This is a beautiful part of Western North Carolina, surrounded by the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains. There are so many fun things to do in and near the city of Cherokee, NC! This list of 6 is just a few of our favorites!

1. Museum of the Cherokee Indian
2. Pan Fer’ Gold
3. Mingo Falls
4. Oconaluftee Visitor Center/Mountain Farm
5. Mingus Mill
6. Oconaluftee Islands Park

1. Museum of the Cherokee Indian

We have been to the city of Cherokee, North Carolina several times in the past few years. Each time we are there, I ask my husband if we can go to the museum, but we usually run out of time before we can go there. This year, we made the time to see the museum and I’m very glad we did, and so is my husband! This museum really tells the story of the Cherokee People and the plight of the Native Americans in our part of the country.

MISSION: “To preserve and perpetuate the history, culture, and stories of the Cherokee People” Museum of the Cherokee Indians

I was thankful that during this Pandemic, the museum was open and practicing social-distancing. The number of people who were allowed to enter at one time was limited, and face masks were required. The museum is large enough for people to be in separate parts of the museum. The huge wooden statue in front of the museum had a mask on.

**If you would like to receive our weekly newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, please subscribe here and come along on our Adventures!** You will receive the free printable “My Bucket List” just for signing up.

The exhibits were very well done. The statues were impressive and the artifacts were interesting. The “Story of the Cherokees” goes back to the time that the mastodons roamed the Appalachians to the present day. Their story is told through life-size statues, animation, artwork, and priceless artifacts.

The hologram of a “medicine man” was really interesting. He spoke about of the way the Cherokees used plants as medicine.

• 

• 

EMISSARIES OF PEACE: 1762 CHEROKEE & BRITISH DELEGATIONS

This was a very interesting display! The Cherokee People made peace with the British. These life-like men were Emissaries that traveled to London to meet King George III.

We were impressed with this museum, there is so much more than I have shared here! I know you and your family will enjoy this very informative museum.

2. Pan Fer’ Gold

Pan Fer’ Gold is a fun activity for young and old! We did this twice during our week in Cherokee, NC. There are many options to choose from; Pan for rubies & sapphires, Pan for Emeralds, or Pan for Gold. You can buy a bag or bucket, they even offer a souvenir bucket and shovel that you can take home. The bag or bucket is filled with sand, dirt, and gemstones. 

You sit on a bench in front of a trough filled with running water with your bucket or bag and a shifter. You then slowly empty it into the shifter and using the water you will wash away the sand and dirt to discover the gemstones. Their prices are reasonable and it’s a really fun activity! After you find your gems, you can go inside to sit with a gemologist who inspects what you found. If you want, they will make your stones into jewelry or you can just take your stones home.

• 

• 

This photo shows a few of the gemstones that we found. The Amethyst and the Emeralds are really nice! We found out that North Carolina has a significant amount of emerald deposits.

3. Mingo Falls

Mingo Falls is located just outside the city of Cherokee on the Indian Reservation(Qualla Boundary). It’s one of the tallest waterfalls in North Carolina at 120 feet tall. The hike to the falls is about 0.4 miles and includes 161 steps. It’s considered a moderate hike, my husband and I didn’t have any trouble with it. It’s a beautiful waterfall and worth seeing!

Waterfalls of North Carolina

• 

• 

The area around the falls is also very pretty. After the waterfalls cascades down 200 feet over rocks and boulders, it continues down the mountain side.

4. Oconaluftee Visitor Center/Mountain Farm

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is located on Hwy 441 just outside the city of Cherokee. It is the main welcome and information center for the Great Smoky National Park on the North Carolina side. The museum inside recounts the history of life in the Smokies from Native Americans and early European settlers, through the creation of the National Park. You will also find great maps and publications that are for sale.

Mountain Farm Museum

The Mountain Farm Museum is a collection of farm buildings moved here from locations throughout the park. Some of the buildings include a house, barn, apple house, springhouse, and smokehouse. Most of the buildings were built in the late 19th century and were moved here in the 1950s. This “outside” museum is just adjacent to the visitor center.

In the field by the barn/stable, we saw a herd of elk grazing. I had never seen elk up close before! It was really amazing to see so many of them, and to learn that they are protected in the Park.

Fun Fact: The last of the eastern elk disappeared from North Carolina in the 1790s. The National Park Service successfully reintroduced elk to the Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2001. They are sometimes called Cataloochee elk.

5. Mingus Mill

Built in 1886 ,the Mingus Mill is a historic grist mill that uses a water-powered turbine instead of a water wheel to power all of the machinery in the building. There is a Miller on site to demonstrate the grinding of corn into cornmeal(this was not available due to coronavirus).

Highlights of the Mill

• Water flows down a millrace to the mill.
• A working cast iron turbine.
• A Miller demonstrates the process of grinding corn into cornmeal(not available at this time).
• Cornmeal and other mill-related items are available for purchase at the mill(no longer for sale).

6. Oconaluftee Islands Park

The Oconaluftee Isalnds Park is located in Cherokee on the Oconaluftee River. The Island splits the River in two. We had a picnic by the river and watched some children play in the river. It’s a nice park with restrooms, picnic areas, and bridges that cross the river. You can also walk down a trail that goes by a small bamboo forest that grows by the river.

• 

• 

In Conclusion

Cherokee, North Carolina is one of our favorite places to go! There are so many fun things to do! I have listed our “top 6” favorites. I would love to know if you have been to this part of North Carolina and what was your favorite thing to do? Please leave a comment, share on social media, and PIN the photos.

**If you would like to receive our weekly newsletters and come along with us on our adventures, please subscribe here and receive your free printable “My Bucket List”

---

*You may also enjoy reading; Top 8 Favorite Travel Destinations of 2019

---

---