Don And Renies places to see and visit
City/town information
Our Local cities and towns to visit. Tons to see and do!
Our local “city”
Main Street - Lots of shops
Courthouse / library - Most photographed courthouse in NC
Innovation Brewery - great burgers in the food trailer
Lulus - On main street - great food
Mexican - At the ABC shopping center
Creekside Seafood - real seafood
124 locals recommend
Sylva
Our local “city”
Main Street - Lots of shops
Courthouse / library - Most photographed courthouse in NC
Innovation Brewery - great burgers in the food trailer
Lulus - On main street - great food
Mexican - At the ABC shopping center
Creekside Seafood - real seafood
Dogwood Crafters - Co-op crafts co-founded by Don in 1976.
Innovation Brewery - 2nd location as well as Sylva NC
Lots of other shops to browse thru
64 locals recommend
Dillsboro
Dogwood Crafters - Co-op crafts co-founded by Don in 1976.
Innovation Brewery - 2nd location as well as Sylva NC
Lots of other shops to browse thru
Peters Pancakes - Our favorite place in the WORLD to have breakfast. Long lines so ask for an immediate set at the bar.
Great smoky mountains national park - Most visited national park in America. Stop at the visitors center to see the frequent grazing elk early mornings and late afternoon
Blue Ridge Parkway - Just outside of Cherokee is the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway - See a separate entry for details - a MUST see!
304 locals recommend
Cherokee
Peters Pancakes - Our favorite place in the WORLD to have breakfast. Long lines so ask for an immediate set at the bar.
Great smoky mountains national park - Most visited national park in America. Stop at the visitors center to see the frequent grazing elk early mornings and late afternoon
Blue Ridge Parkway - Just outside of Cherokee is the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway - See a separate entry for details - a MUST see!
Elevated Mountain Distillery - Tour is fantastic. Taste moonshine. Purchase moonshine and gift items
Wheels Thru Time - The best motorcycle museum I have ever seen. If yu are a biker this is a MUST see
108 locals recommend
Maggie Valley
Elevated Mountain Distillery - Tour is fantastic. Taste moonshine. Purchase moonshine and gift items
Wheels Thru Time - The best motorcycle museum I have ever seen. If yu are a biker this is a MUST see
Mast general store - An old time general store on main street. Well worth a visit
Barbers Orchard - A large commercial apple orchard. Order the apple turnovers!
papas and Beer - one of our favorite Mexican restaurants - arrive hungry!
Junaluska Lake - A nice place to hike around a mountain lake
184 locals recommend
Waynesville
Mast general store - An old time general store on main street. Well worth a visit
Barbers Orchard - A large commercial apple orchard. Order the apple turnovers!
papas and Beer - one of our favorite Mexican restaurants - arrive hungry!
Junaluska Lake - A nice place to hike around a mountain lake
The home of Western Carolina University - Renie and I taught here for a total of 33 years. A thriving university. Visit the Mountain Heritage Museum
7 locals recommend
Cullowhee
The home of Western Carolina University - Renie and I taught here for a total of 33 years. A thriving university. Visit the Mountain Heritage Museum
Waterfalls to visit
Western NC Carolina has 100s of waterfalls.
Some of our favorites:
Mingo falls in Cherokee NC
Dry falls and Bridal Veil Falls - Outside of Highlands nC on the road toward Franklin NC
Soco Falls On the road from Soco Gap off the parkway toward Cherokee NC
Dry Falls
U.S. 64Bridal Veil Falls
Soco Falls
U.S. Highway 19Sightseeing
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of our favorite places in the world!
Start at the beginning in Cherokee. (but stop at Peters Pancakes for breakfast first)
Next a short side trip to the Great Smoky Mountains visitor center (Good chance of seeing Elk early in the morning)
Back track to the Blue ridge Parkway entrance.
1st stop - Water rock knob. Our favorite overlook on the parkway. Visitors center. Bathrooms. wonderful views.
2nd possible stop or exit. Soco gap. You can exit here to grt to amggie Valley or Cherokee NC. Suggest you keep going!
3 rd possible stop or exit. Balsam Gap. You can exit here to get to Waynesville NC or back to our place in Sylva . Again we suggest you keep going.
4th stop. The highest point on the parkway . Great views. Picture opportunity.
5th stop or exit. Hwy 215 which takes you to Waynesville NC . Again we suggest you keep going.
6th Stop. The Pisga Inn. A wonderful place for a meal! Beautiful views. bathrooms. Nice gift shop. Such a nice lace our daughter choose this location for her wedding
From here we typically back track to Highway 215 and drive into Waynesville.
Or continue on the parkway to Asheville NC
NOTE: We hike the Mountains to Sea Trail off the Blue Ridge parkway. Many wonderful day hikes. Ask us for a list of our favorites
250 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge ParkwayThe Blue Ridge Parkway is one of our favorite places in the world!
Start at the beginning in Cherokee. (but stop at Peters Pancakes for breakfast first)
Next a short side trip to the Great Smoky Mountains visitor center (Good chance of seeing Elk early in the morning)
Back track to the Blue ridge Parkway entrance.
1st stop - Water rock knob. Our favorite overlook on the parkway. Visitors center. Bathrooms. wonderful views.
2nd possible stop or exit. Soco gap. You can exit here to grt to amggie Valley or Cherokee NC. Suggest you keep going!
3 rd possible stop or exit. Balsam Gap. You can exit here to get to Waynesville NC or back to our place in Sylva . Again we suggest you keep going.
4th stop. The highest point on the parkway . Great views. Picture opportunity.
5th stop or exit. Hwy 215 which takes you to Waynesville NC . Again we suggest you keep going.
6th Stop. The Pisga Inn. A wonderful place for a meal! Beautiful views. bathrooms. Nice gift shop. Such a nice lace our daughter choose this location for her wedding
From here we typically back track to Highway 215 and drive into Waynesville.
Or continue on the parkway to Asheville NC
NOTE: We hike the Mountains to Sea Trail off the Blue Ridge parkway. Many wonderful day hikes. Ask us for a list of our favorites
Breweries
Good handcrafted beer and a great food truck. Burgers are huge and juicy
99 locals recommend
Innovation Brewing Company
414 W Main StGood handcrafted beer and a great food truck. Burgers are huge and juicy
Snow skiing
Cataloochee Ski Area
1080 Ski Lodge RdMotorcycle places and rides
Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum
62 Vintage LnTail of the Dragon
17555 Tapoco RdThe Rattler
North Carolina 209Sylva Resturants
Lulu's On Main
678 W Main StHandcrafted beer with a great food truck. Renie likes the dark beers. Don likes the handcrafted HOT ginger ale. The food truck burgers are huge and juicy!
99 locals recommend
Innovation Brewing Company
414 W Main StHandcrafted beer with a great food truck. Renie likes the dark beers. Don likes the handcrafted HOT ginger ale. The food truck burgers are huge and juicy!
We like two restaurants in Sylva. This is Dons favorite. Renie likes The Colima Mexican Restaurant. Try both?
12 locals recommend
El Patron Mexican Restaurant
86 Walmart PlazaWe like two restaurants in Sylva. This is Dons favorite. Renie likes The Colima Mexican Restaurant. Try both?
As mentioned before we like two Mexican Restaurants. This is Renie’s favorite!
Colima Mexican Restaurant
62 E Sylva Shopping CenterAs mentioned before we like two Mexican Restaurants. This is Renie’s favorite!
Yes there is a third Mexican choice. We eat here on occasion. Large portions of Mexican fare.
Mesquite Grill Mexican Restaurant
410 E Main StYes there is a third Mexican choice. We eat here on occasion. Large portions of Mexican fare.