Standing on majestic Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, overlooking the land of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, you’re a mile-and-a-quarter high by survey, and who-knows-how-much higher in your own state of mind.

As you scan the horizon, turning in time with the hawk high above you, it all becomes clear – why the Cherokees believe this land was their Garden of Eden. Why so many walked all the way back here from Oklahoma. And why today, so many people who could travel anywhere choose to spend some of their happiest days amid these glorious mountains.

Start with the land itself, home to the world’s oldest mountains. The rolling, forested, 100-square-mile Qualla Boundary nestles on three sides into The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So the supply of scenic trails, sweeping vistas, forested valleys, cozy campgrounds, rushing rivers, cool streams, and graceful waterfalls here is unrivaled and unending.

Spring is a 360-degree wildflower celebration. Summer is an idyll of lazy afternoons and temperate breezes; fall, a color festival beyond description. They’re all memorable moments, and no matter what your outdoor adventure may be, you are free to pursue them here.

Just within the Qualla Boundary, for example, you’ll enjoy 30 miles of some of the finest fishing for brook, rainbow and brown trout found anywhere in the U.S. And the whole region is richly veined with rivers and streams, offering you every waterborne pleasure, from lazy tubing to the adrenalin rush of running Class IV and Class V rapids. Whether you lean toward a kayak or raft, gear and guides are top-notch and readily available.

Back on dry land, your choices are just as enticing. Take an easy stroll or an epic hike along the Appalachian Trail running through here on its way from Maine to Georgia. This is a naturalist’s heaven, with a world-class profusion of flora and fauna, from the tiniest wildflowers to great black bears and elk herds.

If you’re truly intrepid, go vertical! Western North Carolina is a rock-climbing mecca. And it is equally extraordinary for two-wheeled adventure, offering world-renowned bike trails – and road biking so challenging that Tour de France riders train here.

If self-propelled adventure is more your speed, rent ATVs, or cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s most beautiful drive. Visit one of the area’s several fine stables and enjoy an equestrian adventure on our trails. Or ride the iron horse! Just minutes from Cherokee is one of America’s finest scenic railways - the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - with your choice of steam or diesel power.

However you get here, and however you get around while you are here, this much is certain: You will take home a storehouse of memories to cherish. And you’ll leave with a powerful urge to come back.