Maggie Valley & the Smoky Mountains National Park
No photo does this view justice
Autumn, or Fall if you prefer, is a special time in the Smoky Mountains National Park. When the autumnal months come around, the once-green mountains begin to take on hues of gold, burnt orange, and a vivid red. Every sunrise is breathtaking and every morning brings cause to pause in silence and take in the beauty of the natural world. We went with some friends to Maggie Valley - a small town tucked away in the southeast corner of the Smoky Mountains National Park, for one of the most tranquil long weekends we’ve had in recent times.
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Our home from home for a few days
What is Maggie Valley known for?
Maggie Valley is well-known for its friendly atmosphere and quiet, small-town pace of life. If you’re looking for party central, look elsewhere but, if peace is what you’re searching for, you’ll certainly find it here. Follow your way along the main road to be met with tree-strewn mountains sloping up either side of you, quaint little shops selling a variety of souvenirs and restaurants selling typical local dishes.
The view across Maggie Valley from our accommodation
What to do in Maggie Valley NC
Maggie Valley is based almost entirely on the main road that runs directly through the town. Off to each side, you can get lost in all manner of small stores, where local people sell their wares. Much of it is made by hand by the very people that live there. You can get your own hunting knife, fresh beef jerky, blankets or a picture of Donald Trump dressed as the Punisher. When you’ve had your fill of shopping, head to one of the many local eateries for a bite.
Why yes, I will be buying a Skyrim sword from the little knife store
Where to eat in Maggie Valley
Bearwaters Brewing Company: Creekside
A small local brewery serving up more than just beer. It’s also a great place to grab a bite to eat, from freshly-made pretzels, to home-made cocktails. Set beside a tranquil river, it’s a lovely peaceful spot.
A BBQ platter at Haywood Smokehouse
Haywood Smokehouse, Waynesville
If you feel like taking the show on the road and getting out of town for a bit, just a 15-minute drive up the road from Maggie Valley, you’ll find the town of Waynesville. In Waynesville, you’ll find the Haywood Smokehouse, where you can get the best Southern BBQ that the state has to offer. They don’t take bookings, so be prepared to queue if you don’t get there early but, we promise, with all different kinds of meat and eight different homemade sauces to slather all over it, you’ll be eating well.
A few of the sauces we tried with our food (the strawberry-chipotle was unreal)
Is Maggie Valley ghost town still in operation?
No.
The tranquil waters of Lake Junaluska
Take a stroll around Lake Junaluska NC
If you fancy a trip out of the valley for a morning, not far from Waynesville, you can visit Lake Junaluska. This lake is lined with accessible walkways and paths, boasting beautiful views across the still waters. You’ll see all manner of bird life, such as geese and woodpeckers, and we even saw a bald eagle! That was when we felt truly embedded in the heart of America.
Mountain views
Is Maggie Valley in the Smoky Mountains?
No, but it is right on the edge. Within a 5-minute drive from where we were staying, we found ourselves met with jaw-dropping views, walks to waterfalls and, of all things, the Cherokee Indian Reservation! There’s so much to see and to experience, basically, on your doorstep when you’re there. We took photos, we took videos, we snapped and snapped and snapped. Nothing we captured came anywhere close to encapsulating the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Believe us when we say that this is the most visited national park in the United States for a bloody good reason. It was absolutely stunning.
A view across the Smoky Mountains National Park
Check out the Cherokee Indian Reservation
A little way on from Maggie Valley, you can find the Cherokee Indian Reservation, featuring the town of Cherokee itself. Take a walk up the main street and get kitted out in locally crafted gear, from blankets, to cowboy hats, t-shirts and everything in between. If you’re a gambling man or woman, there is also the Harrah’s Cherokee casino in the area too, which often hosts shows and performers, too. Check out what’s on right here.
The gateway to an unbelievably beautiful portion of the world
To conclude, if you’re looking to get lost in the mountains and experience a real slice of rural America at the same time, you cannot do better than Maggie Valley and the Smoky Mountains National Park. On a frosty morning spent looking out across the valley, we found we’ve never been happier to be so close to such incredible beauty and so far from everything else. Check out this time-lapse we took of the sunrise.
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