cslasor

I'm taking my 5 & 6 year old grandsons to North Carolina in a few weeks and one thing I want to do with them is raft/float down a river. Of course, most rafing trips are too intense for kids this age, but I found one that advertises "The Ultimate Whitewater Rafting Trip For Younger Kids" that sounds perfect.

Does anybody have any experience with the Blue Ridge Outing Company in Whittier, or with this particular rafting trip? Their website is http://www.raftwithkids.com/#ultimate

Thanks for any advice!

Gretchen

I know this stretch of river--we trout fish in that area. Have even shopped at that flea market! It's a big wide river there. We have often camped in cherokee and there is a lot of tubing on that river and nearby in the SMNP just outside of Bryson City.
If that is your desire, I am sure it would be fun. You might also want to take them to the Oconoluftee Indian Village there. The rest of Cherokee is very schlocky, but hotels and motels have come up with the casino they have now.
Trout fishing might be fun for them too. You don't have to fly fish. There is also a hatchery there.

starrsville

I'm not familiar with that company or that river. Their website looks good - but the claim that they carry more rafters than anyone else on the river is empty - they may be the only ones on that river. It's a river in NC but not really a "whitewater" river.

The two big whitewater rafting companies in the Smokies both offer whitewater rafting experiences on the Pigeon River for the younger ages. I can stronly recommend both companies - and the river is a beautiful experience.

http://www.noc.com/river_pigeon.html
http://www.wildwaterrafting.com/piglower.html

If you do the Blue Ridge Outing trip you won't be far from this -
http://www.gsmr.com/

And, I don't know when "a few weeks" will be, but if they are still interested in Thomas, check out
http://www.gsmr.com/Documents/thomassplashpage-07.pdf

Have fun in the mountains. So much to see and do!

Gretchen

The railroad ride is expensive if I recall correctly. For a RR "experience" you might want to hit Tweetsie just outside of Boone/Blowing Rock in NC. Old time cowboys and Indians robbing the train. fun for that age.

starrsville

The Thomas and Friends experience is just $12pp and would be a treat if they are still interested. I know my friends drove miles to see it when it was in Scranton PA. What a deal! (Last link of my previous post)

cslasor

Thanks for the great responses! I did plan on taking the boys to the Cherokee village, as well as on the GSMR (but I'll have to check out Tweetsie and see how far it is from the Waynesville area where we'll be staying).

We'll be there from June 16 - 23 so we'll miss the Thomas event, and that's just fine with me. I took them to one in Florida last year and frankly we were disappointed. The Thomas train went straight down the track for 10 minutes then came straight back the other way. There were some booths selling food, and a big tent selling Thomas stuff, and that was it. No characters, no other trains, just a quickie ride with a Thomas engine and a bunch of people trying to sell stuff. So even if we were going to be in the area at that time I'm not sure I would bother to go. There are too many other things to do that they haven't seen.

I'm sure they would enjoy trout fishing too, for about 10 minutes. That's how long they stay interested when I take them fishing here. LOL!

I did look at the Pigeon River for rafting, and that's where I was planning on taking them until I found this place. Pigeon River just looks like it would take a lot longer to get to from Waynesville.

Anyway, I appreciate the feedback. This will be the boys' first trip outside of Florida and I'm sure it will be quite an experience. I can hardly wait for their comments the first time they have to walk up a real hill!

starrsville

Stop and let them pan for gold when you see the signs. At those ages, they'll really enjoy it.

Sylva is just down the street from Dillsboro and has more restaurant options - so if you do the RR, head down the road about a mile or so to Sylva.

Gretchen

Tweetsie is 'way too far from Waynesville--I thought you were coming on through NC.
I am surprised Thomas was that reasonable--I think a couple of years ago it was a good bit more, but we couldn't even get reservations!! SO cute. I was talking about the GSMR, but it has been a long time since I looked at it.
As I said, the Cherokee Village is very schlocky--the Indian Village is a nice presentation.
The Park is right there too.

ArabellaAgain

If you'll be in Waynesville, be sure to stop in Whitman's Bakery on Main Street. Delicious old-style pastries.

cslasor

I apologize for being so slow to get back to this, but we ended up taking the kids rafting on the Pigeon River with the Nantahalla Outdoor Center and it was fabulous. The 6 of us were in one raft with a guide and there was a second raft in our group with another family and their guide. They gave the kids cut-out milk jugs and when we got close enough they would scoop up water and throw it on each other (and all over the rest of us, of course). There were some very mild rapids, and long stretches of calm water where they let you jump out of the raft and swim.

After about an hour and a half they pulled the rafts over on the side of the river where they had used rocks to make a shallow place where the kids could get out and play, and had a sliding rock where the adults and the braver kids could slide through the river.

Overall it was absolutely perfect for the kids, and for anybody who wants a relatively calm rafting trip. If you're into major rapids then this wouldn't be for you, but otherwise I'd highly recommend it.

The kids also loved the Cherokee Village, and even liked the town of Cherokee because they got to buy Chinese-made Cherokee souveniers and watch the Cherokees-of-dubious-origin doing their dances on the side of the road. (Yes, I'm cynical but I try to hide it from the kids.)

Anyway, it was a wonderful trip and the boys still talk about the mountains and the Indians and running up hills. And sitting on the deck of the cabin in the evening watching The Bat Show with their great-grandpa. Definitely the best vacation money I've ever spent, especially since my parents were able to join us so we had all 4 generations there.

starrsville

Thanks for the update.
You did pick the best (IMO anyway).
What a great vacation! Memories for a lifetime!

I have wondered as I drive up and down 441 if you took the slower river. Glad you used NOC!