Discover Mountain Towns In Jackson County
Why you should put Jackson County on your radar now.
Picturesque downtown Sylva.
*All Photos Courtesy of JCTDA
Nestled amid the North Carolina Smokies are the idyllic mountain towns of Sylva and Dillsboro. Located just a few miles apart, these Jackson County siblings are bursting at the seams with great shopping, top-notch restaurants and outdoor activities that range from mild to wild. Come explore with us and find out why winter is called the area’s “secret season.”
The Whistle Stop has four rooms, each with a private bathroom;
Where to Stay
As you approach Dillsboro from the southeast, a turn onto Main Street puts you right in the heart of the downtown area. It’s dotted with hotels and bed and breakfasts, and for a true small-town experience, the latter is where you’ll want to stay.
Directly across the street (and we mean directly—you’ll have your own cross walk) from the Downtown Dillsboro shopping and dining complex is the Whistle Stop Inn, a historic farmhouse built in 1878. The Whistle Stop has four rooms, each with a private bathroom. When you arrive, the proprietor, Gladys Pilarski, will greet you warmly, set up a time for the next day’s breakfast and dispense recommendations on the area, should you wish.
Don’t skip breakfast! Pilarski is an excellent cook, and you may have a chance to interact with your fellow travelers. You’ll cherish your interactions here, and it’ll give you the fuel you need for an activity-filled day ahead.
A Day in Dillsboro
Being, literally, a hop, skip and a jump from the shopping, restaurants and brewery in Downtown Dillsboro means you won’t have to worry about getting piled up with bags and who’s going to be the designated driver. Need to pop back for a nap? No problem. Have a package to send? There’s a post office right by the crosswalk.
Downtown Dillsboro is laid out as a large rectangle, making it easy to navigate. The main concentration of shops is on Front Street, where you’ll find a great variety of items for the home, crafts, chocolates and gifts for the whole family. There’s locally made functional and decorative pottery at Tunnel Mountain Crafts, fun footwear and hats at Monkey Toes and a treasure trove of handcrafted items at Dogwood Crafters—more than 80 artisans from the Smoky Mountains sell their wares here. The cooperative has been showcasing mountain crafts since 1976.
Then there’s the food. The only problem you’ll have is finding too much of a good thing. Haywood Smokehouse has been lauded by Time and Travel + Leisure magazines, and you’ll taste why—it uses a low-and-slow process and only high quality, natural meat. Freshness abounds at Forager’s Canteen, a casual farm-to-table restaurant with locally sourced cuisine. Steak lovers won’t want to miss Boots Steakhouse for hand-cut steaks and chops. The courtyard has a waterfall and a fire pit—end your evening there with a toasted marshmallow!
Innovation Station brewing is a friendly neighborhood spot with a creek side patio and three dozen local brews on tap. Among the choices are four flavorful local ciders and a long list of hoppy brews. Get a flight for easy sampling and consult your bartender for favorites by category. There’s also a location in Sylva.
A Day in Sylva
After a good night’s sleep, you’re ready to explore Sylva. As you approach the town, you’re welcomed by the stately Jackson County Courthouse, the most photographed courthouse in North Carolina. Get out your water bottle, camera and climb the 107 stairs for a panoramic view of the mountains, one of the best in Jackson County. Once you’re at the top, head inside to check out the library and its beautiful stained-glass rotunda.
Next, take a stroll down Main Street, popping into the diverse mix of boutiques, galleries, sporting goods stores and bookstores. Climb Jackson Street to get to City Lights Bookstore, which specializes in Appalachian literature, but also carries used books, several cookbooks and great gift items. Adjoining the bookstore is the City Lights Café, which was a favorite dining spot of the cast members of “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” which was filmed in Sylva. Ask your barista for a recommendation in the coffee shop and you may discover a concoction that’s not even on the menu.
When it’s time for dinner, look to ILDA for an unforgettable meal. Operated by a husband-and-wife team, the Southern-Italian fusion dishes are imaginative, flavorful and made with passion. And you’ll want to try every cocktail on the list. With its romantic environs, ILDA is perfect for a date night.
If you have dietary restrictions, are vegan or are just looking to eat healthier, Jackson County’s restaurants are more than accommodating. The aforementioned Forager’s Canteen, City Lights Café and ILDA all offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, as do the cheerful Lulu’s on main (which Southern Living Magazine calls “our favorite restaurant in the region”) and Dalaya, a go-to spot for Thai cuisine.
The great outdoors, and the trout, are calling!
What to do Outdoors
You can’t visit Jackson County without getting out into the great outdoors. One of our favorite ways to do that is by chasing waterfalls. And there are many to choose from—Jackson County has more than two dozen. Bridal Veil Falls becomes a wall of icicles in winter; it veils a portion of U.S. 64 in doing so, so proceed with caution along that route. The popular Dry Falls has a handicapped accessible viewing platform and a new visitor center. The spectacular Soco Falls is one of the few double waterfalls you’ll find in Western North Carolina; it calls for more tricky rock scrambling and is not for the faint of heart. When you get close, you can hear it rumble from the roadside.
Perhaps the biggest outdoor draw in wintertime is fishing. Jackson County is the North Carolina Trout Capital, and home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail. Fish are more prevalent in the cooler water temperatures, and the rivers and mountain streams are pristine, making the winter months prime time for anglers. Pick up a fly-fishing trail map at the visitor’s center (next to the Jackson County Courthouse) to discover more than 15 prime spots to catch brown, rainbow and brook trout. The heart of the trail is the Tuckasegee River, or “Tuck” as it’s affectionally called.
To learn more about Jackson County, visit discoverjacksonnc.com
Get Lost in the Forest to Discover Yourself
I never thought a walk in the forest would have me talking to trees. Not that it’s much different than encouraging your plants to grow. It’s just something I never considered.
Dry Falls Nick Breedlove
That’s one of the main components of a forest therapy hike. To take a step back and approach nature on a different level. To reconnect to nature, and in turn, yourself.
So, when Dr. Mark Ellison, our guide, asked us to choose a tree that spoke to us and to interact with it, I ambled through the forest in search of a tree that stood out to me.
My tree was of medium height, between a few larger trees, reaching up to the sun. It was as though she was stretching herself out to get the good light. I didn’t name her, but I could sense female energy because I could feel the life all around her, surging through her.
I looked at a few smaller trees to her immediate left and right. Were these her offspring? How long had she been leaning to the left? What color will her leaves be? Were all thoughts that ran through my mind.
I’ve always loved being in the forest—I grew up with one in my backyard—but this simple exercise reminded me of how important it is to be aware of your surroundings, to be aware of every living creature and their contributions to the world. I found myself stepping more lightly as to not disturb the beings that live close to the ground, to think about the things I do that will impact this habitat not only today but in the future. It encouraged me to be a more responsible citizen.
Today, I’m still thinking about the way the light patterns played on the trees and shifted by just moving to the left or right. How sounds became different depending on whether I closed my eyes. That touch really is a sense we should use more often. And that possibilities are endless.
