What to do in Beautiful Maggie Valley:
Maggie Valley and the surrounding area truly has something for every member of the family. If hiking & nature are your favorite things, or if you are more interested in golf at one of the area courses, the cool temperatures and friendly natives will make your stay pleasurable. Several riding stables, including Queens Farm and Cataloochee offer trail rides daily. Skiing is minutes away in the early spring and fall at Cataloochee Ski Resort near Ghost Town. Numerous rafting companies operate on the Nantahala River and several levels of excitement await the rafting enthusiasts. A word to the wise--the water here is from the mountains and it is notoriously chilly! The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad has scenic tours through the mountain passes boarding at the station in Dillsboro--check departure times and inquire about the sunset tours as well.
Asheville is a Must See!:
A quick 30 minutes east on I-40 lies the town of Asheville, with it's charming old downtown section, dotted with quaint shops and delicious gourmet restaurants. If you are lucky, you'll be in town for the Southern Highland Craft Fair at the Asheville Civic Center and see the finest the area's crafters have to offer. In southern Asheville (Exit 50 on I-40) is Biltmore Village, home of the famous Biltmore Estate and Winery. If you have never been to Biltmore, it is a must see and a delightful way to spend the day on another continent. Like any large city, Asheville has a very nice mall and very nice traditional dining, but also beautiful gardens everywhere, and enchanting southern architecture at every turn. Probably what attracts us to Asheville the most are the great antiquing opportunities. Antique malls, barns and warehouses dot the city and we have great fun both window shopping and collecting. If you can, go see the beautiful old Grove Park Inn on Charlotte Street.
Heading to the West:
The Cherokee Indian Reservation and Harrah's Casino are a 30 minute drive to the west on Route 19. On the other side of beautiful Smokey Mountain National Park, about a 1 1/2 hour drive, is Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and of course, Dollywood. Gatlinburg is known for it's unusual assortment of interesting shops, Ripley's Museum, and restaurants. Pigeon Forge has an amazing artisan community with many galleries and working studios. Pigeon Forge is also a haven for outlet shoppers, as well as home to the popular theme park Dollywood.
