Things To Do in Cherokee, NC

Unto These Hills has been presented each summer at Cherokee since 1950. It relates the story of the Cherokees from 1540 until the Trail of Tears exodus to Oklahoma in 1838, during which thousands died.

The 2-hour show, written by Hanay Geiogmah, involves 130 performers, including actual Cherokee Indians, and technicians. All performances are at the 2,800-seat Mountainside Theater, off U.S. 441 (tel. 800/438-1601; www.cherokee-nc.com). Opening night is around June 10, and the curtain closes on August 19. Tickets cost $22 for reserved seating, $18 for general admission, and $10 for children 6 to 12 years old. Children 5 and under are free in the general-admission seating area. No shows are presented on Sunday.

You'll find many opportunities to take some Cherokee culture home with you. A wide selection of handmade Cherokee products is available, as well as authentic Native American items from other areas. About 16 stores on the Cherokee reservation specialize in crafts, clothing, paintings, or jewelry made by local craftspeople or craftspeople from other tribes. The largest is Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual (tel. 828/497-3103), on U.S. 441 at Drama Road, at the entrance to the Unto These Hills arena. Formed in the mid-1940s as a cooperative, Qualla has a current membership of 300 Cherokees, whose items are sold exclusively at the store. It ships products worldwide and is frequently visited by other tribal representatives who are interested in establishing a similar facility on their lands. Whether the craftsperson is a woodcarver, pottery maker, finger-weaver, artist, or basket maker, the products show individual artistry and convey a personal link to the makers' ancestors. Hours are Monday to Saturday 8am to 7pm and Sunday 9am to 5pm.

Drawing people from across the state is Harrah's Cherokee Casino, 777 Casino Dr. (tel. 828/497-7777), open 24 hours daily. All your favorite games of chance are here, plus a 1,500-seat Cherokee Pavilion Theater and five major restaurants. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter. This complex is part of a vast project that has transformed the Cherokee tribe's chronically depressed reservation into the only place in North Carolina where people can legally gamble. Rows of slots, video poker, and blackjack machines, along with other games, provide the tribe with an annual payout from Harrah's of $175 million -- each member gets a $7,000 check every year. About once a month, the theater presents a headliner, and tickets range from $15 to $90.