Although you don’t have to be an avid golfer to enjoy the great food at the Pin High Bar and Grille at Maggie Valley Country Club in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, you certainly would be a happy golfer. The front nine of Maggie Valley Club’s 6,500 yard golf course are flat. The back nine provide spectacular views with a rise of up to a 3000 foot elevation. At that elevation you overlook North Eaglenest Mountain, part of the Plott Balsams, a range of the Appalachian Mountains in Haywood County, and less than a mile north of Eaglenest Mountain.

A face lift of the course and the clubhouse was completed in 2009. The clubhouse architecture exemplifies a classic Arts and Crafts style. The pub setting includes well upholstered and comfortable chairs and booths. With lovely views onto North Eaglesnest Mountain in the background, you can’t go wrong with a meal at the Pin High.

We enjoyed a delicious and reasonably priced lunch. My partner ordered the Maggie Valley Club Sandwich for $7.95 which was piled high with the thick cuts of ham, turkey, bacon, swiss or american cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo on your choice of bread. I enjoyed the Chicken & Vegetables in Puff Pastry for $7.95 with chicken, celery, carrots, cream sauce wrapped in puff pastry. Although the puff pastry was a little soggy on the bottom the cream sauce was nice and light and the chicken was moist and flavorful. With both of these meals, we enjoyed the traditionally southern sweet tea.

During our next visit to the Pin High we enjoyed a relaxing Sunday brunch. We both ordered the Western Omelette with hash browns and a choice of toast or english muffin. Both the omelette and potatoes were lightly seasoned with butter. In the comfortable atmosphere, the Pin High was a great place to relax and enjoy a leisurely Sunday.

You will be welcomed with or without your clubs at the Pin High Bar and Grille. However, you choose to arrive you will be glad that you did. From Mystic Mountain Cabin, you can take a short hike down to MVCC and the Pin High.

The Winter holidays descend upon Western North Carolina in an intimate, small town tradition. From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, you can create holiday memories that will last a lifetime. Here are 5 events you will definitely want to experience.

Christmas at the Biltmore
The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC gets decked out for the holidays in early November. With spectacular Christmas trees on display throughout the 250 room chateau, the artistic displays are guaranteed to inspire your creativity and to enliven your spirit. Shop for unique holiday gifts at the Biltmore gift shops. Your day pass also provides access to Antler Village for dining, shopping, and historical exhibits.

Grove Park Inn: “Gingerbread is in the Air”
The Grove Park Inn of Asheville, built during the heyday of the Biltmore Estate, provided accommodations for many of America’s luminaries including William Jennings Bryan and F. Scott Fitzgerald. You won’t want to miss the expansive Great Hall, 120 feet across with 24 foot ceilings and two grand 14 foot fireplaces. At the Inn, the annual national gingerbread house competition highlights the holidays.

“A Night before Christmas” in downtown Waynesville, NC
A fun night in this charming mountain town with hayrides, caroling, live music, Santa, and more. You’ll feel like you have taken a step back in time when you visit Waynesville especially for this celebration. Main Street is closed to cars and the street scene exudes holiday cheer.

All Aboard the Polar Express
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad brings to life the new modern Christmas classic book The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. What better way to experience the holidays with your children than traveling to the North Pole to meet Santa. The train departs from Bryson City, NC for a scenic ride through the spectacular Smoky Mountains.

Dance Your Way into the New Year
Join the surge in ballroom dancing and bone up on your moves during a dance camp then end 2010 with a celebration of dance and music. Not interested in the dance camp, you can still reserve a seat and spend your New Year’s Eve at the Crowne Plaza Resort of Asheville enjoying the big band music of the 30s and performances by international dance champions.

Stay with us at Mystic Mountain Cabin in Maggie Valley to be conveniently located for each of these holiday events.

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!

Surrounded by mountain streams, creeks, and rivers, Maggie Valley provides beautiful spots to relax from the summer heat in natural swimming holes. Because mountain rivers can rise suddenly due to flash flooding, swimming in mountain rivers can be dangerous. Do try these recommended spots to safely enjoy the mountain waters. Remember that most of these swimming spots do not have lifeguards on duty. Keep a close eye on the kids. Bring or wear your swim clothes which are required.

1. Graveyard Fields
Graveyard Fields Trail, an easy 3.2 mile hike, ends at the base of a waterfall. In the parking lot you will find a map of the trail system. If you take the Second Falls hike which is only .3 of a mile, you end on a large observation deck. From the deck you can view the falls from below. Here there are swimming areas where you can wade into cool mountain pools of water.

Directions:
Take US Highway 276 to the junction with the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Graveyard Fields Overlook at milepost 418.8 where the trail begins.

2. Oconaluftee Islands Park
You can end your walk around Oconaluftee Islands Park on Tsali Blvd in Cherokee by wading into the river. As the Oconaluftee flows through Cherokee, it creates two small islands that are accessible by footbridges. The islands are surrounded by great shade trees, picnic tables, benches, barbecue grills and pavilions. Bring your swimsuit and plan to make a day of it.

Directions:
From Maggie, take 19 into Cherokee. Make a right onto US 441N/Tsali Blvd. About a 17 mile ride.

3. Sliding Rock
Water Parks have nothing on Sliding Rock, a natural rock formation spewing 11,000 gallons of water per minute. The water jets down a 60 foot rock formation and ends in six feet of cool, clear water. For school age children who like to swim and adults who are kids at heart, this is a thrill a minute natural slide. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer months.

Directions:
Take US Highway 276 S. Turn right at US-276 S/US-64 W. Sliding Rock will be on your right.

Maggie Valley provides crafters with some excellent resources that rival products found in the craft stores of large metropolitan areas.

Meet the Reviewers
To evaluate the quality of the shops in Maggie my sister Nancy with 50 years of crafting experience and I took a tour. A few of Nancy’s talents include an expertise in jewelry making, painting, and paper crafting. I was a Creative Memories consultant for five years and enjoy scrapbooking. Additionally, I have been sewing clothing and interior decor items for 30 years. With these skills on our resumes, we felt qualified to offer reviews of the Maggie Valley shops.

Scrappin in the Mountains
Our first stop Scrappin in the Mountains provided an exciting assortment of papers. Rather than overwhelming, the artfully arranged selection makes finding the perfect papers a pleasure. What fun scrapbooking your trip to Maggie with the custom designed diecuts including the iconic Maggie herself along with the Elk of Cataloochee! If you come for a Scrapbooking Girlfriend Getaway, the light and bright work area would add to the fun.

Pretty Crafty
Our next stop on the craft store tour took us to Pretty Crafty. Darlene the owner is usually on site and is extremely knowledgeable. In addition to a good basic selection of scrapbooking supplies, Pretty Crafty includes products for a variety of interests. Nancy found some great beading tools and some helpful tips from Darlene. If you have varied crafting interests or you have kids stuck for a rainy day vacation activity, Pretty Crafty should be on your vacation to do list.

Quilters Quarters
Within a stone’s throw of Pretty Crafty lies Quilters Quarters. Walk through the door of this cabin shop and you are guaranteed to be inspired. The fabrics are not only artfully displayed but creatively organized. Selecting the colors for your first or next quilt will be a joy. The extensive product line brings regular visitors from throughout the southeast to the doorsteps of Sandy and Tom Fogarty, Dianne and Diane. They eagerly take suggestions for classes and have a very strong class schedule for beginners to intermediate to experienced quilters.

With so much to do in and around Maggie Valley, visiting the craft shops would not ordinarily make it onto your vacation to do list. But, these privately owned shops emphasize quality and unique products with talented displays. Stop in when you are out and about; you won’t be disappointed.

Never underestimate the value of the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce. The visitor center provides a variety of rack cards or information cards that highlight activities from all over western North Carolina. You will find visitor guides from the traditional like the Blue Ridge Parkway to the exotic like Santa Land. There are suggested activities for visitors of every age and every interest.

And if you are feeling overwhelmed by the number of choices, Jena and Nancy are there to help. They base their information on the feedback from the guests who have been coming back to thank them for the great tourism tips that they have been sharing with Maggie Valley visitors for years now.

The ladies’ number one pick for kids in the summer – Sliding Rock.

Make sure to stop by and introduce yourselves to Jena and Nancy and explore the many resources of the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.

Small town Maggie with a population of around 800 year round residents offers the punch of big tourists areas without the congestion.

Looking for the ideal vacation spot? Asking yourself what Maggie Valley has to offer?

How about minutes away from:

the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
the Blue Ridge Parkway,
the Pisgah National Forest,
the Elk of Cataloochee.

Don’t forget trout fishing in the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters. Check out a map of the actual fishing areas in Maggie.

Move away from the naturalist’s pursuits with the following:

Antiquing around Maggie and Waynesville.
Golfing at the lovely Maggie Valley Club or Lake Junaluska Golf Course just to name a couple of courses.
Great live productions at Eaglenest.

For a great way to check out all the details please go to maggievalley.org . Please stay with us at Mystic Mountain Cabin so you can be where the action is.

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.