This was a trip back in time to enjoy the tribe showing the ways of crafting, weapons making and…read morethe classic housing. With the finale being the dances of the tribe. This is well worth visiting to see the culture and the wonderful people.

Oconaluftee Indian Village is a great place to visit to learn more about the Cherokee and how they…read morelived in the 1700s. As I bought a combo ticket with Unto the Hills and wasn't given a ticket for the Village I arrived with my receipt and ticket for the show. That was scanned and allowed me in. Tours start about every 15 minutes or when a large enough group is formed. The tour is guided and we stopped at stations to learn about weaving; bead work; woodworking. Some of the stops were at dwellings and ritual sites. We saw traps for animals. They had a unique way to catch fish with the trap that was placed in the water. Some of the stops didn't have anyone working so the guide just talked about it. One guide took us on the tour and two separate guides talked with tour groups mixed together about the customs and rituals in the Council House. There was no dancing done at the dance grounds. They did talk about the different tribes.

Nice little gallery with some cool things from local and non-local artists. Unfortunately no hours…read moreare posted on the door or the website, so you'll have to guess if they're open. I was there Saturday afternoon and they were open, but I tried to go back Sunday at 10:45am to buy more things but I was unable to do so. When I was there they were hosting a basket weaving class that looked like a lot of fun. Sadly I can't find anything about when those happen, if it is a regular thing etc. We were only in town through today, but it would be nice to know for future visits to the mountains.

Debbie, the owner, is the loveliest lady and very knowledgeable about all of her products and local…read morehistory. I can't wait to come back.

This is a great little place, to visit for the day. A lot of little shops and no trolls or zombies…read moreout and about. If you looking for a quick visit, this is your place. When looking for the elks and they couldn't be found.

After visiting Navajo Monument Valley last year, coming to Cherokee Indian Reservation made for a…read morefascinating afternoon. The area is beautiful, and it breaks my heart that the Cherokee were forced to leave it on the trail of tears. We were fascinated by the street signs in Cherokee language. Unfortunately, due to the Covid, the tribal village was closed and the outdoor pageant had been cancelled for the whole year. I would have loved to experience both of those and maybe ride a tube down the river as we saw many tourists doing. Driving down mainstreet Cherokee, we saw a few small Native American dance performances. I absolutely realized they were put on for tips and to lure tourists into the gift shops, but I couldn't help to stop and watch. I would love to come back during a "regular" year and experience more of the authentic Cherokee culture. True, there is an ugly casino and cheap tourist trap stores, but there are also some authentic trading posts and much of value to see here. I would recommend making a trip to Mingo Falls if you pass through, very beautiful and accessible without a long hike.

Theater was clean and very comfortable we enjoyed our time at the movie and would recommend this…read moretheater. The sound quality was excellent and the visuals were great.

Staff here is friendly, prices are great, it's easy to get in and out, and overall this place is a…read morepretty good place to go to catch a movie. Only caveat I would note, which unfortunately not much can be done about, is the seating itself. Because this is an older style theater, the vast majority of the seating is set up in a way that you're having to tilt your head backwards and stare UP at the screen to see the show (unlike that being reserved for the bottom couple rows that nobody sits in at a modern theater). Still a good place to go in a pinch, and again, friendly staff and service, so if you're wanting to check out the latest movie (and don't want to drive into Asheville to see it), check this place out!

We were in the area and came across the Wheels Through Time museum. I am a rider, though my mother…read moreis not, but it still interested her so we decided to go for a walk through. What they have done here is quite frankly astounding. A significant portion of the motorcycles on display are still running, and are fired up on a regular basis for patrons to hear, see, and receive the visceral impact of what those bikes are truly like. The bikes are primarily of American heritage, with very few European or Japanese bikes making a showing, but that is alright. The representation of manufacturers, many of them now defunct, is excellent. For any motorcycle enthusiast, this is definitely a place that they should visit at some point. The scenery in the area is amazing for a rider, and the historical heritage that is represented inside this museum is top notch.

This place truly is something special! Good for all ages…read moreyoung and mature. The displays are awesome and gives you quite the history lesson. Everything in the museum runs and they will start anything for you. They have employees that go around and ask if you have any questions about anything on display. Two floors filled with awesomeness! They also have a gift shop area filled with goodies to take home with you. The employees there are very friendly and helpful. Also, they are currently raffling off a motorcycle that you can have a chance to win. Lastly I want to mention that they switch out the displays so if you've been here before they are always adding in new stuff. Do yourself a favor and go check this place out!

The Museum of the American House Cat is one of those stops that feels both interesting and quirky…read morein the best possible way, the kind of place that you pull into on a whim and walk out of smiling because it exists at all. The collection is a tight little maze of memorabilia, artwork, toys, signage and all the odd bits of feline history someone loved enough to gather, and we were through it in less than twenty minutes which honestly would have been quicker except Oliver the tabby, one of the resident cats, decided that we were worth his time. He let us pet him a bit and that small moment of cat diplomacy ended up being almost as memorable as anything in the cases. I kept thinking about a similar museum I visited near Gettysburg that was all about elephants. A fun comparison because I do not have elephants as pets and the emotional connection is of course different. Cats are part of daily life for so many people and that makes this place feel more personal and more playful. The displays are charming without trying to be anything grander than what they are and that honesty makes it work. As a break from driving through the North Carolina mountains, this was exactly the kind of distraction I hope for on a road trip, something small and strange and delightful that reminds you why detours are worth taking. I am genuinely pleased we swung off the main route for it because it added a little spark to the day and gave us a story to carry forward, and sometimes that is all you want from a roadside museum dedicated to the creatures who rule our homes. [Review 455 of 2026 - 4587 in North Carolina - 25638 overall]

Definitely worth a stop if you are a fan of cats! Even my boyfriend's parents (who are dog people)…read morethought it was interesting. This small museum is absolutely packed with cat collectibles, sorted by theme (clocks, Halloween, music, etc.) There is even a mummified cat from Egypt. My favorite thing was the carousel with the various cat figures on it. Well, my REAL favorite thing was the couple of kitties running around wanting pets! The museum supports the cage-free, no-kill shelter, Catman2 Shelter, so pay your $10 entry fee, pick up some goodies in the gift shop, and know that it's benefitting a good cause.

What a fantastic Gallery & Shop! This gallery had been on Main St. for years but never gets old…read more One of my favorite places to shop in all of WNC.

I contacted this office last winter (of 2017). Mr. Allred, the Services Officer, got right back to…read moreme. He is a very nice man who cares about helping others. His office is located on the third floor of the courthouse. Open eight a.m. to five p.m. Mr. Allred can help with: -Pensions -Compensation -Education Benefits -Medical Care -Burial Benefits -Discharge Upgrades -Loans Terrific service all around.