Cherokee North Carolina

[pamlet]

Well we’re back from vacation. We had a wonderful time “camping” in North Carolina. Stayed at the Cherokee KOA in a kamping kabin. It’s a little 2 room log cabin with two SMALL bunkbeds in the front room and a double bed in the back room. There is no AC or heat in the cabins at the Cherokee KOA but we didn’t need either the whole time we were there. There’s electricity (but no cooking) in the cabin and a ceiling fan in each room.

This KOA is BEAUTIFUL … a river running over rocks were right in front of our cabin and a small stream behind it. We also had a view of the mountains. It was so relaxing to sit in the morning out by the river with a cup of coffee watching folks fly fishing! Hubby and kids tubed down the river one day – what was supposed to be a 1 ½ hour trip – turned into 3 .. and they had a blast … the water was freezing and they got sun burned (forgot their sunscreen).

My kids gave me a screen room for Mother’s Day – which was a great addition for our “kitchen”. Though when we set it up we had trouble staking it – then forgot about it not being staked down. The next afternoon I was sitting by the river reading when WHOOSH a gust of wind came by and the room ended up in the neighbors “yard”… laugh. The neighbors and I got it upright, then I put big river rocks in trash bags and attached to the 5 poles. That worked GREAT for the rest of the trip!

We went to Oconaluftee Indian Village and Unto These Hills play. The village is beautiful and very well done. It explains the Cherokee culture and heritage. It was fascinating to see the demonstrations of crafts and tool making. The play was so-so. It was rewritten this year … it’s VERY interpretive … the music and dance were great – but the story of the Trail of Tears is not very clear. I think if someone didn’t know the story they’d get lost.

On the way home we stopped at the Boyd’s Bear store in Pigeon Forge. If you’re a bear collector you’d think you died and went to heaven – 4 stories of Boyd’s stuff. It’s a fun store – really a destination in itself. The have a HUGE central area that had a fire place, rocking chairs and entertainment for “non bear” people. They were having a huge 75% off sale outside and I was able to get some of my Christmas shopping done!

We also drove by the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. No diamond digging this time – but we’ll certainly be back! It’s a lovely park – with a mini water park to cool off after a day of diamond mining! The campground looks nice with roomy sites.

I have to say – this was one of the best vacations we’ve taking in a while. It was relaxing and fun. It renewed our love of camping – time to pull out the tent!

[Cheesecake]

Thanks for the great review......sounds wonderful.......for you.

I am NOT a camper..was once.......been there done that...but everyone has to take their turn.

Now this baby boomer, likes room service and AC and NO BUGS.......

That place sounds beautiful.......might have to print this...my kids were thinking about getting on their motorcycle and taking off...now that they are suffering from ''empty nest''...they can go alone.......

If ever you wanna camp in a beautiful spot in the Ozarks.......why yawl come on down.......we have acres and acres and acres of great camp ground......fishing, and the club house has AC and a full fridge
No cook tho.

Thanks for the review.

[pamlet]

Laugh... well I'm not usually much of a camper - but in order to have ROOM with two teenagers... AND stuff to do camping it was. I actually ENJOYED it - and the cabin was so cool to temperature we didn't even need AC. The biggest surprise to me was the lack of bugs.... we definately weren't in Texas. (tho' the one day before the little bit of rain we had the gnats were fairly plentiful.. )

The worst part of it all was the fact that the bath house was quite a hike from our cabin... and my 3 am trek was a little spooky....

I'd definately recommend the campground to anyone! If I ever figure out how to post pictures I will.

[Cheesecake]

Originally Posted by pamlet

Laugh... well I'm not usually much of a camper - but in order to have ROOM with two teenagers... AND stuff to do camping it was. I actually ENJOYED it - and the cabin was so cool to temperature we didn't even need AC. The biggest surprise to me was the lack of bugs.... we definately weren't in Texas. (tho' the one day before the little bit of rain we had the gnats were fairly plentiful.. )

The worst part of it all was the fact that the bath house was quite a hike from our cabin... and my 3 am trek was a little spooky....

I'd definately recommend the campground to anyone! If I ever figure out how to post pictures I will.

Now...I cannot believe a 3 am hike...I am going to buy your a portapot.

We started out camping with tent and all the accessories...wonderful stuff. Coleman this and that...THEN....

We purchased a camper trailer that slept 8...with a stove and refrigerator...Lord Have Mercy...but no indoor pot....

Up at Yellowstone one summer...I was off on my middle of the night trek...got seated comfortably...and someone came into the restroom....and it worried me cause I could tell they were just standing there ............... I opened the door and took a peek....A BEAR.

It was licking the water in the sink.........

There was no cell phone in my pocket...and I had no voice....I had no air....I did have a potty tho.....

sorry about the off topic...
but that made me think of a story and you know how old people are with their life stories?

[Blaze2]

When we were in Tennessee last month, I so wanted to see
"Unto These Hills", but it didn't start until June 8th.

Cherokee, NC and that area is also where "The Last Of The Mohicans"
was filmed. Awesome scenery! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104691/

........but I don't want to camp out!
..........don't want to trek to the potty at 3 A.M., and alone!
.............and GAWD forbid if I should see a bear, even in the daylight!

MY DEFINITION OF CAMPING OUT:
..............carrying my own luggage up one flight of stairs!!!

[PatiCake101]

Pam.....guess I missed this today! So glad that you had a good vacation...sounds like you and the family had a great trip camping. I'm not a camper myself, but for some reason it always sounds fun! Glad that you all had a good time, I'm sure you were ready for a break after your fill-in job stress!

Wait...that "sounds fun" thing...never mind...I just remembered your "3:00 a.m. trip"....not in a million years would I do that trip by myself!!

Anyway...glad you're back...I missed ya!

[pamlet]

OH MY GOODNESS ... a BEAR...

If a bear would have come in on ME at 3am ... y'all would have heard the screams in MO and TX!!!!!

Blaze - the play was ok - but a little too "artsy" for my taste. VERY interpretive. Now the village was GREAT!! Very informative .. and beautiful. They had a big piece on the spiritual life of the Cherokee that I especially liked.

You know there's a village and play at the END of the Trail of Tears in Talequah, OK. Not far from you really - very doable in a weekend! We're going to TRY to do it before it ends for the season. We visited the village a year or two ago - but it was after the play ended for the season.

As for camping - I'm saving up for a used pop-up. That way I can carry a porta potty with me... hahaha... I think a pop up is the way I want to go - because I like all the screens ... more like being outdoors... AND you can put an AC unit in it..

[pamlet]

Pati - never thought I'd EVER find camping FUN - but for some reason I did.

I found an oven that goes on the camp stove ... very cool - we had biscuits a couple mornings - and I bought cookie dough .. one night we had hot chocolate chip/walnut cookies and cold milk around the campfire. mmmmm that was fun.. Another night - the boys were in the cabin playing board games and hubby and I sat out by the fire looking at stars 'til about 1am..

LOTS of nice memories this trip!!

OH - and we had a little EARTHQUAKE while we were there .. I was in the grocery store and thought there was some HUGE explosion... turned out it was a 3 point sumthin' earthquake on the TN/NC border. The kids were at the campground and felt it - but somehow hubby missed it waiting for me in the truck...

[PatiCake101]

Originally Posted by pamlet

Pati - never thought I'd EVER find camping FUN - but for some reason I did.

I found an oven that goes on the camp stove ... very cool - we had biscuits a couple mornings - and I bought cookie dough .. one night we had hot chocolate chip/walnut cookies and cold milk around the campfire. mmmmm that was fun.. Another night - the boys were in the cabin playing board games and hubby and I sat out by the fire looking at stars 'til about 1am..

LOTS of nice memories this trip!!

OH - and we had a little EARTHQUAKE while we were there .. I was in the grocery store and thought there was some HUGE explosion... turned out it was a 3 point sumthin' earthquake on the TN/NC border. The kids were at the campground and felt it - but somehow hubby missed it waiting for me in the truck...

Girl....my Daddy used to take us camping, and I was scared...OF EVERYTHING...from lizards to the "boggy creek monster"....(still scared of it )...and I told myself, as I always (all of 3 times, I think I went) crawled into their camper, that when I got grown, I would never, ever do that again...and I haven't. Once I turned 16, I told them that if they made me go, that I would run away...so they never made me anymore. I truly hated every minute of it...the bugs..critters..fishing, I was always even afraid to get into the lake, I would go to the "lodge pool".

So you see, I have camping memories...but mine are bad ones, because I'm not a "camping" person, but you have lots of good ones...as did my Dad...he LOVED every second, and so did the rest of my family. Those memories that you made with your family are priceless..something that your kids can tell their kids about!! I'm so glad that you all had a great time.

My DH can't believe that I was ever afraid of anything...but as I said, I'm still afraid of that boggy creek monster!!