Murphy: A North Carolina Mountain Getaway!

Murphy, North Carolina has everything a visitor can possibly want in a North Carolina mountains vacation destination. Murphy, located in Cherokee County, is located in the heart of the Nantahala National Forest, and a stone's throw away from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Once a former Indian trading post, Murphy was named after Archibald Murphey, a state legislator who gained a reputation as a big supporter of education in the Appalachian region. Of course, the surrounding area, filled with natural wonders, provides outdoor lovers an endless playground of opportunities. You can spend your days hiking, horseback riding, white water rafting, fly fishing, swimming, boating, snow skiing, and just about anything else you can imagine!

A rich cultural heritage permeates the mountains of North Carolina. For an up-close and personal view of how creative the people of Cherokee County are, visit the John C. Campbell Folk School, located in Brasstown, a bit east of Murphy. The school is dedicated to the teaching of traditional music, mountain crafts, and local mountain folklore. The 372 acre campus has been put on the National Register of Historic Places. During your visit, you might get to see classes in basket weaving, blacksmithing, pottery, carving, and even cloth spinning. A gift shop, selling crafts made by the local artists, has an itinerary of the day's activities. On the weekends, local performing artists can be seen in concert or in dance recitals.

History buffs will also want to visit Cherokee, located on the Cherokee Indian Reservation on the outskirts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This community is inhabited by Native Americans who are descended from the Eastern Cherokee peoples that did not journey west on the Trail of Tears. Visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian for a look back at the life and heritage of these courageous people. The Ocanaluftee Indian Village is a replica of an 18th-century Indian village, and is the site for Unto These Hills, the largest outdoor drama in the United States. The play depicts life in the area from the first European contact until the Trail of Tears. You can also try your luck at Harrah's Cherokee Casino while you are there.

For some serious outdoor fun, visitors need look no further than the Nantahala National Forest. The term "Nantahala" is taken from a Cherokee word meaning "land of the noonday sun". This is an appropriate title, given the fact that some of the deep valleys only receive sunlight when the sun is directly overhead. With over 500,000 acres, the Nantahala is the largest of North Carolina's four national forests. Literally hundreds of hiking, equine, and mountain biking trails await those looking for a good trek through the woods. The Nantahala River supplies kayakers and white water rafting enthusiasts plenty of excitement. Anglers can hook bass, sunfish, walleye, and catfish in Lake Chatuge.

More outdoor fun can be found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a one-stop-shopping area for active fun. If you even remotely like hiking, the park has over 850 miles of trails offering treks that fit all abilities. Experts and novices alike will want to hike the Appalachian Trail, which winds its way throughout the area. One of the most popular hikes in the area is the 0.5-mile trek to Clingman's Dome. The observation tower at the top of the trail offers successful hikers a stunning view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, 7 states are visible from the Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smokies. A good portion of the hiking trails are open for exploration on horseback. Anglers have more than 2000 miles of streams in which to toss a line. Favorites are Abrams Creek, Big Creek, Fontana Lake, and Little River. Bicyclists can change gears on either the roads that wind through the park or on the trails that crisscross through forested terrain.

Murphy has everything you could ask for in a mountain getaway. Take a day and head to Asheville and see the Biltmore Estate, the largest single-family home in the United States. Try your luck at Harrah's Casino in Cherokee. Visit all the shops in Gatlinburg, or take in the amusements found in nearby Pigeon Forge. Head to the scenic mountain town of Highlands, and shop for handmade crafts or antiques. On the way to Highlands, stop in Franklin and try gem mining for rubys, emeralds and many other precious and semi precious stones. Continue on toward Highlands and stop at the waterfalls on Route 64 (Bridal Veil and Dry Falls among them). Enjoy a scenic drive along the Cherohala Skyway, a 36-mile long road that was immediately proclaimed one of the most scenic in America when it opened in 1996. Murphy is a gift of year-round activities and events, all wrapped in a scenic mountain package!