Things To Do

1. Innovation Station – Experience one of Western Carolina’s finest breweries at Innovation Station. Have a craft beer while sitting alongside the Tuckasegee River or grabbing a bite from one of the rotating food truck vendors. See the entire brewing process and even chat with the Brewmaster to see what it’s all about!
2. Forager’s Canteen – Stop by Forager’s Canteen for Chef Kevin Faini’s take on Farm to Table cuisine with an eclectic mix of Southern heritage dishes mixed with world cuisines. LOCALS TIP: Order Piggy Planks to-go and take them over to Innovation for a best of both worlds experience!
3. Haywood Smokehouse – Eat Authentic Texas Style BBQ at Haywood Smokehouse. With 3 locations across Western North Carolina, this is a local’s fav. Featuring Briskets smoked around 20 hours, their bbq is cooked to perfection! Come Hungry!
4. Dogwood Crafters – A craft cooperative since 1976, Dogwood showcases the handmade treasures created by regional artisans who continue the old-time Appalachian craft traditions. You’ll also find some modern translations of these arts and crafts in unique gifts, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, paintings, home decor and more.
5. Quick Birds Treehouse Bistro & Front Street Takeout – Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro offers live music, indoor and outdoor dining, and a Quirky, Cozy atmosphere with soulful fare. Sharing their kitchen with Front Street Takeout, visitors can enjoy your Front Street favorites with your favorite Spirits!
6. Front Porch General Store Antiques & Vintage Home Goods – This general store is chock full of vintage good and antiques with some dating as far back as the 1800’s. They have something for every budget & every taste! Find the perfect gift or souvenir to mark your visit to Dillsboro and Western NC. 
7. Nancy Tut’s Christmas Shop – Swing by Nancy Tut’s and their 9 rooms full of Christmas ornaments, decor and souvenirs to get you ready for everything Christmas and commemorate your time with us. 
8. Tunnel Mountain Crafts – This shop offers the works of over 60 artisans and every item in the shops is handmade by a local artist. Visitors can find a wide range of work including woodwork, oil painting, watercolors, acrylics, pottery, iron work, painted gourds, fabric items, crocheted and knitted scarves, greeting cards, postcards, and children’s books.
9. Horse Feathers Boutique – Horse Feathers is a wonderfully eclectic storefront featuring clothing, jewelry, home decor and furniture. Every piece is heavily curated and hand selected. They also feature Heart Coffee Company inside so you can grab a cup of Joe or a craft latte while you shop!
10. Dillsboro Chocolate Factory – In business since 1999, this family owned and operated establishment serves some of the best chocolate this side of the Smokies! From their many flavors and styles of fudge to hand dipped chocolate or cocktail infusion shooters, there is something for every sweets lover!

Itinerary

Here’s what we plan on doing. Refer to this train’s schedule for departures times.

Given the nature of railroading, durations are approximate and subject to change without notice.

Classes of Service

Class Comparison

Schedule

How to Purchase

We alway recommend booking reservations well in advance! You can purchase your for other excursions online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. No matter how you purchase tickets, you’ll receive your boarding passes via email. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

Ticket fares subject to 7% Historic Preservation Fee. Schedules, fares, motive power, equipment, seat selection, and meals are subject to change without notice. We guarantee the class of service you select. You will be notified if a change in schedule or motive power affects your reservation. Payment in full at booking by major credit card is required to finalize a reservation. You may cancel your reservation in full or in part and receive a refund less a $14.00 fee per adult ticket and $6.00 fee per child ticket as late as 5 days before departure with the exception of The Polar Express Train Ride; The Polar Express Train Ride is as late as 60 days before departure. Within 5 days of the departure, or 60 days in the case of the Polar Express Train Ride, the reservation becomes nonrefundable.  You may reschedule any time prior to your originally scheduled departure with a $7.00 fee per ticket for another date within the same calendar year. You may not reschedule a reservation after the scheduled departure.

You agree that GSMR General Excursions and Events for which you purchased tickets and/or attended is a public event, that your appearance and actions inside and outside the venue where the Excursion/Event occurs are public in nature, and that you have no expectation of privacy with regard to your actions or conduct at the Event. You hereby irrevocably grant permission to the host railroad, licensor, sponsor(s) and/or their assigns to use, copy, display, distribute, exhibit and utilize your name, image, digital image, likeness, acts, poses, voice, appearance, movements and statements in any live or recorded audio, video or photographic display or other transmission, exhibition, publication or reproduction of same, including at the Excursion/ Event (regardless of whether before, during or after the Excursion/ Event) for any purpose, in any manner, in any medium or context now known or hereafter developed without further authorization from or any compensation to you or anyone acting or entitled to act on your behalf.