Mingus Mill is a very short drive from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. So if you are close by it is…read morecertainly worth a stop to see this gem. Mingus Mill was built in 1886. It is a water powered turbine grist mill that is still operational and in its original location. You can buy corn ground there as well as flour, cornmeal, lye soap and some jams and apple butter. It is cash only. Once you pull into the parking area, it is a short walk to get to the mill. The mill is two stories and you can explore both levels. Restrooms are available at the parking area. If you wish there are some trails you can take to see more of Mingus Creek.

We heard they did tours so we stopped. There was no tours, not sure if they no longer offer them or…read moremaybe just stopped at a bad time. You can still see the outside of the mill which is very cool!

Carolina Bound Adventures basically made our trip to North Carolina. They provide any adventure you…read morecan think of. I only wished I could do them all in our vacation! Mark and Dave were our guides for a Jeep Tour and a Canoeing tour. They were both very accommodating and very knowledgeable about the cultural and environmental history of the area. This really was one of my favorite birthday trips I've taken in a while and North Carolina will always have a special place in my heart because of this. I usually try to travel to different places I've never been to before but I really want to go back to NC! Definitely do not hesitate to book with Carolina Bound Adventures! You will have the best time!

My husband and I went kayaking on Fontana Lake. Great experience from start to finish! Owners…read morewere very friendly, had everything organized, and gave great directions on where to meet up. Kayaks, paddles and vests were all in great shape. Kayaking on the lake was quiet and peaceful. Highly recommend this company if you are looking to kayak or paddleboard!

I booked an afternoon trip for the East Fork of the French Broad River which is 30 minutes from…read morewhere I'm staying in Saphire, NC. My guide sends me instructions the night before to meet him 1:45 minutes away in the Nantahala Gorge. I now have to coordinate a different location because the East Fork is too far for him. So we settle on the Tuckaseegee River in Webster. The morning of the trip, he texts me and says his truck broke down and has to cancel the trip. I called Gordon who tells me he thinks he has another guide who can take me, and he'll call me one way or the other within 30-45 minutes. An hour later, I still don't hear from him but reach the guide who says he can meet a bit later. Gordon finally calls and gives me excuses as to why he didn't call me. But due to all the drama caused between coordinating with his guide the day before and the day of the trip, I was no longer in a happy frame of mind. So Gordon cancelled the trip. Birthday trip ruined. Don't use this company. It's too much hassle coordinating a trip. And Gordon has no idea how to handle a bad situation.

My wife and I were excited to reserve Gordon for a 4 hour wading guided fly fishing tour…read more Unfortunately, we were sourced another guide who was nice enough, but was unable to put us on fish. Staying in Highlands, Gordon was transparent that we might be required to drive ~45 min to the fishing location, which we agreed too. I was not contacted by our new guide until 5pm the day before the trip. We spoke briefly, and he mentioned we should commute to Cherokee to fish. We agreed to the hour and a half drive. Our guide was convinced an early start was not necessary. After arriving at the fishing spot, we noticed there were fishermen already there, and walked about a mile and a half from the vehicle down stream to a different location. After getting in the water, and after a couple nibbles, my wife finally landed a couple (2) trout within the first hour and a half. Moments later, we were abruptly disrupted by a river attendant throwing net after net full of trout over a 3 story bank into the rock bed below. Half the fish hit the water hard, the other half hit the rocks....Clearly stocking the river and cruelly traumatizing and killing fish, our guide went on to comment that this specific fishing spot he would not eat the fish out of, as the trout are farm raised. This was a major turn off for my wife and I, needless to say. We did not catch a fish the rest of the trip. 2 fish across 4 hours is unacceptable. Our guide was a great guy, and certainly helped us with some technique and tying the flys, but I will never return to this specific spot to fish, let alone pay any guide to bring me there. I called Gordon and explained the situation. He was unfazed and did not offer any remedy.

We were on a family vacation where we landed at the Knoxville airport and needed to stay overnight…read more It wasn't a destination town for us but I decided since we'd never been to Tennessee before to get a tour before we headed east. I looked online and found KISS Caboose was free and goes based on tips, which I thought was fantastic since we had two children under 10, that wouldn't appreciate the tour as much as my husband and I would. I called to make a reservation and Gina picked up even though she was in the middle of a busy event. I told her the day and times that we would be available and she hooked us up with one of her best tour guides, Jennifer. I cannot express how excellent the tour was. I guess the best way to put it is I want to live in Knoxville now! It was an hour long in a adorable little bus. She was able to show us historical sites and buildings, and some of the local must go to shops and murals. She even pulled over and took pictures of our family in front of the murals! Coming from the west coast her accent was delightful and her knowledge was astounding. I was never interested in history but she left me with historical knowledge that I think I will never forget. She met us at the Art Museum which is free and also AWESOME with a great gift shop which she also recommended. If you are in a very small party of 2 to 5 people max, then please check them out, even if you're a local, you may learn a few things.

Gina was hired for a recent career fair and was my angel! Lost for over an hour trying to find…read moreparking I was a bit distraught since time was running out and I hate being late. She helped me find parking, picked me up, made me laugh and gave me the number in case I needed her. Fantastic and fun ride!

Randall was great. He answered all our questions in a timely manner. I would highly recommend him.read more

From the owner: Thoughtful European travel, planned with care…read more “People don’t take trips — trips take people.” — John Steinbeck. I help travelers plan meaningful European journeys built around their interests, pace, and comfort level. My specialty is Europe, with a strong focus on river cruises, escorted tours, and custom itineraries for travelers who want expert guidance without stress. I work remotely by design and serve clients nationwide, allowing for flexible planning without the need for in-person meetings. Whether you’re dreaming of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, or beyond, I’ll help you choose the right style of travel — from a thoughtfully selected river cruise to a fully customized itinerary designed just for you. Why work with me: Save time: I cut through information overload and present clear, curated options. Save money: I apply all eligible promotions and agency offers when quoting. Travel with confidence: Every detail is handled before you go. There are no fees for booking cruises and tours, and I’m available outside regular office hours by request. Let me do the planning — so you can focus on enjoying the journey. Call today to get the conversation started!

Do not- I repeat do not rent from Sweetheart Limo. After being over 2 hrs late, multiple lies by…read moreSL staff and a driver who came in dirty jeans and shirt for the pick up of my son and his new wife for the wedding and take them to their destination. The limo had a blow out tire. After getting the tire fixed with much back and forth with who ever the driver was talking to, then before they could go any further. my son had to fill up the limo with gas because the driver didn't have any money and the fuel card was zero. They got back on the road and within 30 mins the limo had broken down again. My son instructed the driver to get them to an exit and they were getting out of the car. My husband went and picked them up and took them on to their honeymoon destination. I spoke with Randy, one of the owners and he was clueless and could have cared less. I asked to speak to Jean, "the other owner" on Aug 9th at 10 p.m and today is Aug 12th at 6 pm and I have yet to hear from her.

Terrible service. Waited for two whole hours with students for a pickup to take them to a lunch…read more The limo never showed and all we got was a lame excuse. The poor kids earned a reward and this company ruined it for them.