Mark took six of us on his Waterfalls and Breweries tour yesterday. We had an amazing time! He arrived promptly to pick us up with a spacious and clean car. He helped us pack our belongings, had a phone charger for us, put us in control of music, and even had barf bags at each seat in case anyone got motion sickness (thankfully, no one did). He was laid back and incredibly knowledgeable of the area. We joked afterwards that he knew "a ton of stuff about a ton of stuff." All of the waterfalls he took us to were beautiful. There was a light/moderate hike to see a few of them, and as fairly in-shape people, in their late twenties, we broke a little bit of a sweat, but it wasn't anything crazy and was totally worth it. Mark was eager to tell us the spots to get the best pictures of the falls, more than willing to snap pictures for us, and stayed excited for us every step of the way. After the falls, we stopped at five different local breweries, all with their own vibe. Our favorite stop was The Lazy Hiker for sure. We got lunch at the food truck there and bought a bunch of merchandise. The beer was delicious too. Mark made us feel comfortable, taken care of, and never rushed us. Overall, this trip was a huge success and we would recommend it to anyone. We arrived safely back at home having learned a lot about the area as well as a lot about all of the different services Carolina Bound Adventures offers. We look forward to booking another tour with Mark again in the future. read more

My family and I were in North Carolina for a week in March. We were referred to Mark and Carolina Bound Adventures by a family member. Mark was an invaluable resource in planning our trip even before we arrived. Since we were not visiting in "season" and during COVID Mark was able to help me plan activities that would be open when we were there. He also helped us find the perfect accommodations and offered a grocery service (which we didn't take him up on but definitely will next time). He is also a very knowledgeable guide and worked with me to choose activities that would work for my young children (4 and 6). He planned and took us on the most amazing hike and kayaking trip. He happily referred us to several other activities in Bryson City and in the neighboring towns even though he was not affiliated with them (and therefore wasn't receiving any fee). I do not usually write reviews but was so impressed by Mark and Carolina Bound Adventures that I had to. If you are reading this review - don't hesitate - call Mark, you won't regret it! read more

I booked the Waterfall and Brewery tour with CBA for my husband's birthday because my husband loves his IPAs. I'm not a drinker so I was kind of like...ummmm....he will love it but this is not going to be super fabulously fun for me. I decided to book anyway. I was very pleasantly surprised. The day was seamless from start to finish. Mark picked us up early and returned us safely to our cabin. According to my husband, all the beers were extremely yummy and there were nonalcoholic drinks available at each of the stops for me so...YAY. Mark was super fabulous...very personable, helpful and well-informed. My favorite waterfall was Dry Falls and my husband loved The Lazy Hiker Brewery. We simply had THE BEST TIME. Just a tip, when you book and you go to Dry Falls, do yourself a favor, when you get behind the falls, simply close your eyes and listen. I promise you, it will be an awe-inspiring experience. The sheer sound of the majesty of that waterfall will literally wash your soul clean. read more

I knew I had chosen the right company when I got such responsive and information packed emails from Mark the owner prior to our trip. The trip itself is amazing. Lake Fontana is such a beautiful setting. Mark and his wife were excellent guides with a wealth of knowledge about most everything dealing with the lake, the Nantahala National Forest and Bryson City. The day was perfect plus we came away with information about other activities we could experience on our trip. We also did the guided 6 mile hike through the National Forest. It was beyond beautiful and I learned so much history about the forest along with information about the trees and flowers. The hike was tailored to our pace. It could not have been a better day! read more

Highly recommend!! My husband and I had an awesome experience with Sarah. We requested a go for it hike and our hike to Shuckstack Fire Tower did not disappoint. We met Sarah at Fontana Dam and we were able to learn a little about the history of the Fontana Dam during our short car ride to the trailhead. The hike was challenging but manageable with breaks to discuss local wildlife and plants/trees. Sarah was very knowledgeable on the area and plants/trees we were interacting with on our hike. The views were stunning through out the hike especially at the top of the fire tower. The hike involved a section of the Appalachian Trail so, definitely a cool bucket list item to check off. Request this hike (and Sarah)!! read more

Mark V. with Carolina Bound Adventures was awesome. He planned a weeks worth of great activities/adventures. He did an amazing job at meticulously scheduling every day with the perfect amount of adventure and needed relaxation after said adventure! We went hiking, rode the Great Smoky Mountain Train, white water rafting, and more hiking to see several beautiful waterfalls!! If I could give you any advice it would be... LISTEN TO MARK!! His knowledge of the area is impeccable. Let him do what he does best! Enjoy a stress free vacation! We will definitely return and our first call will be Mark at CBA! Also the Fryemont Inn restaurant is awesome! Best NC southern food I have had in.., forever! read more

Highly recommend. We were looking for a kayaking option so my son could fish a bit from someplace not on the shore. Due to having to check out of our cabin our timing was tight and it didn't look like we would be able to go. However the owner reached out to say they had an opening the next morning which made my son's day. And we were able to get out on the water. So nice to not worry about bringing or loading a kayak. Afterwards we discovered my son left his water bottle in the kayak and they were able to meet us to return it - which was so kind. Now his water bottle is proudly sporting a new Carolina Bound Adventures sticker on it! :) read more

We were in Bryson City for a family getaway - first time in the area. We have young kids (3 and 5) and were hoping to get out on the lake but were early in the season so many of the outfitters were not yet open. Luckily, we found Carolina Bound Adventures online - their website was so easy to navigate & book & Mark was very responsive & helpful over the phone. He was very knowledgable about the area & helpful in planning a kayaking outing for us. His communication was great & we felt comfortable with the whole process. He was friendly and took some photos for us on the water. Highly recommend them for an outdoor excursion in the area! read more

What an amazing company! They offer so much. We enlisted them to shuttle us to our AT hiking trail head little did we know we would learn so much about the area and receive such excellent advice from Mark, our shuttle driver. After a couple days of hiking it became necessary to end our hike and visit a hospital. Mark's wife was on the phone immediately finding the best solutions for our needs. Mark picked us up in twenty five minutes from the trailhead. We will return to do his Waterfall and Winery guided hike in the near future. We highly recommend Carolina Bound Adventures! read more

First time using this company. I booked this trip for my boyfriend and I. Bundled the Ziplining and White water rafting. The initial booking was very easy. I even called to verify that I was booking the right thing and Mark was very happy to help. The experiences themselves were also very enjoyable. The guides were great and very knowledgeable about what they were doing and the area around us. Rick and Savanah made us feel very safe while zip lining and we had lots of fun with them. Matt was also a very fun and knowledgeable guide for rafting. I will definitely do this again. read more

We booked three adventures through this company and all of them were great. Everything was taken care of for us. We received detailed instructions for each adventure. The final adventure was an approximate 6 mile hike with Mark as our guide. Mark showed us many things we would have missed had we been on our own. He also owns Carolina Bound Adventures and wanted to be sure we were pleased with everything. Using this company will save you money and ensure you'll have a great time. read more

We booked this hike after we were told to buy bear spray. The experience we had was worth it and saw the beauty of the park through new eyes as Mark explained what we were seeing and the history behind it all. The time he took to show us different things and allowing for lots of picture taking. The waterfalls were beautiful but we gained so much more with the knowledge we gained. I will book another trip Mark and plan other adventures that the company offers. read more

My husband and I rented a kayak and paddle board. Mark answered all my questions promptly and the equipment was clean and in great condition. He had them waiting for us down by the water and he was waiting for us in the same spot when our time was up. Fontana lake was beautiful, clean and clear. Would highly recommended and would use this company again if we are ever back in the area in the future. read more

We kayaked on Fontana Lake with Mark and it was incredible. This is a great tour for all ages. Our son was with us, he is 12 and he loved it! The water is emerald green and clear. It is so quiet and peaceful, you can hear your heartbeat. Mark it a wealth of knowledge. He knew so much history about the area, it was fantastic. We all learned so much! Thank you Mark! We appreciate you so much. read more

Our group of 4 chose to do the brew tour and it was totally worth it - 100% We had such an awesome/fun experience. Mark took us to multiple breweries (the craft beer is great!) and provided us with endless local knowledge! Mark picks you up and drops you off at your own location which is also a major plus, he'll even take pics for you! Overall, we highly suggest Carolina Bound Adventures!! read more

Mark picked my wife and I up from our AT hike and he was very professional and accommodating! We enjoyed hearing the history of the smokies and all of his knowledge of the sites along the way. Made the ride much more enjoyable! Will definitely be coming back to enjoy more of the experiences he has available! Would highly recommend this destination as well this company to explore the area! read more

Mark is an absolute gem!!! I cannot recommend his services enough. Me and my friend did the waterfalls hike and we learned SO MUCH about the history and about plants! You definitely cannot learn all the information Mark has collected over the last 20 or 30 years on your own. If you like hiking, nature, and learning - Carolina Bound Adventures will be perfect for you. Do it!!! read more

Mark at Carolina Bound Adventures was a fantastic guide. He personalized our hike based on conversations and emails prior to us arriving in Bryson City. On the hike, he taught us so much about the history of the area and the many flowers, trees, and mushrooms that grow there. No bears, snakes or pigs were seen, but we were ready for whatever we encountered. read more

Mark and Joanie were excellent hosts for both a hike in the Smoky Mountains National Park (Waterfalls Hike) and kayaking on Fontana Lake. They were 100% prepared, knowledgeable, experienced, and engaging! They were concerned about our safety and made sure we were prepared for the adventures before we started out. read more