Our local mail delivery always seems to be so very late, well after dark. Most recently, after…read moreseveral times checking in the afternoon, I gave up, but then heard the mail truck sometime after 8:00 pm. I see mail trucks near our area all hours of the morning and mid-day, but the White Oaks route is not covered until very late. Why? Getting out after dark is not easy for older people, and things sit in the box until next morning, risking theft. Please try to improve our service. Thank you. Richard 110 Oakwood Drive

Every time I go there It's easy to get in and out. The people working there are very friendly and…read moreinformative . I haven't had to wait in line yet

Waynesville has a Mast General Store in its downtown, which is a way of saying that it is a WNC…read moretourist place to see and be. Good restaurants. The thai place on the main drag is amazing. A great public house too. Lots of shops. Truly worth an afternoon.

I have had several contacts with members of the Waynesville Police Department. They have always…read morebeen very nice, professional, and helpful. Thank you folks for what you do!

Cherokee is a town on the reservation home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation in western…read moreNorth Carolina. We stopped by after visiting Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mingo Falls. We made a stop at a souvenir shop for affordable gifts. After picking up a salad at Wendy's we sat outside at a nice local park and watched the ducks near water. We noticed there were large casinos after we were heading out of town. I'm sure all closed during this Covid time.

I am adding one star back to the health department…read more When we went to get my kids' flu shots at an evening flu clinic, the Public Health Director, Patrick Johnson, was there to make sure that people felt welcome. He had good reason to. As I approached the building, three cheerful women asked me if I was going to get a flu shot. I heartily answered,"Yes!" while taking a flyer from one. I figured it was part of the protocol. As I walked further, I noticed that the flyer had too much print and too much of it was in red. My first hard copy of anti-vaccine propaganda! I did speak my mind. It was only one sentence and one body lingual gesture that ended in basic origami, but they got me. I was not rude. I was not extra erudite. It felt good to defy their ignorance. My kids got their shots by Mr. Johnson's posse, and, as usual, everyone was super sweet. In fact, my younger brat always states that the shots there are given in the gentlest manner possible. She loves getting shots there. The staff is efficient, and you are in and out in no time. We came late, and they did not hassle us. How the anti-vaxxers convinced a seven-year-old that night that a vaccination can give you cancer is beyond me. An article in our local paper stated that the chid started crying and stated that she did not want to get cancer. How long was the conversation? Where was her mother? Because it seems like they got to the mom, too. Hopefully, the mom and child left because the child was in such a state, and planned to go back another day. Because if my kid was crying, I would let her know that I am her boss, and that the three strangers on the sidewalk are not. One of the anti-vaccination protesters that night was a woman who has a child with autism. My child has autism as well. She has not become progressively autistic because she gets yearly shots. In fact, she could run the lab at the health department. She could change the world by inventing a vaccine that prevents strep throat. Maybe when an anti-vaxxer sees her child with a severe illness, maybe then she would alter her stance. The state of intense illness is not a time to discuss immunity as the science lesson for that day. It is the everyday become bare night. Mr. Johnson is endorsing vaccines and educating people about vaccines. That is admirable. He even appeared at an anti-vaxxer forum last summer. That takes courage and dedication. Sense and scientific intelligence are not dead. Yeah, so, if you want great health care, go to the health department. They even have an evening clinic one Thursday a month, but call first to set up an appointment. Klaatu barada nikto.

Every time I come here (which is often, I'm in nursing school and need lots of physicals and…read morevaccinations), I am met with friendly front desk ladies, the nurses are wonderful, and of course the lab tech/phlebotomist Cheryl is always so helpful and sweet. I never hesitate to refer someone here. I know they all have tough jobs, and I leave impressed every time.

This is a short diversion of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the windy road down to Brevard. Having…read morepassed through the area many times, it was not on my radar; my knowledge of forestry is slightly greater than zero, but it is certainly not my forte. This place is federally owned, and they do charge admission. A national parks pass resulted in a discount down to $4 a person for me. I did receive a warm welcome. The well-produced introductory movie tells a story of the Biltmore mansion that I did not get a sense of when I actually visited Biltmore. It emphasizes a group of people who pioneered a form of stewardship of the surrounding forests well before the modern environmental movement. It sounds hagiographic at times and I'm sure there's more to the story, but when the film concludes, one can't help but notice that the surrounding forest, which was apparently logged extensively at one point, looks awfully good today. Several paved trails lead one through various exhibitions, including a tunnel under the road that I didn't even notice driving in. The plant life is diverse, and the terrain is easier to cover here than elsewhere making it a good choice for travelers with mild mobility limitations. I couldn't help but find it a uniquely interesting aesthetic experience.

Great place for kids and adults alike. Good for a family outing. All trails are loops and…read moreapproximately one mile long so do as many as you like. Historical forestry buildings with descriptive signage are located along the various trails. Take the Forest Discovery Trail less traveled. I suggest taking it down from the old locomotive, as up from the visitor center has a longer uphill trek.

Very nice museum. Not many original and old artifacts as you would expect. Alot of recent…read moreinformation etc.

On our recent visit to Great Smoky Mountains, husband decided to come here since we were in the…read morearea, and it was an interesting pit stop! We were able to secure admission tickets via Viator, which meant we could use our Viator credits to buy tickets! Woohoo. The experience was informative, educational, but a bit underwhelming. We're glad the Cherokee people are able to maintain their history thru this museum, and we even brought home a souvenir from their gift shop. It's worth a visit if you happen to be in the area, and there's a burger restaurant down the road from the museum that serves delicious burgers with a view of the river!

Cowee Mountain Overlook is perhaps the most scenic and wide open overlook on the Blue Ridge…read moreParkway. I haven't been to every overlook, so I can't say that for certain. But of the BRP overlooks I have seen in North Carolina, this most certainly is my favorite. That being said, as you drive the Parkway, you will have many "new" favorites along the way. Some offer the same view from a different angle, however, sometimes the angle makes ALL the difference. For example, nearby overlooks such as Richland Balsam, Beartrail Ridge Gap, and Haywood Gap all basically have the exact same view as Cowee Mountain Overlook, but vegetation plays a huge factor in the viewing field. Other stops such as Graveyard Fields offer a hiking trail and waterfalls while Lone Bald Overlook sits directly on a mountain ridge and you can see for miles in BOTH directions. Cowee Mountain Overlook is located @ mile post 430.7, just a mile from Richland Balsam which is the highest elevation on the Parkway @ 6,053. Although Cowee is slightly less elevated @ 5,950 feet, it is superior in view. Also, since it is over a mile above sea level, I gave my wife a smooch and told her we are officially in he mile high club. Although I'm sure we don't fit the dirtier parameters of the club, we're calling it a win anyway :-) FINAL THOUGHTS When making plans to visit Asheville, Brevard or Cherokee and only have time to stop at one overlook, make it this one!!! If you have time for three, include Lone Bald Overlook and Courthouse Valley Overlook. Enjoy!!! 2018/73

this is the first lookout tower i have ever been on & it was REMARKABLE. below is some hopefully…read morehelpful information about the lookout tower. is it scary ? - the very simple answer is yes. it is pretty scary especially when you go on a windy day & the entire tower shakes while you walk on up it. however, you should know what you are getting yourself into. you're climbing a lookout tower on the top of a mountain! it's not easy but, it is worth it. don't look until you get to the top! sadly the very top of the lookout tower is locked but, you can still sit right below it for the same experience. bringing kids & dogs - starting with kids, i think you should only bring your kids when they reach the age where they won't wonder off of the side of a mountain. that age may vary, it really depends on the trust you have with them. as for dogs, i think they will love the trail but not so much the tower itself. while i was there i saw multiple dogs attempt a few stairs & then run back down in fear. i don't blame them haha! directions - i honestly just used apple maps for directions but, i will try to describe where to go in case you can't use apple maps. there is a campground called mount pisgah campground & it is very close to the lookout tower. it is on blue ridge parkway. if you are looking at the entrance to the campground you need to turn left & continue down blue ridge parkway until you see the first pull off / walking path to the right. from there you make your way up the path. it is a short walk however, you will be walking up in a incline for the most part. some websites say that the trail is on forest service road 450 but, i don't know how accurate that is. recommendations - if you go in march, i suggest bringing a sweater / jacket. the higher in the mountains you get, the colder it gets. i also recommend that you bring a water no matter the time of year. in conclusion, this is a must do! it is an easy little walk with a scenic drive on the way up & down the mountain. it will take you maybe three hours at most.