Waynesville

It’s a wonderful life in Waynesville. And walking down Main Street during the holiday season you might expect to see George Bailey and his wife Mary sipping a cup of coffee at Pheasant Hill Cafe and Gallery.

More Than 100 Artists Inspired by Nature
Looking for unique gifts for the unexpected surprise on Christmas morning you’ll find it in downtown Waynesville. One of my favorite shops Twigs and Leaves feels as much like an art gallery as a fine gift shop. With 160 artists represented, you will find an original gift that you love in your price range.

Artists in Residence Work Wonders with Clay
While you are out and about, a stop at Burr Studio is a must. Dane, one of the owners and sculptors, can usually be spotted in the shop. Dane never seems to tire of meeting, greeting and sharing one of his many stories. If clay sculpture and pottery are your first love, you will want to visit Burr Studio.

Did You Say Colored Pencils
After visiting T Pennington Art Gallery, you’ll never look at colored pencils in the same way again. Teresa Pennington, self taught artist, documents the spectacular beauty of western North Carolina. This artist considers her talent God given and she certainly is a blessing to the town of Waynesville.

In Haywood County, traveling along historic and scenic Rt 215 leads to the Mount Hardy Gap Entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most convenient access to Sam Knob. What a great way to arrive at this hike! The Mt. Hardy Gap Entrance places you at MP 423.2 only 3.2 miles from Sam Knob (MP 420). You will follow Fire Road 816 for about a mile where it ends at a parking lot. After parking, walk towards the end of the paved road to the dirt trail. The trailhead, one of the highest in Western North Carolina, is to your right.

A heads up here on the trailhead. The hiking books that we consulted along with the online sites evaluated this hike as moderate and it was. But, we weren’t looking for a narrow trailhead that started an immediate ascent. The trailhead adjoins Art Loeb Spur, a horse and hiking trail, immediately to the left of Sam Knob Trail. Art Loeb-another great hike for a different day.

Once you start your ascent, the adventure begins. The narrow trail takes you up through an alpine type forest with exotic grasses, raspberry, strawberry and blackberry bushes, and wonderful banks of wildflowers. Just when we were looking for a break in the action, we happened upon this spectacular rock formation where we could sit down and take in the view.

We skipped the last 50 feet to the summit because we hiked quite a ways along Art Loeb Spur by mistake. But, we still enjoyed some very expansive views and were pleased with our decision to hike along the trail to Sam Knob on the Blue Ridge.

With a 46 mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway crossing Haywood County, the county boasts the highest and most natural elevations. Access to the parkway at 4 points throughout Haywood County provides the opportunity to complete your choice of 4 loop tours.

Maggie Valley Loop
If your time is limited, the Maggie Valley Loop can be completed in as little as an hour. To access the Maggie Valley entrance to the parkway at Milepost 455.7, Soco Gap, you will cruise through Maggie with its unique gift shops and craft stores highlighting the work of local artisans. Grab a homemade meal from a local restaurant. No chain restaurants here.

The Maggie Valley 19 Loop will take you past Waterrock Knob known for its spectacular sunsets and panoramic views. Along with a short but moderate hike to the crest of the knob, this stop along the Blue Ridge pleases both hikers and non-hikers alike. Exit at Balsam Gap, Milepost 443.1.

Waynesville 276 Loop
The Waynesville Loop includes the most views and hikes on the Haywood County section of the Blue Ridge. And with a short backtracking to Milepost 408.6, you can visit the Pisgah Inn not only a wonderful spot to enjoy a delicious meal but another panoramic vista. For hikers, from the Inn you are only minutes from the trail that takes you on a moderate hike to the top of Pisgah Mountain.

The drive to the Blue Ridge entrance takes you through historic downtown Waynesville, the county seat, founded in 1810. Plan to take a stroll down Main Street. Access the Waynesville Loop from 276 South at Milepost 412.2, Wagon Road Gap, and exit the Parkway at Balsam Gap, Milepost 443.1. This 30 mile ride along the Blue Ridge provides a number of scenic views and hikes. Keep your eyes peeled for Looking Glass Rock Overlook(MP 417), Graveyard Fields Overlook (MP 418.8), Sam Knob Trail(MP 420), Devil’s Courthouse Trail (MP 422.4) and Haywood-Jackson Overlook (MP 431).

Canton/Clyde 215 Loop
Begin this tour at the Mt. Hardy Gap Entrance at Milepost 423.2 off N.C. 215. Take note that N.C. 215 itself is a heritage scenic byway. Along this part of the parkway, you will not want to miss the Haywood-Jackson Overlook. This overlook adjoins the Haywood Balsam hike that takes you to the highest elevation overlook on the parkway at 6053′. This fairly easy hike goes from 6020′ to 6053′. Exit at Balsam Gap, Milepost 443.1.

Your route to Mt. Hardy Gap will take you through the historic town of Clyde which boasts the Shook House Museum. In downtown Canton, you will find some fun shops and restaurants to get a bite before you begin your ride.

Maggie Valley/Waynesville Loop
Beginning in Maggie Valley at the Soco Gap entrance at Milepost 455.7and exiting at Milepost 412.2, this is the longest loop and all inclusive of the others. You could easily make this a day long drive starting with breakfast in Maggie and a tour of a few of the shops.

Make stops at Waterrock Knob (Milepost 451) for a near 360 degree view, Haywood-Jackson Overlook (Milepost 431) for the highest elevation views, and end with the breath taking views of Looking Glass Rock Overlook. Complete your tour with lunch or dinner at a local restaurant in Waynesville.

J. Arthur’s rustic charm outside duplicated inside with a massive stone fireplace in the main dining room reinforces the fact that you are on vacation in the Great Smokies.

The hungry souls lining up outside J. Arthur’s in Maggie Valley for the early bird specials are indicative of the great meal ahead. We certainly were not disappointed. Daily from 5pm to 6pm, the restaurant offers an early bird menu with your choice of beef, chicken and seafood entrees. The special includes soup or salad, main course, a choice of one vegetable, dessert and a beverage.

Although the salad was uninspired, the mixed lettuce was crisp, cold and fresh and was topped by a delicious locally grown tomato wedge. Since we are always partial to a honey mustard dressing, we did not try their signature Gorgonzola dressing. The London Broil priced at $12.99 arrived a delicate pink as requested with a lovely and light mushroom glace. The fresh mixed vegetables were perfectly crisp tender and delicious. The Prime Rib, the $16.99 main course, done to a light pink was melt in your mouth tender. The baked potato was fresh and tasty with the typical butter and sour cream on the side. A pineapple bread pudding topped off the traditional meal perfectly. Just sweet enough with the fresh whipped cream topping.

The main dining room was comfortable. The atmosphere was family friendly with an electric train running around the base of the vaulted ceilings trimmed in wood timbers. Our server was courteous, attentive, and efficient. J. Arthur’s Early Bird Special was a great deal and certainly will be added to our list of favorites in Haywood County.

Haywood County provides fertile grounds for a group of artists with diverse talents from mountain music to concert music to live theater. You will want to schedule time to experience one or several of these live performances.

Mountain Music
Mountain music has been in the heart and soul of Haywood County since before the Revolutionary War.

In Canton, there’s “Pickin’ in the Park,” held outdoors each Friday night at the Canton Recreation Park from May through September.

In Maggie Valley, from April through October, each night Tuesday through Saturday, there’s music and dance at the Stompin’ Ground, known as the “Clogging Capital of the World.”

There’s bluegrass music at the Maggie Valley Opry House nightly April through October.

Every other Friday July 4th through August, downtown Waynesville closes off part of its Main Street to have square dancing and old-time music.

The Haywood Community Band

If you are in Maggie at the Maggie Pavilion on the third Sunday evening at 6:30 P.M. from May through October, you are in for a musical treat. The Haywood Community Band performs a varied repertoire including music from Cole Porter, Johann Straus and John Philip Sousa. You can catch them at other venues throughout Haywood County during their performance season.

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART)

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre born in 1997 is a volunteer supported community theatre. Stage performances are in the James Auditorium, a 255-seat traditional proscenium space that operates April through November. In the winter, productions shift to the 75-seat Feichter Studio Theatre for a second season of more experimental work. The theatre built in the style of 1920s Summer Stock theatres enhances the experience.

Dinner and the theater is a distinct possibility in between exploring the great outdoors of western North Carolina. What a fun juxtaposition!

With limitless activities in Maggie Valley and the surrounding areas of Haywood County, the choices can overwhelm first time visitors. Repeat visitors also can use guidance in seeking out unique things to do in the area. A few good guide books certainly can help you make the most of vacation time. Wireless internet and a comfortable work area to plan your travels also contributes to a fun time in the Smokies.

These are a sampling of the guide books that you will find at our vacation rental cabin, Mystic Mountain Cabin.

North Carolina’s Best Wildflowers Hikes by Kevin Adams has always been my favorite. The hikes provide a variety of options for the novice to the experienced hikers. Plus it is almost inevitable that the wildflower hikes will also include waterfalls, streams, old growth forests and the like. Organized by the months of the year, you can always find a wonderful hike but April is by far the best month of all in Maggie Valley.

Best Hikes of the Pisgah has several fun hikes. We did the Lovers’ Leap hike in Hot Springs and the Max Patch hike in Haywood County. Both of these hikes provide spectacular views- Lovers’ Leap of Hot Springs and the French Broad River and Max Patch of miles of multiple mountain ranges. The only caveat with this book – you need to double check on directions to the actual trail head.

You can’t go wrong with any of these books. Purchase them in advance of your trip or stay with us at Mystic Mountain Cabin and put them to work for you after you arrive.

In Maggie Valley, the traveler will find a convergence of the Smoky Mountain National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Pisgah Forest. With so much to see and do, it can be a challenge to plan a trip that includes the best rides.

That’s where America Rides Maps comes into play. Wayne Busch, an experienced motorcyclists, decided to share his love of riding the mountains in an assortment of excellent maps designed for ease of use. These detailed maps help you not only plan your vacation but also effortlessly get where you want to go. Driving around the mountains can be challenging. These maps take the guess work out of the ride.

For as little as five dollars, you can have five of the best rides around Maggie including tours of the Blue Ridge, Hot Springs, and the Devil’s Triangle of the Pisgah. Another map provides directions to some of the best roadside waterfalls in the area. With a dozen maps to choose from, there is sure be a driving tour that will interest you.

Wayne’s blog, The Cultivated Biker, provides a wealth of information for all travelers. Check it out. You will be glad that you did.

Planning a trip to Maggie Valley or the surrounding area, you will want to have an accurate impression of the local weather in order to pack appropriately. A fun and reliable site, Ray’s Weather Center, does more than provide an accurate weather forecast of each county in Western North Carolina. It also provides wonderful photos and local conversation. You will find drop down menus devoted to outdoor activities like birding and wildflower photography.

Links to webcams and a road conditions site along with an online almanac helps take the mystery out of packing for your visit to Maggie Valley and the surrounding area.

Cataloochee Ski Area has much to offer. Snow making equipment in Maggie Valley, NC allowed for a 133 day ski season in 2008. Essentially, the computer test every element of the weather that creates the optimum climate for snow. By taking the human decision making out of the equation, the snow produced by 90 snow making machines is consistent and reliable. In 2008, 100,000 skiers took to the slopes at Cataloochee.

Covering over 45 acres with 16 trails, Cataloochee visitors will find two black diamonds, one with a 740 foot vertical drop. With 4 lifts, the skiing is easy at Cataloochee. Check it out for yourself.

Although cold weather dominates the days and nights in Maggie Valley and the surrounding area through January and February, you can still find plenty to do in this mountain friendly place.

In the Snow
Cataloochee Ski Area is still in high gear and should continue making snow through March. Cataloochee offers a FREE beginner lesson with all Cataloochee rentals any non-holiday Monday through Thursday, all season long!! This free lesson is for 1 1/2 hours and you should be present 30 minutes prior to your chosen lesson time to sign up! Lesson times run 9:30, 11:30, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 7:15pm. No excuses. Get out there and give it a try.

Looking for a tamer way to enjoy the snow. Check out Tube World. The experts at Cataloochee Ski Area know how to keep the snow in shape for a perfect tubing experience. Because of the carpet lift that takes you back to the top of the run, you get that much more time to spend tubing. With a dedicated Wee Bowl Snowplay area even the tots can enjoy the snow. Tube World will keep you in the snow from the middle of December to the first of March.

Overview
Maggie’s Galley Oyster Bar, located on the way to Waynesville from Maggie at 49 Howell Mill Rd, Waynesville, NC 28786 between Barber Blvd and US-276/Dellwood Rd, sits off the main road and hardly appears to be a restaurant. Constructed of reclaimed lumber as much as 175 years old, this quaint building houses an unexpected delightful place for dining. With an expansive menu of seafood to choose from there is something for everyone. Our server was pleasant, informative, but unobtrusive. The food was served in a timely manner.

Our Meal
Mark sampled the grilled grouper sandwich with cole slaw and french fries which he enjoyed. Served on a grilled onion roll, the fish was mild and flavorful. I tried the crabcake sandwich served on the same delicious onion roll. The crabcake was moist and flavorful but a bit light on crab. I chose the twice baked potato as my side. Unfortunately, unlike the perfectly prepared french fries, my potato came out with a hard crust on the top instead of the soft, lightly browned mashed potato it should have been. For desert we sampled a coca cola cake, chocolate cake made with cola. It was served warm with fresh whipped cream. We were underwhelmed by it as the icing once warmed just tasted like a gritty chocolate sugar.

The Menu and Online Reviews
Maggie’s Galley Oyster BarThe menu also has a large choice of foods for the landlubber to include chicken, burgers, and steaks. Although occasionally Maggie’s Galley gets lambasted, online reviews that I read overwhelmingly give Maggie Galley’s high scores.

Summary
We would definitely return to this moderately priced and pleasant restaurant. I would just avoid the twice baked potato and check out some of the other landlubber choices. As always with restaurants in and around Haywood County check times as many restaurants are closed at least one day a week. Times vary depending on the tourist season.