The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
spent a day trip in Cherokee, North Carolina
where they visited a Veterans Memorial, Soco Falls and more
August 27, 2020

Cherokee is a town near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cherokee is only 12.05 miles in area, located on the reservation home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, in western North Carolina. At Oconaluftee Indian Village, the 18th-century Cherokee lifestyle is preserved via live demonstrations. In summer at the outdoor Mountainside Theatre, the drama "Unto These Hills" tells the tribal story. This was just a short day trip for the two RV Gypsies so they did not visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian nor much else in the except for one waterfall and Cherokee Veterans Park. They may return here someday.

welcome to North Carolina sign NOrth Carolina State Line Haywood County
Cherokee North Carolina flag
low clouds in the mountains low clouds in the mountain
low clouds in the mountain low clouds in the mountain

Veterans Memorial Park

Veterans Memorial Park sign
Veterans Memorial Park wall Veterans Memorial Park wall
Veterans Memorial Park columns and flags military cannons
Nimrod Jarret Smith sign military tanker
PFC Charles George plaque
PFC Charles George statue
Cherokee Veterans Park post
Cherokee Veterans Park plaque
Cherokee Veterans Park
symbols at Cherokee Veterans Park symbols at Cherokee Veterans Park
symbols at Cherokee Veterans Park symbols at Cherokee Veterans Park

The USA Patriot Bear (shown below in various views) was in the Veterans Memorial Park. Karen Duquette photographed the bear from the front and the back sides, then close-ups from several different angles because its content needs to be seen.

Patriot Bear sign

Below close-up of the front side with the words-

"In memory, of all our men and womens service, to our great nation..."
plus the faces of "Robert Youngdeer and Will Harris 2007 Ole Glory Cherokee"

Space shuttles, United States Marine Corps emblem, airplanes, and more

Patriot Bear Patriot Bear

Below: Head - POW-MIA symbol
and US Coast Guard emblem

Below: The Butt and Military Helicopters

Patriot Bear head Patriot Bear butt

Below: The back side of the bear:
Words in pink spot below the Eagles beak and to the right of the stars -
"In Loving of our boys and girls, our memory's will always be Strong Family ties."

Patriot Bear Patriot Bear

There were more painted bears all over the town.
The two RV Gypsies photographed a few of them.

painted bear in Cherokee NC painted bear in Cherokee NC
painted bear in Cherokee NC painted bear in Cherokee NC
painted bear in Cherokee NC painted bear in Cherokee NC
Smokly Mountain gold and ruby mine sign pan for gold water tower

Below: While Lee Duquette was ordering ice cream at the drive-up window, Karen duquette took a few pictures while waiting in the car.

big ice cream cone and totem poles totem poles
Indian painting Indian Mural

Below: The two RV Gypsies had an ice cream break near the river, and a visit by a big duck.

the river a duck
Our Lady of Guadalupe sign
Our Lady of Guadalupe decoration
big Indian totem pole with a mask

Below: Leaving the Cherokee Indian Reservation, the two RV Gypsies took a short ride to a waterfall. Soco Falls Trail is a 0.2 mile trail located near Cherokee, North Carolina that features a waterfall. It is said that visitors can climb to the top of the waterfall, but the two RV Gypsies did not do so. They like to stay on the side of caution.

Leaving The Cheokee Indian Reservation marker

There was no sign announcing the falls, but the two RV Gypsies had the directions in their GPS. They parked in the very small parking lot, and as they exited their car, they could hear the falls. Then they walked down a wooden ramp with some stairs to the viewing platform.

This was basically a short, easy walk, with a couple of harder spots for people with bad knees, because parts of the trail were steep and rocky. The path is quite narrow so meeting people could be a problem.

steep, rock trail to Soco Falls Lee Duquette on the Soco Falls trail

Below: The two RV Gypsies stopped at the overlook and enjoyed the spectacular waterfall.

Soco Falls Soco Falls
Soco Falls Soco Falls
Soco Falls

The photo below shows a trail to go down closer to the waterfall, but it is very steep and could be slippery. This part had a rope to hold onto. But the two RV Gypsies wish to do that.

rope trail to Soco Waterfall

Note: After leaving Cherokee, North Carolina, the two RV Gypsies returned to their RV in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Leaving Pigeon Forge, and \driving through Sieverville, TN, Karen Duquette took the photos below. The water tank shown is not painted, it is wrapped. It is 60-feet tall, 42 feet in diameter, and holds 500,000 gallons of water.

Bush's baked beans Bush's baked beans
Bush's baked beans

NOTE: In 2023, the two RV Gypsies stopped at Bush's Baked Beans Visitor Center in Tennessee. They toured the museum and learned a lot of about baked beans and more. Those photos can be seen by clicking here. But if you do, please finish this page first, and remember to come back to see the rest of the 2020 adventures.

Appalachian Trail Crossing Sign Leaving Cherokee National Forest Sign

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