many ages. There are five courses of varying levels and enough dizzying challenges to frighten even the most adventure loving grown up big kid.
The hook-up and safety procedures for the TreeTops Adventure Park were a bit different. You are always attached to your harness and the wires through the use of two hooks and a cleverly designed system using tweezles. (Yes, that’s a real word.) It is impossible for both tweezles to be unlocked at the same time so you can trust that you (and your beloved kiddos) are safe and sound and secure.
There is definitely a learning curve to the tweezles and I’d say the kids got the hang of it before I did. It was certainly a big part of the challenge to switch your carabiner from side to side while balancing on a little platform far up in the trees. There were several obstacles for which I was legitimately scared. I think I would have liked to have tried to challenge myself to some of the even harder courses but time didn’t allow for that bravery. (Yep, I’m blaming time when it was probably because I was too scared!)
We could have stayed for hours and hours longer but we did eventually grow hungry and exhausted. We had so much fun and we all were steady non-stop talking about which obstacle was the scariest and how hard it was or how easy it was or how scary it was. London, my stay-at-home-every-day kind of kid, pulled me aside as we were turning in our gear and whispered, “Momma – I’m sorry for not having the best attitude about this trip when you told us about it. It was way more fun than I ever thought it would be.”
Planning Your Family Trip to Asheville Adventure Park
Asheville Treetops Adventure Park features lots of other options for adventurous souls. There is one of the more popular Asheville zip line canopy tours, a bungee-style jump, and the Kolo bike park for mountain biking with bike rentals and pump tracks.
I know I have an unusually large family. (Although, ironically, lately London says she feels as if our family is small. I think I agree with her. It’s all perspective, people.) But I know not everyone has to fork over entry fees for five kids when they take adventures.
The prices at Asheville Adventure Park seem high. It’s pricier than a movie, for sure. (Although, not by much!) You certainly do get a lot of bang for your buck. After having spent a long morning at the park though, I can guarantee, the prices are worth it!
The adventure is fun. The challenges are great. The bonding can’t be beaten. Sharing pictures and telling others what you can’t even believe that you conquered – just the perfect amount of thrill. It’s so conveniently located that you can treat it as a staycation option or as a choice for when out-of-town friends come for a weekend visit. Reservations are recommended, especially if you plan to travel with a larger group.
Asheville Treetops Adventure Park 1 Resort Drive Asheville, NC 28803
I hope you decide to go.And I hope you take lots of pictures and I hope you get to make as many sweet and solid memories with your cool kids as I got to make with mine.
Are your kids brave enough for Asheville Adventure Park?
Inside: What it’s really like to slide down Sliding Rock in Brevard, NC, plus lots of tips to make it an epic day trip. We did it and now we’re sharing it.
If you’ve ever wanted to slide down a huge natural waterslide into the freezing cold water during the heat of summer, Sliding Rock in Pisgah Forest, less than two hours from Greenville, SC, is the place to go.
While there are a few places with the name “Sliding Rock”, the one in Pisgah Forest right outside of Brevard, NC in Western North Carolina is certainly the most famous. It’s an iconic summer experience that everyone should do at least once. Maybe more if you’re super brave and have lost all feeling in your body from your first cold plunge at the base of the falls.
While Brevard did get hit from Hurricane Helene, the damage was nowhere near as extensive as other places, which they are very grateful for. Western NC is open and there are many places to go and support recovery through tourism. Sliding Rock is one of them.
Sliding down
Watch! Sliding Rock
Here’s what you’ll see at Sliding Rock in Brevard, NC.
Taking the Plunge
Sliding Rock is less than two hours from Greenville, SC and a hundred percent worth the day trip or weekend adventure. I’ve been exploring this area for years and it never ceases to leave me amazed. On the days I venture to Pisgah Forest, I always hate to leave. There is so much beauty in that area, so many waterfalls to explore, trails to hike, restaurants to try, and peace and fun to be had.
Sliding Rock in Pisgah Forest is super cool for a few reasons:
It’s literally a natural waterslide.
It’s in the midst of a stunningly beautiful forest.
It has lifeguards over the summer from 9 am – 6 pm daily Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Cold plunging is good for your body, according to Google.
Sliding Rock is just past Looking Glass Falls and the trailhead for Moore Cove Falls off Highway 276, which winds its way through Pisgah Forest. If you’re coming from Greenville, Sliding Rock will be on your left.
Sliding Down Sliding Rock
Once you pay the $5 admission, you’ll be able to park, grab your towel and courage, and head over to the waterslide. You’ll pass the bathrooms and changing rooms, walk down some stairs, and then you’ll have to cross the river to get to the rock itself where you’ll slide down.
The crossing is about 10 feet in length and not deep. I recommend getting at least up to your chest wet here so your body isn’t as shocked when you plunge into the cold water from sliding. Be mindful of where you put your feet as the rocks are slippery.
Yes, it’s frigid
After you cross, you’ll grab the railing and make your way up the left side of Sliding Rock. Once you get to the top, you need to sit down and scoot your way to the best position. If you’re at the top looking down the rock, the right side is the slow side (that’s the side I chose!), the middle is a little faster, and then the left side is the fastest. A lot of water flows down Sliding Rock each minute: 11,000 gallons per minute!
The deepest part of the plunge pool is about 8 feet. I never got to that point because I was wimpy and chose the right side, which is also pretty shallow.
Going down that first time was exhilarating and really fun. I’ve been down natural waterslides before but not with this kind of cold water. It was absolutely frigid. But the sun hits the railing area and the entire rock face, which is helpful in trying to warm back up.
You won’t have any control once you start sliding so just go with it and be prepared for a dunk. There are lifeguards to help if you need but they told me most people actually need to be helped before they ever go down the rock due to falling and hurting themselves on the river crossing to get to the railing.
Sliding Rock Tips
A few things to note about Sliding Rock that will make your experience even better:
The best times to go are before Noon and after 4pm if you want to avoid the crowds.
They have bathrooms and changing rooms.
You MUST be able to swim to do this.
Wear jean shorts and water shoes since the rocks, while slippery, could tear up a bathing suit bottom.
Bring a change of clothes and towels. Riding home in wet clothes is no fun.
No tubes, floats, or boards allowed. Life jackets are permissible.
Pets are allowed but must be leashed and cannot slide down.
Kids 7 and under must slide with an adult.
Sliding Rock is 7.6 miles from the entrance to Pisgah Forest coming from Greenville, SC.
Leave No Trace – pack out what you pack in and leave the place cleaner than when you got there.
Sliding down Sliding Rock
Be Waterfall Aware
There are more than 200 waterfalls in Pisgah Forest alone and about 500 in Western North Carolina. This means there is incredible beauty to behold but also lots of room for fatal mistakes.
Don’t be like this person
While you’ve probably read tips on being waterfall aware, we are going to put it to you more forcefully: don’t be an idiot and stand on top of a waterfall. Just don’t do it. Not only are you putting your very life at risk, but you are also being a terrible example to people looking at you. This is a truly dumb thing to do, so don’t do it.
The risk of serious injury or death is very high. Don’t believe us? Go Google “waterfall deaths NC” and you’ll read about people who fell to their deaths because they thought they would be safe stepping out just a little further or standing on a rock that looked dry but was slippery. Then you’ll read about the rescuers who risked their lives to go recover the body and who died in the process.
It is never worth it to sit on top of a waterfall or stand anywhere near the top of one.
Here are some more tips because we cannot reiterate waterfall safety enough:
OBSERVE all posted signs leading to waterfall areas.
STAY on marked trails and observation areas.
DO NOT jump off of waterfalls or dive into pools.
DO NOT climb on rocks above waist height.
DO NOT swim or wade upstream near a waterfall.
WATCH for slick rocks around waterfalls.
WATCH your children and pets at all times.
More Fun Near Sliding Rock
This area of Western NC was hit by Hurricane Helene but not as powerfully as other areas and everything is open. They really need your tourism business and appreciate you coming to see the beautiful scenery, hikes, and waterfalls, and making a day of it by eating at local restaurants and shopping at the cool boutiques.
So here are some fun things to do in and near Sliding Rock:
Go hiking
We love Moore Cove Falls (1.5 miles roundtrip) and Fryingpan Tower (1.5 miles roundtrip) because they are beautiful and very close to Sliding Rock. You could also take a picnic or order from a local restaurant and go sit on one of the overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which you can access just by going straight up 276. For longer trails, try Looking Glass Rock or John Rock. Both will end up amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Moore Cove Falls
Go eat
We really enjoyed lunch at Pescado’s & Sunrise (20 Mclean Road, Brevard, NC), which is really close to the entrance to Pisgah Forest. They have sandwiches, burgers, and wraps at affordable prices. A recommendation we got but didn’t go was the Pisgah Bakehouse (1980 Asheville Hwy, Brevard, NC), which also has sandwiches and baked goods. We love Pisgah Roasters for coffee. Downtown Brevard has several restaurants.
Go shopping
One of our favorite shops in Brevard is Next Venture Outdoors, a consignment shop for all things outdoors – clothing, gear, shoes, tents, paddles, backpacks. The original O.P. Taylors toy store is in downtown Brevard and it’s so cool! You can see other shops at Brevard’s website. Walking around Main Street in Brevard is worth it. It’s an authentic little mountain town that you’ll love as much as we do once you go and visit.
Go tubing
Brevard Tubing is very close to the entrance to Pisgah Forest. You can tube all you want for $30. It’s a relaxing trip and the owners are really nice!
Ride an indoor helicopter
Did you know you can ride an indoor helicopter at the Cradle of Forestry just minutes from Sliding Rock? We love this cool spot for its Blue Ghost Fireflies tours, amazing display of the history of forestry in the region, beautiful trails, and old log cabins. Definitely put the Cradle of Forestry on your list when you are out that way. They are open April – November.
Check out festivals
Brevard hosts some pretty awesome festivals throughout the year so be sure to look at their latest event calendar before planning your trip. You may find your new favorite festival!
Where to Stay
If you want to go to Brevard for a weekend, there are some great spots to stay overnight.
Located right off 276 with several campsites on the Davidson River, this campground is one of my favorites. It’s fun to play in the river, fish, and enjoy all the local hiking trails just minutes from your campsite. This is a very popular campground so be sure to make your reservation months in advance and/or sign up for alerts for cancellations.
A favorite place of ours to stay in Brevard, Pilot Cove has absolutely beautiful cabins at the entrance to the forest. They have one and two bedrooms plus hammocks on the decks and full kitchens. We cannot recommend this place enough as its the perfect home base for all your mountain adventures.
Have you visited Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands? It’s a special spot full of classic family fun and lots of beautiful coastline. We got a chance to visit, and we’re sharing everything we loved because we think you’ll love it, too!
Thank you to North Carolina Brunswick Islands for hosting us so we could share this gorgeous area with our readers.
My kids are all tweens and teens. To borrow a bit of Forest Gump’s iconic phrase, living with teens is a little like a box of chocolates. Some days you get a nice, tasty coconut creme, and other days you get a stale, rock-hard nougat. That can make planning family travel a little difficult. Actually, a lot difficult. You just want to have a fun, relaxed time with your family and see them happy and enjoying being together. Oh, but how does one make that happen?
I don’t have the answer, but that’s actually exactly what happened when I took my tween and teens to Ocean Isle Beach. And while when it comes to YOUR teens, we can’t make any actual guarantees, (not like the back of the chocolate box with the key to what’s inside,) we can tell you that Ocean Isle Beach has just the right ingredients for that relaxed memory-making experience we crave with our adolescent kids.
Oceanfront Accommodations
The accommodations on Ocean Isle Beach are mostly rental condos and homes, although there are a couple of hotels. One thing I’ve always loved about beaches with this type of housing is that the beach itself tends to be less crowded. We found that to be the case on Ocean Isle as well.
We stayed in an oceanfront condo that had everything we needed, including a community pool just a few steps from the beach. With no busy streets to cross, I felt totally comfortable letting my teens move between the beach, the pool, and the condo as they liked, as long as they were with a sibling. That made running up to grab some snacks or refill a water bottle super simple.
And, for families with younger kids, being oceanfront means it’s easier to get back to the condo for a sun break or nap. Speaking of naps, it’ll hardly feel like you’ve left the beach as the kids nap while you enjoy the view overlooking the ocean from the back deck.
The condo we stayed at was called Beachin’ It. The unit was quite clean and very comfortable. We had everything we needed, lots of dishes, pans, even board games and movies. The five of us fit easily, and I’d definitely stay there again.
We wrote a full article on North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands, and Ocean Isle Beach is part of those islands. Make no mistake about it, everything in the Brunswick Islands is an easy drive away from Ocean Isle, and there are definitely gems you should absolutely check out when you visit.
But for the purposes of this article, I’m going to focus in tight to the things to do right on Ocean Isle because we loved it so much.
Watch! Our Brunswick Island Trip
You’ll see lots of these Ocean Isle adventures in the video below, plus a few more things we did in the Brunswick Islands.
The Beach at Ocean Isle Beach
We’re kicking things off with some talk about the beach, since that’s probably your main attraction, right? We found the beach to be gorgeous.
Wide-open, lots of space
We found a couple of sharks’ teeth! Actually I did, and my kids were a wee bit jealous.
Evening beach walks were stunning. Walking to the southern end of the island when the tide was out was so surreal. We were able to walk well out into the inlet.
My kids all enjoyed splashing and playing with the boogie boards in the waves. The water here stayed shallow for quite a while. However, always be mindful of ocean conditions, rip currents, and problematic marine life. There are no lifeguards here to help you. Ocean Isle Beach doesn’t have a flag warning system, but we just checked the flags online daily for nearby Holden Beach to stay aware of conditions.
Our kids loved this place so much, they had to go again! And, after watching them ALL have fun on the first race, I had the “yes, just take my money, please” mentality for the second race. How could I say, “No?”. But truly, this was probably their favorite activity.
Go-kart races are $12 per person and last about 5 minutes each. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they all genuinely seemed happy to be there.
What we loved:
Friendly, welcoming staff
Perfect for kids and tweens
Adults can try axe throwing too!
We didn’t personally check out the axe throwing, but we watched a bit as we waited to buy our go-kart tickets. It looked like everyone was really having a good time. It’d be a great activity for adults!
Right in the heart of the island, this mini-golf spot was the perfect calm evening activity with our teens. We hadn’t played mini-golf in ages and had such a good time. The river jungle theme was cute, and at the end of the game even my 17-year-old had to say goodbye to the giant giraffe statue.
What we loved:
Walkable to the pier (parking for River Country is at the pier!)
This free public park is a must-do for any age! My kids had a lot of fun on the basketball court. We didn’t even need to bring a ball, they were just left on the side of the court for anyone to use.
The playground itself is HUGE and even has a full workout section full of playground-style equipment for adults to use. When we were at the park early one morning, there were adults running on the path and getting in a workout on the equipment.
Then there are multiple climbing structures with slides for the kids, and a beautiful splashpad. Everything is done in bright colors with a beachy vibe that we loved. It’s all totally free, and even though I was traveling with teens, we visited this park twice.
The amphitheater area has free live music events in the summer season so you’ll want to keep an eye out for those on your visit.
What you’ll find:
Big playground with equipment for all ages
Splash pad (yay, water fun!)
Free parking
Clean bathrooms and tons of space to run
Museum of Coastal Carolina
📍 21 E 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
We didn’t make it this time, but this museum offers hands-on exhibits about marine life, weather, and local wildlife. It’s walkable from the pier and a great indoor option.
Perfect for: Curious kids, science lovers, and rainy days.
The Swamp Park – Zipline & Eco Adventures
📍 5550 Watts Road SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Another spot we’ll try next trip! From canopy ziplines to swamp boat eco tours, this place Offers lots for older kids and parents!
Tip: Best for ages 10+ and great for teens.
Ocean Isle Beach Pier & Arcade
📍 1 W 1st Street Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
This classic wooden pier is a total classic — and the arcade at the base adds even more fun!
What to do:
Stroll the pier for ocean views (small fee for access), though you can walk through the pier’s backyard to the patio and beach beside the pier for free.
Watch fishermen reel in their catch
Play arcade games indoors (perfect rainy day backup!)
Grab a treat and enjoy it in the shaded pier backyard area
You’ll find Scoops Ice Cream in the building at the pier, too!
Scoops Ice Cream
📍 1 W 1st Street Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
After mini-golf or park time, Scoops is the perfect cool-down treat. We took our ice cream to the pier’s backyard area behind the pier — with direct beach access and ocean breezes.
Why it’s a fave:
Tons of flavors to choose from
Quick service, even when busy
Easy walk from most attractions
Where You Should Eat: Ocean Isle Beach Restaurants
Speaking of ice cream, let’s talk food. Here’s what we enjoyed!
Sharky’s Waterfront Bar & Grill
📍 61 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Our dinner here was unforgettable — great food and equally amazing views. We ate outside on the deck and watched the boats go by as the sun set.
What we loved:
Shrimp & grits and poke bowls (so good!)
Ribeye steak and hush puppies
Chill waterfront vibe
It’s casual, delicious, and great for families.
Spilt Milk
📍 10 E 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Donuts + ice cream = yes, please. This cute spot was our final morning treat, and the kids are still talking about it.
Don’t miss:
Spilt Milk Cookies & Creme donut was awesome!
They have rotating seasonal flavors AND classics
Everything is made fresh right there, and the ice cream looked awesome. That’s definitely something we’d do next time!
Joey O’s Brick Oven Pizza
📍 6250 Beach Drive SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
After a beachy travel day, this was the perfect order-in dinner. We used DoorDash and everything came hot and ready.
Family dinner wins:
Pizza, calzone, wings, salad — all tasty!
Zeppolis for dessert = amazing
The calzone was extra cheesy with ricotta and mozzarella
Drift Coffee & Kitchen
📍 1 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Start your day or fuel up with a stop at Drift — it’s light, fresh, and totally family-friendly. We grabbed breakfast here on our first day of our trip. Everything was tasty.
On the menu:
Smoothie bowls, avocado toast, lattes
Indoor + outdoor seating with a breezy beach vibe
Ready to Plan Your Ocean Isle Beach Day?
Whether you’re zipping through the treetops, racing go-karts, or just watching the waves with ice cream in hand — Ocean Isle Beach makes family fun easy.
After several decades of combined parenting and more trips to the beach than we care to admit, the Kidding Around Team has become something of a Southeast Family-Friendly Beach expert. Add in our readers’ tips and favorites, and you have one very stout beach guide.
Inside: Local mom visits a fairy garden in Bullington Gardens located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and shares all the tips for visiting this magical garden!
Have you found the fairies in Hendersonville, NC? Bullington Gardens in Hendersonville, NC, just a little over an hour north of Greenville, SC has an adorable fairy garden over the summer. And it’s free.
What could be cuter than finding fairies in the woods? Finding them in a beautiful and fun trail at Bullington Gardens in Hendersonville, NC, of course.
C.S. Lewis, a prolific and famous author of the Narnia chronicles, wrote this to his goddaughter, Lucy, in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe:
My Dear Lucy, I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be your affectionate Godfather, C.S. Lewis
As a grown-up, are you ready to be old enough to read – or see – fairy tales again? If so, step into the Bullington Gardens Fairy Trail.
Watch! Here’s What You’ll See
Here are some scenes from our visit last year to the Fairy Trail.
The Gardens
Bullington Gardens is only a little over an hour north of Greenville and is a beautiful spot to stop and literally smell the roses. The gardens are public and encompass 12 acres right in the middle of the apple orchards in that part of Western North Carolina.
They also do several events and programs aimed at education and carry on the legacy and vision of Bob Bullington, who collected many unusual trees and plants. They often have school groups come out and learn about horticultural science.
I found the gardens to be just beautiful and so peaceful. The volunteers I interacted with were all so kind and helpful. It’s really a great place to visit for any occasion.
The Fairy Trail
The fairy trail is exactly as it sounds except cooler. The trail winds through shaded woods and guests are encouraged to find all the little fairy houses and trolls and llamas and bridges. It is really fun and entertaining!
The little worlds that the fairies inhabit are all unique and my kids and I just loved trying to find them all and figure out what was happening in each scene. The exhibits change every year (photos are from the summer of 2022 and 2023) but the creativity and genius stay the same.
The trail isn’t long, maybe a quarter-mile on natural, unpaved ground, but there are plenty of fairies and gnomes to find. Be sure to stop at the side trail before you get to the very end where there are lots of fairies and trolls and toadstools and gnomes doing yoga amongst the trees.
Bullington Gardens asks that guests be respectful of the fairies, only touch gently, and to stay on the trails. The trail is one way only so if you want to take your time, go for it but make room for others to pass. And please follow the rules of Leave No Trace, don’t litter, and don’t move the fairies from their little houses.
The Fairy Trail is open Mondays – Saturdays from June 2nd – August 31, 2025 from 9 am – 4 pm.
Special Fairy Events
Bullington Gardens is offering some cool fairy-themed events over the summer, like the Fairy Tea Party on June 10th, June 24th, and July 12th. In addition to that event, they also have a ton of other special events you can attend. Check the Bullington Gardens website for more info.
Per the gardens, parking is limited, and please do not park on Zeb Corn Road.
Tips on Visiting the Fairy Trail and Bullington Gardens
The gardens are open year-round but the Fairy Trail is only open June 1 – August 30, 2025, Mondays – Saturdays from 9 am – 4 pm.
There is no charge to visit the fairies or Bullington Gardens (unless it is a special event) but as a nonprofit, they gladly accept donations.
I saw some people with strollers but I’d say that unless you have an all-terrain stroller, it’s best to carry your littles or baby wear. The trail is natural, so not paved, which makes it hard to roll wheels on.
Please keep your children and dogs on the trail and don’t litter. The trail is one-way only.
The gardens received a grant for new restrooms, which were installed last spring.
Nearby Things to Do in Hendersonville
There are plenty of cool things to do in Hendersonville to make your trip up to see the fairies a day trip.
All Aboard! In this post, you’ll discover: 🎟️ Details on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Kids Ride Free summer deal (and how to book it) 🛤️ Two scenic train ride options: Nantahala Gorge and Tuckasegee River 🏕️ Unique lodging picks — from cozy yurts to a real 1960s caboose! 🏞️ Extra family-friendly adventures nearby, including rafting, tubing & waterfall hikes
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad has an excellent summertime deal for taking a scenic train ride out of the historic depot in North Carolina’s Bryson City. Train lovers, this is your chance to take the little ones in your family on an adventure, for much cheaper. Kids ride free on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad out of downtown Bryson City, NC this summer!
I always thought there was something oh-so-romantic about riding an old steam locomotive train. Maybe it’s just because it’s not something we do often in today’s modern world, or that the old photos of these trains often had women with beautiful, full dresses and lace umbrellas and boots – something I always thought was pretty cool.
While I don’t have a hoop skirt – and won’t anytime soon – luckily, you don’t need one to ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. This is the same Bryson City train that does the Polar Express during the Christmas season. We’ve got all the details on a pretty awesome deal they have for families over the summer, though!
Kids Ride Free on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
During the summertime, they are offering a pretty amazing deal: they are offering a free child’s ticket (ages 2-12) with every Adult ticket purchased all summer on trains that run Monday – Friday. Coach and open air tickets are only available for this promotion, so first-class cars will not be available for this deal.
Tickets are valid on one of the two scenic general excursions in Standard Coach – either the Diesel locomotive power on Tuckasegee River or Nantahala Gorge. The trains leave out of the depot in downtown Bryson City.
Ticket purchases can be made to ride May 1, 2025 – September 30th, 2025. Tickets for Kids Ride Free can’t be combined with other discounts, are subject to blackout dates, and aren’t available for special event trains. However, you will be able to access the train museum with your ticket, which kids love! Also, ask about their box lunches so you can pack light!
Most discounts are only available by phone. Contact 800-872-4681 to complete your Kids Ride Free purchase.
The Bryson City Train Ride Through the Smokies
The Great Smoky Mountains rail has 53 miles of railroad to traverse, but not every excursion uses all of those miles. There are also two tunnels and 25 bridges. Train rides roll through the majestic mountains and river gorges in an unforgettable trip. Some of the more affordable tickets even have an open-air car for the scenic train ride, with options to upgrade to coach and first class available. These Bryson City train rides are certain to make lots of memories.
The Nantahala Gorge Excursion takes guests over 44 miles to the Nantahala Gorge and back. Scenic views are plenty on this trip. You’ll see the Little Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers and travel across Fontana Lake surrounded by the mountains. This trip is 4.5 hours long, and a Standard Coach Adult ticket starts around $59.
The Tuckasegee River Excursion is a little shorter at 32 miles round trip and four hours total. Guests will see vast meadows and old railroad towns as they travel along the Tuckasegee River. Plus, you’ll pass by the set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford during this train ride. A Standard Coach Adult ticket starts around $59.
To purchase your tickets, call 800.872.4681 to utilize the Kids Ride Free deal.
Where to Stay Near the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
Use the map below to find the perfect place to stay near the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
Through an affiliate relationship with Stay22, Kidding Around earns when you book through this map.
More places to stay
There are plenty of cool places to stay in the area, but we recommend Sky Ridge Yurts, a beautiful little village of comfortable and spacious yurts about 20 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and on the edge of the Nantahala forest.
Interior of Yurt at Sky Ridge Yurts
Or if you really want a memorable experience, stay in a renovated 1960s caboose at Buffalo Creek Vacations– on a bison farm! It sleeps five people and has a full bathroom, kitchen, and living area. Plus, it has bison that freely roam the property.
Caboose rentals at Buffalo Creek Vacations
Other Things to Do in Bryson City
In Bryson City, train culture is huge. But so is the great outdoors! Bryson City, NC is a beautiful spot with lots to do but during the summer, there is almost an endless number of things to do with your family.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is fantastic for families. You can go whitewater rafting down the Nantahala River there (kids need to be at least 7 years old and 60 pounds), which is quite the adventure and something the Nantahala Outdoor Center is known for. But if you have smaller kids, you can also go tubing and enjoy the area. Next to the restaurant is a shallow area of the river perfect for wading as well. You can also pick up part of the Appalachian Trail there if you want to try it out.
You can also go tubing at Deep Creek which is at the entrance on the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. There are several outfitters that offer cheap options for tubing. Or you could bring your own tubes, drive into the park, and follow the crowd to where most people put their tubes. There aren’t really any rapids so it’s great for smaller kids but it’s really cold!
Another great tubing spot is in nearby Cherokee, NC at Smoky Mountain Tube & Raft. Ages 5 and up are able to tube.
You can also hike the Deep Creek Loop at the same entrance to the park, a trail that has three waterfalls. It’s an easy hike about two miles long.
If you love animals, history, and natural beauty, you may get a glimpse of the elk at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, about a 30-minute drive from Bryson City. There is an interesting homestead you can tour there and be sure to do the Junior Ranger Program at the visitor’s center. Elk are usually there in the mornings and late afternoon.
Also in nearby Cherokee, NC, Mingo Falls is a beautiful waterfall to see. It’s a really short hike, just a third of a mile, but it does have a lot of steps. The falls are worth it!
