Cherokee, North Carolina is one of the small towns that makes up the heart of the Smokies. If you have never been, you must go and visit the town that is known for the Cherokee Indians and the shops that feature their crafts. Shops line the streets and you can find a beautiful assortment of dream catchers, knives, wood works, moccasins, purses, blankets, trinkets and so many other souveniers. Harrah's Casino has recently come to Cherokee within the last few years, but I highly advise you to try out the smaller hotels and enjoy the vintage experience. Cherokee does not offer a ton in regards to food, but there are a few restaurants to stop and grab a bite to eat. Oconaluftee Island Park is another great part of Cherokee, where you can walk around the river, picnic and enjoy being out in nature. But probably our favorite part of Cherokee-Santa's Land!!
Now I know what you're thinking...a Christmas themed place in the summer? Why would we do that? That is a little weird, but I really advise you to take a chance and look past the holiday theme and see what all this park has to offer. Also, if you have not been within the last 5 years or you've seen the videos on Youtube that are more than 5 years old, do not let them deter you. The park has really been cleaned up and fixed up within the last few years.
Santa's Land has been around since the 60s and you will see that when you enter the park. When you step through those doors, you are immediately taken back to vintage Christmases. We personally love smaller, older roadside attractions over larger, newer ones like Six Flags or Dollywood any day, but we understand not everyone agrees with that. Santa's Land is never extremely busy, so you will not have to wait in long lines for the rides. It feels like it's own small, nostalgic town that you can explore on your own, without masses of people crowding around and in your way.
When you enter, there is a playground and some large statues that are fun for the kids to take pictures with. A magic show happens multiple times a day, as well as Santa's House where you can take pictures with Santa. There is a train that goes all the way around the park, so you can ride it to see the park, or you can use it as a way to get to the other side of the park without walking. You will come across all kinds of animals, with multiple feeding stations to buy food for them. We got to see bears, deer, goats, pigs, camels, emus, lemurs, parrots, peacocks, and so much more! And they love to eat food from your hand. Santa's Land also has its own small little pond that you can take paddle boats around and feed all the Japanese koi fish. They will literally follow your boat.
When you're done with the animals, you can head up to the amusement area and ride the famous Rudi-Coaster, the ferris wheel, a carousel, helicopters, and small cars and boats for the kids. If you get hungry, there is a diner and a sandwich shop to stop at.
It is so easy to get lost in the nostalgia and fun at Santa's Land and end up spending the whole day there. We have been coming here since 2019, and it is a favorite for the kids. I often hear how weird it is that it is open through the warmer months and not at Christmas time, which is a bit of a bummer. But the animals are one of their main attractions and they do not keep the animals out during the cold months, which is why they close.
