Stay Inside and Play On!

Stay Inside and Play On!

Jackson County is known for its beautiful outdoors, but there’s plenty of fun to be had indoors, too – especially when Mother Nature brings cool or rainy weather. To help you navigate those inside days, we’ve created this Guide to Amazing Indoor Adventures in Jackson County, NC! Catamount Jaxe – Cullowhee Can you hit the bullseye? A new addition to the Jackson County entertainment landscape, Catamount Jaxe Axe Throwing Social House offers the thrill and fun of competition. Located in Cullowhee within the Prospect residential community, Catamount Jaxe is a professionally designed venue combining the rustic charm of a lodge with the vibrant energy of a social hangout. It’s the perfect place for a date night, a group outing or a special celebration. The venue features a full bar, special trivia and karaoke nights as well as patio games (when the weather allows). “Axe-perts” are on hand to guide you through the skill of axe throwing, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all. (Children age 10 and older are permitted to axe throw with a waiver signed by their parent.) So, unleash your inner lumberjack in a mountain setting and get ready for an “axe-ceptional” time! The Zachary-Tolbert House – Cashiers Learn about early settlers to the Cashiers Valley! Located on 107 S., the historic Zachary-Tolbert House is home to the most extensive collection of “plain-style” furniture in the world. The house itself — an outstanding example of a vernacular, Greek Revival residential structure — has remained largely unaltered […]

Our ‘Secret Season’ Is Whispering to You

Our ‘Secret Season’ Is Whispering to You

Jackson County, NC has a secret – one that’s well worth sharing. A visit to the area between winter and early spring offers benefits you won’t find any other time of the year. From lower lodging rates to clear mountain views to amazing dining and winter sports experiences, you’ll find it here, during our serene “Secret Season.” Here are our top suggestions for taking full advantage of it! Lower Temps = Lower Rates Let’s start with pricing. As the temperatures fall, so do the rates for lodges, hotels, cabins and cottages. Simply put, you’ll get more mountains for your money! Additionally, many properties offer seasonal specials. Consider the iconic High Hampton Resort, which offers its lowest rates of the year during January and February. Or the 20% discount when you book three nights at Hotel Cashiers, a pet-friendly mountain inn. In Whittier, close to the national park, Outland Chalet & Suites Great Smoky Mountains also offers a discounted rate for stays of three nights or more. Cozy Cabins and Cottages Speaking of lodging, let’s talk about how wonderful it feels to snuggle next to a crackling fire with views of snow-capped mountains on the other side of your window. No other time of year offers the same feelings of coziness and relaxation. Whether you prefer a log cabin, historic lodge, charming cottage or unique hotel, it’s waiting for you in Jackson County. Select a property with a hot tub, fireplace or fire pit and create that perfect mountain moment. Pick […]

Reel in an Unforgettable Fall Fly Fishing Adventure in The NC Mountains

Reel in an Unforgettable Fall Fly Fishing Adventure in The NC Mountains

Jackson County, NC, is home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail®, the first fly-fishing trail in the county. With over 92,000 trout stocked annually, the rivers that flow through the mountain towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Dillsboro, and Sylva, serve as a fly fisherman’s paradise year-round. As the leaves change and the temperatures cool, changes are also taking place along our rivers.  October and November are the optimal time of year to angle the Tuckasegee River, known affectionately by locals as ‘the Tuck’. Cooler waters mean more active fish, longer feeding periods, lengthier fly hatches, and plentiful stocking for your fly-fishing adventure. Longer Nights = More Bites  Summer’s long warm days are pleasant and bright for many, but the warmer water can have an adverse effect on the fish population. Warmer weather can create stress for the fish, making them conserve energy and spend the majority of the day not actively feeding. According to local guide shop Tuckasegee Fly Shop, autumn provides longer, cooler nights making the season a “sweet spot” for anglers. The benefit of long nights in the fall means more consistent water temperatures. The cooler the water, the more oxygenated it is, meaning more active fish and longer feeding periods throughout the day. Longer Hatches = More Snatches The fly hatches that fish feed on reap the benefit of the cool weather as well. Four main fly hatches can be found along the Fly Fishing Trail® in the fall: Midges, Stone Flies, May Flies, and Caddice […]

48 Hours of Fun in the NC Mountains

panthertown

48 Hours of Fun in the NC Mountains

After months of being cooped up, many of us are ready to safely get out and explore again. With 494-square miles of awe-inspiring vistas, wide open spaces, multi-level trails and more, you’ll enjoy a plethora of natural socially distant activities in the NC Mountains. To give you a head start, we’ve compiled the best way to spend a weekend in the mountains – from hiking the oldest mountain in the world to enjoying award-winning craft beverages along the Jackson County Ale Trail. Forty-eight hours is the perfect amount of time to explore the very best places in Jackson County’s mountain towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Dillsboro and Sylva.

100 Years of Memories on the WNC Fly Fishing Trail®

100 Years of Memories on the WNC Fly Fishing Trail®

From the relaxing sound of a gentle tumbling, calm stream to the thrill of reeling in that once-in-a-lifetime catch, the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail® offers an experience for everyone willing to cast a line here in Jackson County, NC.

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the NC mountain towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Dillsboro, and Sylva, which make up Jackson County, have a deep connection with the streams and rivers that flow through the area, as well as the sports and activities that take place in them. Famously known for our clear, clean and fully-stocked water, it is no wonder that we are known as the NC Trout Capital.®

10 Reasons to Visit Jackson County This Labor Day

sunrise over the mountains in jackson county

10 Reasons to Visit Jackson County This Labor Day

Labor Day is the only US holiday dedicated to celebrating the working people, so take advantage of the holiday weekend and treat yourself to a trip to the North Carolina mountain towns of Jackson County! Not only is it conveniently located in the Great Smoky Mountains just a short drive from the Southeast’s major cities, but Jackson County also provides visitors the chance to try many different activities throughout their stay in the area.