Western, NC
There’s a new reason to check out a popular tourist attraction on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. Not once in the 20 years that I’ve lived in North Carolina have I ever been. So, I decided it was time.
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort opened its fourth hotel tower with 725 rooms and seven suites. The rooms in the newly opened luxury Cherokee tower were impressive. They are large with rain shower heads in the bathroom.
The casino is more extensive than I expected. It has slots, live-action games like Blackjack, Craps and Roulette, plus a World Series of Poker room. There are also 11 restaurants, including Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen and Bar (two words: whiskey cake!), Wicked Weed brewery, and a bowling alley. The Book, the casino’s recently opened sports betting experience, looked like a fun place to watch a game.
The shopping options are slim, but I highly recommend the Fire and Ice massage at the Luxurious Mandara Spa. It is one of those experiences that make you wonder why you don’t get massages more often.
The expanded event and convention center at Harrah’s Cherokee is hosting 32 concerts and shows this year. Brett Michaels and Alice Cooper are performing there in February.
It was too cold when I was there to try out the multiple pools or the golf course.
The amenities are drawing people from all over, with 72% of visitors coming from out of state since the expansion.
I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, what’s not to love? Eating, shopping, and entertainment are all in one place and you never have to step outside. Don’t be like me and wait 20 years to check it out!