Lower Big Creek - from the Campground to the confluence with Pigeon is my  pick for the best intro (III+) creek around.  Its listed as a IV on AW but it's probably only that in a playboat and at 3.5 feet.  Its really NOT hard, totally non-stop action, in other words: A REAL creek.  You will learn all the basics and have a blast.

As for levels, I'm not exactly sure about the gauge on the lower bridge (at the picnic area) but I know that the upper cement bridge gauge (as you enter the gravel road for the park, park on bridge, look over on upriver side).  If its at 2-3.5 feet, its perfect intro creeking.

And, best of all, as you progress, you can start hiking up above the campground to get into the IV (first mile) and then some V creeking.

And, if you show up and its low, worse comes to worse, and you can always do the Pigeon, Big Laurel, Cataloochee Creek instead so at least you'll get wet.

Big Laurel is OK but you have to either do part of the FB or walk 1/2 mile up the tracks to take out. In my opinion, its not really going to be much like creeking - same skills as the Ocoee but maybe a bit easier.  It is a blast at high water, but thats rare.

Happy creeking...

Luke