Valentine's Weekend Getaway In The NC Smokies

  • Monday, January 30, 2017

Winter is a great time for a quiet mountain getaway in the Smokies and with the long Valentine's Day / President's Day weekend coming up Bryson City NC has some great options for travelers looking for a special weekend in the mountains.

Feb. 11, "Uncorked" – Full-service all-adult first class wine experience train ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad's Tuckasegee River excursion (includes a stopover in historic Dillsboro). Narrator onboard to discuss each pairing of four wines with a meal that includes a sampling of local cheeses, a surf & turf entree and a selection of locally-made chocolates. Each passenger receives a souvenir stemless wine glass. Age 21 and over only. 11 a.m800-872-4681GSMR.com/uncorked.

Feb. 10-13, Nantahala Brewing Company will host the annual release of their Chocolate Covered Cherry Stout in both a regular and barrel-aged version. Celebrate at the Tap Room as well as at their new restaurant The Warehouse, NantahalaBrewing.com.

For Valentine's, The Fudge Depot will feature their signature fudge and chocolates, as well as chocolate baskets filled with chocolate-covered strawberries. La Dolce Vita Bakery will have Valentine's cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and chocolate-covered strawberries. The Chocolate Shoppe will offer heart-shaped assortment boxes as well as chocolate-covered strawberries with milk, dark and white options. The Village Florist will offer long-stemmed roses and other bouquets.

Bryson City has a variety of restaurant choices for that romantic dinner — from juicy steaks and hamburgers to gourmet meals and Italian or Mexican dishes. GreatSmokies.com/dining

Lodging options include B&Bs and Inns, condos and lofts, motels and hotels, and cabins. The Folkestone Inn is offering their guests a four-course gourmet dinner on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Bryson City is one hour west of Asheville; two hours from Knoxville, Greenville/Spartanburg and Chattanooga; and three hours from Atlanta and Charlotte.

Travel
Blue Whales: Return Of The Giants 3D Brings The Planet’s Largest Animal To Chattanooga’s Biggest Screen
  • 2/29/2024

Blue Whales are the largest animal ever to have lived, but just reading that doesn’t quite convey their colossal proportions. They are bigger than the biggest dinosaur and weigh as much as ... more

Dan Fleser: Visiting St. Simons And Jekyll Islands
Dan Fleser: Visiting St. Simons And Jekyll Islands
  • 2/27/2024

After a day on the road last week, yours truly and fellow traveler Mike dropped anchor near the Atlantic Coast in Brunswick, Ga. We were unwinding at a local watering hole when a good Samaritan ... more

Tennessee RiverLine Announces 3 New Communities Enrolled In Tennessee RiverTowns Program
  • 2/23/2024

The Tennessee RiverLine announced Lawrence County, Al.; Calloway County, Ky.; and Dayton, Tn., as the 2024 cohort of the Tennessee RiverTowns Program. Now comprised of 22 enrolled communities, ... more