Hidden in the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains, Cataloochee Valley feels like a place where time stands still. Its cabins, churches, and barns tell the story of a once-thriving community that has endured generations and even survived Hurricane Helene. Today, it remains a quiet corner of the park where history, resilience, and stillness meet.

A family getaway to Bryson City, NC filled with fishing on the Nantahala River, hiking through Cataloochee Valley, spotting elk in the Smokies, and relaxing at the Dogwood Branch cabin near Fontana Lake.