Epic Things To Do in Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee, North Carolina is an amazing destination with unique history and beautiful scenery. In this post, I’ll tell you all about the very best things to do in Cherokee (and what you should skip).
Last summer my sisters and I spent a few days in Cherokee, the headquarters of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. I absolutely loved it, so now I am busy convincing everyone I know to visit.
If you want to learn about the Cherokee – past, present, and future – then this is the perfect weekend getaway for you. Plus, in addition to its cultural and historical charms, the city is tucked into the mountains of North Carolina. It is an excellent access point to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
In this post, I’ll focus on cultural activities – with a healthy dose of nature. But first, let’s talk about Cherokee’s location on the Qualla Boundary.
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Cherokee, North Carolina: A Bit of History
What is the Qualla Boundary?
The Qualla Boundary is the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (E.B.C.I.), one of three federally recognized Cherokee tribes. People often call it the Cherokee Indian Reservation, but technically it is not a reservation.
Why not? Well, because the Cherokee purchased the land themselves in the 19th century (more details below). For this reason, the Cherokee own the land outright and the Qualla Boundary is a land trust.
History of the Qualla Boundary
In the first half of the 19th century, the US government began to pressure the Cherokee to leave their ancestral home in the southeastern United States. Despite the Cherokee’s best attempts to assimilate and keep the peace, federal and state governments wanted them gone.
The tension culminated in 1838 in the tragic Trail of Tears. US troops rounded up the Cherokee and marched them to Oklahoma. Over 4,000 people died on the way. The descendants of those who survived make up the Cherokee Nation.
But some Cherokee in North Carolina managed to evade removal thanks to their chief Yonaguska and his adopted son, William Thomas. Since Thomas was white, he was allowed to buy land in North Carolina. Thomas used his own money, and money from his adopted tribe, to purchase land, and then he allowed the Cherokee to stay on it. And so the Qualla Boundary was born.
The US government wasn’t happy, but there was also nothing they could do. The Qualla Cherokee forfeited their membership in the Cherokee Nation, but eventually they reconstituted themselves as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Today, the E.B.C.I. are proud that they managed to resist removal. And they are eager to share their history and culture with the world.
Best Cultural Things To Do in Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee is an amazing place to learn about Cherokee history and culture. Here are my top picks for things to do in Cherokee!
PRO TIP: Note that Cherokee Historical Association offers bundle deals on tickets to three attractions: the Oconaluftee Indian Village, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and Unto These Hills. So if you are going to two or three of these, you can save $7-10 dollars by purchasing a bundle ticket!
Oconaluftee Indian Village
When you’re in Cherokee, the Oconaluftee Indian Village is an absolute must. Travel back in time to an 18th-century Cherokee village and learn about Cherokee history in a vivid way! Your visit starts with a tour, and then you can wander around freely.
On the tour you encounter villagers occupied in various traditional tasks, from basket-weaving to woodcarving. Next you have the opportunity to explore reconstructed Cherokee buildings from various time periods.
After your tour, head to the Council House for an informational session about Cherokee government. Or you can go to the Square Grounds to learn about Cherokee culture. My sisters and I loved learning about the seven Cherokee tribes! (These ”lectures” alternate every thirty minutes.)
At noon and 3 pm there is a special show. Depending on the time of year, it will be either a dance show or a reenactment called Time of War. Unfortunately we missed this due to COVID-19 regulations, but the rest of the Indian Village was so amazing that I am sure this is, too!
QUICK FACTS: The Oconaluftee Indian Village is open everyday except Sundays from mid-April to the end of October. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Cherokee Historical website.
Unto These Hills
The highlight of our visit to Cherokee was Unto These Hills, an outdoor theater production that tells the story of the Cherokee from the earliest times up through the Trail of Tears. The play is presented in the Mountainside Theater, which, as you might expect, is built into the slopes of the mountains.
As you watch Unto These Hills, you have an amazing view of the Smokies on the horizon. Night falls during the evening performance and adds to the charm. Historical figures come to life and you understand the crisis of the Cherokee as they struggled to deal with American incursions into their ancestral land.
You meet Tsali, a young Cherokee man determined to protect his family from white aggression. You meet Cherokee leader Yonaguska (Drowning Bear) and his adopted son, Will Thomas, who used his privileges as a white man to help create the Qualla Boundary. And you leave feeling sad and hopeful at the same time.
QUICK FACTS: Unto These Hills runs from the end of May to the end of August. Shows are typically in the evening, although some matinee options are available. You can book tickets at this link.
PRO TIP: There are a lot of different ticket options. My sisters and I reserved seats, because we wanted to be near the front, but you can also choose general admission. We ended up purchasing the Tsisdu (Rabbit) Package, which gave us admission to the Oconaluftee Indian Village and reserved seating at Unto These Hills.
Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual
Right across the street from the Museum of the Cherokee Indian is Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual. This is your go-to place for authentic Cherokee handicrafts. From baskets to jewelry to wood carvings, you can find it here.
Some of the items at Qualla Arts & Crafts can be expensive, but this is because they are made by real Cherokee craftspeople. When you purchase at Qualla, you can be certain that your money will support actual Cherokee artisans, members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. No rip-offs or cultural appropriation here.
My sisters and I purchased a mini wooden bear sculpture and some earrings. We enjoyed walking around the building and admiring the displays. Even if you can’t afford some of the larger, more detailed work, you can look at it to your heart’s content. There is no cost to enter and look around!
QUICK FACTS: Qualla Arts & Crafts is usually open from 8 to 4:30 every day, except during January and February, when it is closed on Sundays. Note also that they are closed from January 1 to January 14.
PRO TIP: Another great place to go for authentic Cherokee craftsmanship is Traditional Hands. There you can purchase wampum and silver jewelry made by Cherokee master silversmiths.
Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Even if you aren’t a museum person, you should stop by the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. This isn’t an enormous, overwhelming place; you can walk through in an hour or a little more. But it is packed with valuable information and artifacts that will help you understand who the Cherokee are.
The museum offers an interactive account of 12,000 years of Cherokee history. There are videos, life-sized figures, paintings depicting major moments, and, of course, the artifacts themselves. Especially moving are the exhibits about the Trail of Tears and its aftermath.
The Museum is on Tsali Boulevard in the heart of downtown Cherokee. You can’t miss the huge redwood sculpture of Sequoyah out front! (Sequoyah invented the Cherokee writing system – see more about that below.)
QUICK FACTS: The museum is open every day from 9 to 5. Entry is $12 for adults and $7 for children.
Explore Downtown Cherokee
It’s also worth taking some time to wander around downtown Cherokee. Here are some things to do!
Pop into the gift shops. On Tsali Boulevard (across from Qualla Arts & Crafts) you will find a lot of tourist-trap shops full of cheap trinkets. We didn’t buy anything there, since we wanted to purchase authentic Cherokee crafts. But we enjoyed strolling in and out and feeling the summer vibe.
Eat delicious ice cream. There are lots of small ice cream shops in Cherokee – a perfect snack for a summer afternoon!
Take photos with the Cherokee painted bears. All around Cherokee you will spot large bear sculptures. They are part of the Bears Project, which showcases the work of Cherokee artists. There are around 20 in all, so you could spend a fun afternoon just tracking them all down.
Look for street signs in Cherokee. Did you know that the Cherokee language has its own writing system? The Cherokee syllabary was invented by Sequoyah in the early 1800s, and it soon became popular. Today you can see Cherokee written on street signs (along with English) all over the Qualla Boundary.
PRO TIP: If you want to take a cool photo, then go to the “Cherokee Indian Reservation” welcome monument (located on US-441 heading out of Cherokee toward Great Smoky Mountain National Park).
“Welcome, Cherokee Indian Reservation” is written in Cherokee and English on neatly stacked stones, and a fountain and flower beds surround both. The easiest way to find this is to put “Oconaluftee River Trail Trailhead” into Google Maps.
SKIP: Cherokee Bonfire
The Cherokee Bonfire was the one disappointment during our visit. We went expecting the advertised Cherokee legends, but instead we got a man telling us pseudo-science about the origin of the human race.
If he had been telling us Cherokee stories about the origins of the human race, that would have been great. But instead he discussed debunked scientific theories. My sisters and I stayed for about an hour and then gave up.
It was weird because I had read some very good reviews of the bonfire. In the past it seems that the focus actually was on Cherokee legends (as advertised). So maybe we were just unlucky, but if you are pressed for time, I would skip the Cherokee Bonfire.
QUICK FACTS: The bonfire takes place from 7 to 9 on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays during the summer months.
PRO TIP: If you do decide to go, the bonfire is at the southern end of Oconaluftee Island Park, near the intersection of US-441 S (Tsali Boulevard) and Highway 19 (Tsalagi Road). The easiest thing to put into Google Maps is the Cherokee Open Air Market, which is right next to the bonfire location.
Exploring Nature In & Near Cherokee, North Carolina
Oconaluftee Islands Park
Oconaluftee Islands Park is – as you might expect – on an island in the middle of the Oconaluftee River. You park your vehicle on the riverbank and then cross a bridge to get into the park.
There are plenty of trees to offer shade, including a bamboo forest that you can stroll through. But the main attraction is the river. Children (and adults) have fun wading in the water and cooling off on hot days.
In short, Oconaluftee Islands Park is a great place to eat and hang out. Remember that ice cream I mentioned? Grab some to go and eat it at the picnic tables in the park!
Mingo Falls
Do you want to go on a fun but short hike? Mingo Falls is an excellent option! This 120-foot waterfall is one of the tallest and most beautiful in the Appalachians, according to the National Park Service.
I don’t know how Mingo Falls compares to other Appalachian waterfalls, since it’s the only one I have seen. But I can confirm that it is a very scenic place!
The hike itself will only take you about 10 minutes (although it is “moderate” in difficulty, mainly due to being uphill). You will then arrive at a wooden bridge which allows you to admire the waterfall to your heart’s content. My sisters and I spent a while there taking photos and just marveling at nature.
QUICK FACTS: Mingo Falls is about a 15-minute drive from central Cherokee. There’s a parking lot at the beginning of the trail; type “Mingo Falls Access Area” into Google Maps.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Cherokee, North Carolina is right on the edge of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There is so much to do here, but I’ll just mention two of our favorite things. And the coolest part? Everything is free!
The Mountain Farm Museum is an open-air museum just inside Great Smoky Mountain National Park. You can peek into a historic 19th-century log farmhouse and explore a variety of outbuildings. The museum is less than a 10-minute drive from central Cherokee, so it is very convenient!
It’s right behind the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, which has clean bathrooms and maps of the park. Elk are known to appear in the fields beside the center, so be on the lookout.
If you want to get a gorgeous view of the Smokies, then Clingmans Dome is the place to go next (45 minutes from Cherokee). This is the highest mountain in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and it offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.
There is a visitor center there and you can hike up a .5-mile trail to an observation tower, accessed by a circular ramp. The trail is paved, although it is quite steep. But don’t worry: if you don’t feel up to hiking, you can still get excellent views from the parking lot.
IMPORTANT: The access road to Clingmans Dome is closed between December and March due to weather.
Where To Stay in Cherokee, North Carolina
There is no shortage of hotels and motels of all kinds in the vicinity of Cherokee. You can take a look on Booking.com and choose something that suits you.
If you prefer a bit more privacy, then I recommend renting a cabin in the mountains. We booked a small cabin on Vrbo and it was lovely. We were about a 15-minute drive from downtown Cherokee, and we loved the peace and quiet. We even had a hot tub on our front porch!
Note that many properties around Cherokee won’t have wi-fi. This is due to the location in the mountains. But I see this as a good thing: a chance to unplug and truly embrace your travel adventure.
Cherokee, North Carolina: Know Before You Go
I absolutely recommend that you visit Cherokee during the summer. Unto These Hills only runs in the summer, and the Oconaluftee Indian Village is only open through the end of October. Plus, the Clingman’s Dome route closes for the winter for safety reasons.
If you’re heading to Cherokee, definitely follow the Visit Cherokee page on Facebook. They post frequently and let you know about what is open and when.
And finally . . . want to visit another important Cherokee site? Then check out my post on New Echota Historic Site in Calhoun, GA. New Echota is the former capital of the Cherokee Nation and it was at New Echota that a small band of Cherokee signed the treaty that led to the Trail of Tears.
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