Dining/Bars

Even for a small town, Cullowhee (and the surrounding area) has more than it’s fair share of great spots to grab a bite to eat. There are a lot fewer bars as opposed to restaurants but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anywhere to go, you’ll just have fewer choices. Western Carolina students often get together to hit the bars or chow down so next time you’re out check out one of these spots!

Best Restaurants:

Sazon Mexican Cuisine

City Lights Cafe

Creekside Oyster House and Grill

Kostas Family Restaurant

Speedy’s Pizza

Best Bars:

The Cut Cocktail Lounge

Lulu’s On Main

Innovation Brewing Company

The Paper Mill Lounge and Theater

O’Malley’s

Outdoor/Recreation

For all Western Carolina students living in Cullowhee, you’ll never have a shortage of outdoor activities to partake in! Especially, when you consider the fact that the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway is practically your backyard. There are all sorts of activities to do year-round from backpacking, kayaking, rafting, snowboarding and more you’ll never run out of activities and places to go. If you want to stick around campus get involved in one of the 40 different intramural sports leagues!

College Life in Cullowhee, NC

Things to do

If you love small towns and exploring the great outdoors then Western Carolina University is the perfect university for you! Cullowhee is located smack dab in the middle of Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains. You literally can walk out your door and be minutes away from a number of places to hike, bike, canoe, raft and so much more! Going to downtown Cullowhee to shop, eat, and drink is also popular amongst kids who want to take a break from school. Since Cullowhee is so small traveling to surrounding towns is not uncommon either. Not too far away students can take trips to the Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine or visit the Dillsboro Chocolate Factory. The most popular destination nearby is probably Cherokee where students can go to the movies or the favored Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

On campus, students enjoy attending football and basketball games but the highlight of the game is actually the 400 member Pride of the Mountains Marching Band. During the day you can catch fellow classmates hanging out at the Catafount or playing a round at the disc golf course.

Highlights include:

Hike the Great Smoky Mountains
Mine at the Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine
Gamble at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino
Watch the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band