North Carolina Mountains Advice Please
 

Planning a trip in NC Mountains with some adventure activities to keep a 19 yr old and a 21 yr old happy. What do you think of this:

Sliding Rock around Brevard (looks crowded though online).
I see there are other sliding rock places we can explore. Suggestions?

Gorges State Park - Long hikes to waterfalls?

Nantahala River Gorge - whitewater rafting - too calm?

Fontana Lake - jet boat ride?

Maggie Valley - Go karts and tour Ghost Town

Bryson City - Deep Creek Tubing

Highlands - ATV Adventure

Caqtalooche Valley Ranch - Horseback riding

Ziplining (canopy tour), there are several operators, suggestions?

Grandfather Mt- Swinging Bridge

Chimney Rock

Comments? Advice? Suggestions?

THANKS!!!
Linda

Well.....I am not sure what the kids like but Asheville is really "cool" for the music, food, and exploring. I think the rafting on Nanthalaha is perfect, Maggie Valley is iffy, Highlands sounds like fun. Grandfather Mountain is not great for kids that age. I would add App State in Boone and Blowing Rock for you for lots of "cool" feelings. It is really a neat area for all.

What's the question? Do you want us to pick our top 3 or 5 from your list?

If the Nantahala is too calm, consider the Chattaga - south of Sylva on 441 in Georgia (Clayton area). Class IV. REAL Class IV ;)

Starrs, I wanted comments or suggestions on what I was proposing. Thanks!

This is an area where my family has had a place for over 20 years and we love it. I cannot imagine going near Ashville and not planning a trip to Biltmore House. This is a place one never gets tired of visiting. I also do not see any planned trips on the Blueridge Parkway, which is absolutely beautiful. There are all sorts of hiking trails here. As for Nantahala, it depends on how much you have rafted. The Chattaga is really scary, at least to me. You will love whatever you do in this area.

Are you wanting to do ALL these? Personally I can easily imagine a trip without Biltmore House, particularly for that age person.
I think the Nantahala and tubing would probably be fun. And Sliding Rock also.That at least gets you to one area of the mountains. There is very good trout fishing near all these places.

Thanks, all. We won't be able to do all these things, of course. Just looking for feedback. We did see Biltmore a few years ago.

How long is the trip? Where are you considering staying? Will you be at one base and driving back and forth each day or moving from one location to another?

I was in Brevard on Monday and Asheville on Tuesday. With kids (even big kids) the amount of driving would be a concern to me.

IMO it matters knowing if you are planning a 4 day trip or a 2 week trip. What I say might be great to do isn't great if you are driving back and forth from Brevard to Highlands every day. You're going to have some miserable travel buddies if you try that.

What's the background behind -
"Nantahala River Gorge - whitewater rafting - too calm?"

Too calm for whom? How much rafting have they've done in the past. I've done the Nantahala, Ocoee, Pigeon, New (WVA) and the Chattoga. If the Nantahala is "too calm" then you want the Chattoga - but it is indeed scary. Class II section of the Nanthala may be too calm, but Class III may be just right. If not, you want Class IV which is the Chattoga. If you do the Chattoga, then you may want to do the jetski on Lake Burton and the ziplining nearby there too.

We could go through your list and say "yes, no, no, yes, maybe, it depends, etc" but those answers may not be helpful in planning your trip.