It is a beautiful, scenic drive through the Western North Carolina mountains.

You might enjoy it and you might not - the redeeming factor is that other attractions are close by if you arrive and think you've made a mistake.Ĭherokee is about an hour and a half from the Asheville Regional Airport. If you have kids, they will like the cheesy stuff in the stores and they'll probably get a kick out of the costumed Indians ( though they mix cultures - you'll see someone in a Cheyenne headdress). But, I will say the Comfort Inn there is good - just overpriced! We like staying outside of town if in the area. The motel/restaurant strip in Cherokee is very crowded. The Oconoluftee Museum is interesting, and of course, the mountain scenery! People also enjoy whitewater rafting in the area, as well as trout fishing. What makes the trip worthwhile? The drama ' Unto These Hills' is quite good. It's now dominated by the Harrah's casino, which has pretty much destroyed any of the native American charm that might have been there.īesides the casino, Cherokee consists mostly of substandard motels with high rates which are surrounded by shops with cheap, touristy merchandise. It's changed over the years but basically it's still a tourist trap.

Cherokee nice? I'm not sure I'd use that word to describe it.

Harrahs cherokee casino closed