| the museum of the cherokee indian is 2 miles away. upgraded rooms add flat-screen tvs with dvd players, minifridges and microwaves, and some also have whirlpool tubs. the straightforward rooms come with free wi-fi, cable tv and coffeemakers; some offer sofabeds. a 7-minute walk from harrah's cherokee casino resort, this unassuming hotel along highway 19 sits below a wooded hill. there's also an outdoor pool, and a lobby lounge with a fireplace. complimentary amenities include parking and a weekend casino shuttle. check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm
McGhee Tyson Airport 2 hr 5
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (17 min)
Vintage steam trains with dining cars travel from a historic depot through scenic countryside. Oconaluftee Indian Village (5 min)
Re-creation of a traditional Cherokee community with live performers, tours, crafts & a gift shop. Andrews Bald (47 min)
Grassy double peak in the Smoky Mountains, with hiking trails through forest & meadows. Charlies Bunion (35 min)
Bare-rock protrusion named for a bygone climber's food wound, now popular for hiking & views. Mingus Mill (10 min)
1886 grist mill with demonstrations of its still-functional sluice, turbine & other machinery. Santa's Land Fun Park & Zoo (6 min)
Year-round Santa Claus-themed park with rides, a gift shop, a zoo & paddle boating in a lake. Mountain Farm Museum (9 min)
Group of historic log farm buildings, moved here in the 1950s, with living history exhibits. Oconaluftee Visitor Center (9 min)
Center with history exhibits on mountain life & a farm musuem with log structures, plus a gift shop. Mingo Falls (16 min)
120-ft. waterfall on the Cherokee Indian Reservation reached by a 0.4-mi. access trail. Waterrock Knob (28 min)
Highest peak in the Plott Balsams, with a visitor center, picnic tables, an overlook & hiking trail. Museum of the Cherokee Indian (4 min)
Cherokee art, history & culture presented via exhibits, digital films, photographs & holographs. Soco Falls (16 min)
Two waterfalls merge in a picturesque setting with a primitive overlook, reachable by a short trail. Newfound Gap (32 min)
Alpine road featuring the Rockefeller Memorial, honoring the Great Smoky Mountains park financer. | 
