Two Train Rides!

 Trish and I have spent the past few days in Bryson City, North Carolina, in the mountains in the midst of fall leaf color time.  While here, we have had two different rides on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

Our morning ride was by steam train to the Nantahala Gorge.  We crossed part of Fontana Lake and then followed the Nantahala River up the Gorge.  The trip included an hour lay-over stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center on our way back.

In the late afternoon, we took the sunset ride by historic diesel engine from Bryson City following the Tuckaseegee River to Dillsboro and back.  This ride included the long Cowee Mountain Tunnel and lots of scenery.

We loved these train rides, and, we loved the fact that this excursion train has turned the little town of Bryson City into a busy destination for tourists.  If you are in this part of the world, give it a try!