A Peaceful Oasis

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Townsend, Tennessee bills itself as “the peaceful side of the Smokies.” Some people might consider Cherokee, North Carolina (the southeast entrance via US Highway 441) as “the boring side.” Well..... The Tribe hasn’t let the reservation turn into a carnival the way some parts of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have become. Additionally, Cherokee has something the towns that border the Smoky Mountains don’t have: a casino. (As a sovereign nation they don’t have to ask the state of North Carolina for permission. ) There’s also the Oconaluftee Island Park, a peaceful oasis that is exactly what you need for a picnic, a wade in the stream (the Oconaluftee River), or just to sit and relax and enjoy the view. This is where I headed after climbing the side of the mountain (via over 150 steps) to see Mingo Falls. While I didn’t go swimming, I certainly enjoyed the shade and the cool breeze blowing down the river on a hot day. The park is free. It has plenty of places for kids and adults to dip their toes (and, in the summer, the river is usually low enough to not drown your ankles), lots of spaced-out picnic tables (they were social distancing before it was cool, too!), and a walking path that’ll take you the length of the island....which is about 1/3 of a mile. There are no playgrounds or rental equipment available, so bring your own toys. Or bring none, and just enjoy the peace that a mountain river can give.