Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel: Worth the Gamble

          By Jim Herman

Cherokee, North Carolina is not the Cherokee of our youth. It has grown up and matured to now offer much more than handmade Indian crafts and pottery. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel, located within one mile of the many craft shops in the small village, is not just another place to sleep and participate in gaming. It is a place richly decorated in the almost forgotten history of the Cherokee Nation.

Gambler’s Paradise and More!

Located between the Blue Ridge Mountain range and the Great Smokey Mountains of western North Carolina, Cherokee is a short two and one-half hour drive from the Atlanta area. The scenic drive consists mainly of four-lane divided highways with only a few miles of two and three-lane state roads. Mostly the two-lane roads traverse through small hamlets and towns where adequate facilities to eat or rest are a welcome respite.

Regardless of the time of year, this short trip offers scenic beauty. From the spring and mid-summer coolness of mist and majestic green mountain ranges to the spectacular colors of autumn and into the stillness of light snow in the winter -- any time is the right time to visit.

Your stay at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel offers two distinctly different restaurants and a coffee shop bistro. The casino has an upscale steak house as well as a huge buffet and a sandwich shop. Prices are affordable. Should you wish to try your luck at the many gaming slots or tables, the meals could even be free with a Harrah’s gaming card that accumulates points whether you win or lose. There is no charge for the card.

The best time to visit is Monday through Friday, when the crowds are smaller.  Weekends are usually packed. Rooms at the hotel are more readily available during the weekdays and should you visit several times and accumulate Harrah’s points, free nights are available. The casino offers smoking and non-smoking areas, as well as plenty of nickel slots available near those other slot machines that accept higher amounts.

Whether you’re a gambler, or just along for the ride, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel will captivate you. The North Carolina Mountains will beckon you to return season after season. Try your luck – you can’t lose!

~Jim Herman is a freelance writer and author of Resurrected Memories, more info at jim-herman.net