Things To Do
Lakes End Cafe and Marina
This is the one restaurant in the immediate area (within 5 minutes) of the venue. Great place to grab a bite to eat and sit outside overlooking the marina. Also possible to rent kayaks or a boat here.
Nantahala Outdoor Center
About 30 minutes from the venue, the NOC is the hub of outdoor activities in the area. This is a great place to go for Rafting, Kayaking, or just grabbing a drink and sitting by the river. River's End Restaurant as well as Big Wesser Riverside Pub are both in this area.
Wayah Bald
Hike it via the Appalachian trail, or do what we did and drive 95% of the way with a short, paved walk up to the tower from the parking area. The view from the tower is breathtaking, a great place to catch a sunrise or sunset. If you choose to drive, you do NOT need 4x4, but the last 4 miles of the road is gravel/hardpack. Accessible with a regular car, just need to take it slow.
Back to civilization
If you are wanting to get back to a little bit of civilization, Bryson City and Franklin are both lovely small cities with shopping, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.