Ocanaluftee Indian Village, Cherokee, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Overview: A delightfully bare-bones, living museum.  An educational, outdoor, living history experience for all ages.

Location: 218 Drama Road, Cherokee, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Website: http://visitcherokeenc.com/play/attractions/oconaluftee-indian-village/

The Good: Like nearly every family with roots in the southeastern United States, my family claims a heritage among the Cherokee Indians.  In fact, family legend holds that my grandmother's great-grandmother was a Cherokee princess, the daughter of a chief.  With such an ancestry, its no wonder that at a young age my father instilled in me a deep respect for our Native American brothers.

This attraction, the Ocanaluftee Indian Village, can foster such a respect and admiration. The village is a living museum, inhabited by descendants of the original Cherokee Indian tribe, wearing traditional attire and demonstrating traditional arts, from weaving and a beading to canoe carving and blowgun hunting. Guided tours depart every fifteen minutes, allowing you to step back two centuries, enter village buildings and homes, and live for a moment as did a unique people.  History simply can't come alive like this when read only from the printed page.

A brief open-air stage performance takes place throughout the day--the same actors perform in the nearby outdoor stage drama Unto These Hills--another must-see for an unforgettable experience.  Tickets for both attractions can be purchased together for a discount.

Handmade items in the gift shop include finger woven belts and sashes (I want one for a scarf!), jewelry, baskets, and more, but they are pricey.

The Bad: The village is open for tours April through November, so plan your trip accordingly.  This is an outdoor attraction--not good for a rainy day.  In fact, I got drenched during a pop-up thunder shower--but even that didn't spoil the experience.  That you will be traversing dirt trails should be taken into consideration. The trails may be difficult for those with disabilities, and if wet are not wheelchair accessible.

Artisans demonstrate finger weaving, basket weaving,
beading, and other traditional skills.

Useful works of art produced by resident artisans
can be purchased in the gift shop

Actors demonstrate an interchange between a Cherokee
tribe and European settlers. These actors also perform
in another attraction, the stage play Unto These Hills.