Bryson City

If you want to have a big vacation in a small town, Bryson City, North Carolina is a great place to do it. This small town of about 1,500 people is brimming with irresistible charm and gracious hospitality. Whether you want to spend your time indoors sampling the fruits of the local breweries and restaurants, or you want to get outside and play, Bryson City and the surrounding area have an incredible number of options. Bryson City, located in Western North Carolina, is brimming with adventure. Whether on a honeymoon or not, there are several bucket-list-worthy things to do in town, including a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad!

Take a scenic ride through Western North Carolina. Plan your trip around special events throughout the year, such as the Polar Express, for even more fun. Hiking trails in this part of the woods are also full of surprises. For example, the Goldmine Loop Trail is a 3.1-mile loop that leads to an abandoned tunnel deep in the woods. It's dubbed The Road to Nowhere. Because the trail is popular, you can expect to make some new friends along the way. If you want a significantly more difficult hike, you can take on the Newfound Gap to Clingman's Dome trail.

You could simply drive across the border into Tennessee and there instead. Fontana Lake is another potential day trip from Bryson City. Relax on the shores — or atop Western North Carolina's largest lake, a man-made reservoir near town. If a day on the lake is too peaceful for you, you can spice things up with a whitewater rafting trip.