Franklin - Cherokee Loop into History

There is an adventure back into history as you travel deep into Western North Carolina. We started with a campsite on the Callasaja River with a view of the mountain trout just lazily swimming in the cool water. I sure wish I had packed my Fly Rod! Franklin is the home of the "Gem and Mineral Museum" which houses specimens from all over the world as well as a 2 1/4 pound Ruby found in "these her' mountains". We also found our families' historical Tartan pattern at the "Scottish Tartans Museum" and brought home our Family patterned scarf.

One of best journeys back in time was at the "Whistle Stop Antique Mall" where collectors and kids can find "Gems" and "Toys" from decades ago. We finished off our day in Franklin at the "Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts" with a concert from Lee Greenwood and Louise Mandrel. Just when you think you are out in the back country of western North Carolina, you are amazed at the variety of entertainment available!

Heading North takes you to the little town of Dillsboro. You might think that all the craft shops and restaurants are all there is to see, or the riverfront Dillsboro Inn might just be a great place for an Invigorating swim in the Tuckasegee River, but the Highlight for me was a ride back into history on the "Great Smoky Mountain Railroad" with daily excursion rides along the Tuckasegee River, Nantahala Gorge, and by Fontana Lake.

Arriving in Cherokee, history became alive as we walked through the "Oconaluftee Indian Village" as our guides demonstrated the culture and crafts of their ancestors. Their beautiful handmade crafts are for sale at the "Qualla Arts and Crafts Exchange" allowed you to bring home a peice of American History.

Jumping back into the 21st Century, our next stop was the Huge "Harrahs" Casino and Hotel! I strongly suggest having a meal at the "Paula Dean's Kitchen", or enjoy a Concert at their "Cherokee Events Center", or take a chance in the Casino. You will now find that your trip through history has come full circle. Welcome back to 2011

Efficiency

The new buzzword seems to be efficiency and it covers all things like cost cutting, trimming the fat, austerity etc etc. Its no secret that the world has been challenged the past couple years and the good news is that challenge breeds advancements.

This is very true in the RV industry where challenges have led to advancements in production methods, materials and quality.

We see evidence of this on a daily basis on our lots. This year we introduced to our customers many new brands which were chosen based on the materials and efficiency of the RVs.

Koala is a great example. Lightweight by design, this brand of RV is noted for extremely stylish interiors, advanced lightweight woods and high quality construction. They purposely studied different types of woods to go into the models so they could achieve superior levels of building results while also reducing weights. The benefit is obvious for consumers. High quality travels with lightweight models that save on fuel while delivering the living experience they want. They even offer a 27’ double slide fifth wheel that weighs in less than 5,000lbs!!

Nomad is another brand we brought in to respond to the current economy. With many floorplans these trailers come in extremely lightweight plans, towable by even mini-vans. Bunkhouse models under 3,000lbs and retailing for around $10,000 provide our customers with a full trailer experience for the price point and weight of a folding trailer.

Wildcat has implemented tankless water heaters on their travel trailers and fifth wheels. By having a tankless water heater you are not constantly burning propane to keep water hot even when you are not using it. A great savings for consumers and a system that also delivers longer hot showers!!

New emissions engines in motorhomes. The new engines that we are seeing from Cummins benefit consumers in a number of areas. They are delivering greater fuel economy than previous engines which adds up over the long haul. They are lighter weight which means you are making more effective use of your horsepower and torque. And they are delivering exhaust that is actually cleaner than the air going into the system which is good for the environment and future generations of RVers.

The RV lifestyle is a lifestyle that no one wants to give up. Thankfully the manufacturers continue to deliver with new efficient means for us to travel economically. We at Tom Johnson Camping Center will continue to do all we can to provide our customers with the latest products in the plans and weights they are looking for at the best value we can. That’s a pretty efficient way for us to sell to you the best possible camping experience.