The Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina offer a rich variety of enjoyable activities year-round. Outdoor activities include hiking, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, golfing, biking, boating, and fishing. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fontana Lake, Cherokee Indian Reservation and Nantahala National Forest  are all in Swain County, providing a rich historical backdrop for beautiful drives and hikes. There are plenty of shops, artist studios and museums; as well as casual and fine dining restaurants,  entertainment, and fun festivals including 4th of July fireworks and a big, small-town Christmas parade.

Residents of the Smokies are fortunate to experience all of the four seasons. While you might expect extreme temperatures in the mountains, Bryson City actually boasts rather comfortable temperatures year round. In January the average high is 48 degrees and the average low is 21 degrees. In July, the average high is 86 and the average low is 58. Rainfall averages about 63 inches per year with snowfall averaging about 11 inches.

Medical centers include Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva (20 miles away) with a satellite facility in Bryson City. Most medical specialties are represented within the Sylva community. Larger medical complexes are available in Waynesville (35 miles away) and Asheville (50 miles away).

Swain County is proud of its educational system. While rural in nature, the schools boast high scores in testing throughout the state. Western Carolina University in Cullowhee is the largest university in the region and is about 30 minutes. The area is also served by Southwestern Community College in Sylva, which has a satellite campus in Bryson City.

There are many churches in the area including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Catholic, Church of God, Seventh Day Adventist and Latter Day Saints.

Bryson City is located one hour west of Asheville, NC and within 3 hours of Atlanta, Knoxville, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Greenville-Spartanburg and Winston-Salem. The area is served by Highway 74, a divided four-lane that connects with I-40 just 30 minutes East of Bryson City.

Jet service is available through airports in Knoxville, TN and Greenville-Spartanburg, SC; and the regional airport in Asheville, NC. Smaller public-use airports are located in Andrews-Murphy and Franklin. The Andrews-Murphy airport has a lighted 5,000' runway and can accommodate small corporate jets as well as other small planes.

For more information about the North Carolina Smokies, visit the Swain County Chamber of Commerce's informative web site — GreatSmokies.com