Wintertime in Bryson City, NC
Experience the winter wonderland that is Bryson City
This quaint mountain town is the perfect backdrop for a weekend getaway, complete with a charming downtown, craft breweries, and the Polar Express,
You may have seen all of the content I've been gushing over on Instagram after our weekend away in Bryson City, North Carolina. This was the perfect drivable destination for our 2 night, 3 day getaway to the crisp mountain air.
This quaint mountain town is located just under an hour west of Ashville, NC, and a 4 hour drive from us here in Charleston, SC. But don't let my use of the word "quaint" scare you - there is plenty to see and do to fill a weekend in this charming and walkable town!
You'll find year-round fun in Bryson City with an abundance of adventure activities in the warmer months like fishing, rafting, hiking, kayaking and more, but MAN does this town come alive for Christmas. Read below for tips to help you plan your perfect Great Smoky Mountain winter getaway.
But first, here's a quick Instagram Reel with highlights of our stay.
Things to do
There's plenty of fun to be had in the winter months in Bryson City, all within a walkable distance of many accommodations. Here's a list of all of the fun we packed into two and a half days in Bryson City.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad's Polar Express
The Polar Express is without a doubt the highlight of any family trip to Bryson City. The ride is everything you would imagine - with characters dancing through the aisles, festive music playing, hot cocoa and cookie treats, and of course a reading of the book itself. It really is designed to let your children's imagination run wild as they catch a glimpse of the North Pole through the windows (a little village of houses decked out in Christmas lights) and enjoy a one-on-one chat with Santa.
We sat in Coach where there is no assigned seating, so we made sure to line up about 15 minutes early to board our railroad car. Although the seating itself is no frills, I thought we had everything we needed to make this a memorable experience in Coach. All of the cars are heated, and hot chocolate and cookies are served in all classes. You can check out the difference in classes here. Prices (2022) range from $77 adult/$53 child for First Class peak tickets, to $51 adult/$35 for Coach Class peak tickets. You can expect to pay less on off-peak dates and for children under 2, and more on Christmas Eve.
The train tracks are literally in the center of town, so its easy to grab a bite to eat and shop while you're waiting for your ride. You can also check out the Railroad Museum and gift shop while you stroll. Tickets sell out early, so be sure to plan your trip in advance!
Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular
Is it even the holiday season without driving through a Christmas Light Spectacular!? We set our car radio to the station given to us at the entrance, and drove through the 12 Days of Christmas light display. The girls loved it and it really was the perfect end to a festive night. The cost (2022) is $20 per car.
Holiday Market at the Smoky Mountain Farmers Market
While wandering through the town, we stumbled upon the seasonal Holiday Market at the Smokey Mountain Farmers and Artisans Market. Artists set up inside and out of a large barn selling everything from hand knit hats to honey.
Appalachian Rivers Aquarium
Just next door to the Holiday Market you'll find the adorable Appalachian Rivers Aquarium showcasing many regional fish. The aquarium is small, made up of 14 tanks, but the girls loved walking through, and admission is FREE!
Explore Downtown Bryson City
Downtown Bryson City is simply charming, filled with art galleries, boutiques, bookstores, chocolate shops, and restaurants sprinkled throughout. Check out our favorite the Loose Moose for a huge selection of souvenirs and gifts!
We had so much fun just walking along and exploring with our girls. Be sure to stop by the Visitors Center where the little ones can write and mail a letter to Santa and pick up free hot cocoa a cookies for the walk home.
Where to stay
We stayed in the Sweet Retreat, a cottage located within Bryson Village. Bryson Village is a family-owned luxury vacation home rental community made up of 15 cabins and cottages in addition to the fully restored Historic Bryson House.
We loved our stay here for a number of reasons:
Centrally located - just a 5 minute walk from downtown
Spacious - 2 bedroom, 1 bath, plus a pull out couch in the living room
Cozy - gas fireplace, plenty of puzzles and board games, TV's in each room, and the back patio overlooks a babbling brook
Convenience - fully stocked kitchen and washer and dryer on site
Hot tub - from what I could see, there is a hot tub on the back patio of every cottage, and we LOVE a hot tub!
There are a handful of other accommodations just as centrally located, but we would definitely stay at Bryson Village again on future trips. It was the perfect space for our family of five to spread out with all of the comforts of home.
Where to eat/drink:
Breakfast
You absolutely cannot miss out on a coffee and breakfast sandwich from Mountain Perks. The vibe is amazing (complete with a soundtrack straight out of the 90's/early 2000's) the people are super friendly, and the best part: they serve NY style bagels *swoon*! This place is an absolute hidden gem.
If you're looking for a classic and delicious diner experience, try Everette Street Diner. This place is busting by the seams by 9am even on weekdays, so expect to wait (outside) for a table unless you get there early!
Lunch/Dinner
We were pleasantly surprised by the number of breweries in the area which always make for a fun and easy family meal. We absolutely loved Nantahala Brewing Burger and Bar which is located inside of an old RC Cola Bottling Plant. The beer and food were delicious, and our girls loved the number of pinball machines and video games there for them to enjoy. Here's a list of other breweries and brew pubs to check out in the area.
One regret I have is running out of time before we had the chance to dine at Rivers End at NOC which is located right on the river! This spot is definitely on my list for our next trip to Bryson City.
Another great thing about staying in Bryson Village is the full size kitchen. We need to be flexible when traveling with young kids, and we can't always make it out for meals. We ordered pizza one night, and made mac and cheese for lunch another day. Luckily there is no shortage of pizza options in town - check out Anthony's Pizza in addition to chain restaurants like Pizza Hut.
Treats
Getaways like this are all about treating yourself, and we definitely indulged! Check out Soda Pop's Ice Cream Parlor for the cutest old fashioned atmosphere and tastiest ice cream treats, as well as the Heavenly Fudge Depot and The Chocolate Shoppe.
With somewhat limited (but delicious!) dining options, be prepared for longer than usual wait times if you travel to Bryson City during the busy season. We noticed huge groups of people packing into the various food spots as the Polar Express kicked off each night!
With a combination of it's small town charm and festive atmosphere, Bryson City is the perfect family destination for a winter weekend getaway. So pack up your winter hats and gloves (it gets cold!) and explore all there is the see in the Great Smoky Mountains.
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