No products in the cart.
No products in the cart.
About Carolina Bound Adventures
"We've lived here, done that..."
Carolina Bound Adventures is a vacation planning, outfitter and guide service in the Bryson City, Western North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains area.
Mark Van Osdal started Carolina Bound Adventures after seeing a clear need for a specialized vacation planning and guide business in this region. He decided to support this need for vacationers who would visit the Great Smoky Mountains in Bryson City. Carolina Bound Adventures was designed to help guests create memorable family vacations and adventures through vacation planning and guided tours.
Now in the eighth year, Carolina Bound Adventures has planned and created amazing adventures for over 5000 guests and is enthusiastic to help you and your family create priceless memories on your next family vacation.
Come experience Bryson City, Western North Carolina and the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains area with Bryson City's Adventure Leader, Carolina Bound Adventures!
Meet Your Hosts
Meet Shannon Semit - Owner at Carolina Bound Adventures!
Carolina Bound Adventures Owner Shannon Semit first discovered the Great Smoky Mountains and Fontana Lake nearly 19 years ago. That trip sparked a lasting love for the mountains, waterways, and Bryson City’s small-town charm. What began as a great vacation eventually turned into calling Bryson City home. Shannon and her husband now live in the area, and together they’ve raised three incredibly great kids who share her appreciation for adventure and the outdoors. When she’s not guiding guests or planning trips, Shannon enjoys traveling, chasing sunsets and listening to a lingering lead.
She is CPR and Wilderness First Aid Certified, bringing both enthusiasm and preparedness to every experience. With a guest-first mindset and a genuine passion for helping people experience the Smokies, she focusses on keeping adventures fun, approachable, and tailored to each visitor. Whether it’s a guided hike, a local tour, or help planning the perfect mountain getaway, her goal is simple: help guests feel like locals and leave with unforgettable memories!
Mark & Joanie Van Osdal
You'll meet Mark & Joanie as your Hosts & Guides on many Carolina Bound Adventures!
Mark now serves as Senior Guide at Carolina Bound Adventures. When Mark founded the company he sought out the best adventures in the Bryson City, NC and Great Smoky Mountains area. Mark has been exploring and leading guided adventures in the outdoors of Western North Carolina for over 26 years hiking mountain biking, backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking and rafting.
He holds certifications in Wilderness First Aid, CPR/AED, whitewater rafting, swift water rescue, is a volunteer search and rescue technician (SRT4) for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and licensed United States Coast Guard Captain.
The smile you always see on Joanie's face is the broadest when she's playing in the outdoors! Having spent 40 years in the travel industry, her avid love for travel and outdoor adventures like hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking have grown through the years and she's become super passionate about exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When she's not in the woods, you can find her doting over her 10 grandchildren, affectionately known as her "Grands".
Sarah Jones Lead Adventure Guide
Meet Sarah, our Lead Adventure Guide. Our guests love her never ending smile and delightful personality! As a former National Park Service Forestry Technician, she has vast experience identifying & managing the park's resources, as well as teaching & guiding all over the Smokies.
A former collegiate cross country runner, Sarah studied biology and Spanish in her undergrad. Her love for the diversity of both nature & people is what fuels her passion to share the wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains. In her free time you'll find her boating & wake surfing on Lake Fontana, or trail running with her beloved Akita dog!
Sarah holds special trainings and certifications in Wilderness First Aid, Southern Appalachian plant identification, Search and Rescue, Leave No Trace principles, and Bear Safety.
