Atmosphere
Mark and I have a new favorite lunchtime spot in Waynesville. It’s called Panacea Coffeehouse, Cafe, and Roastery. And it is a panacea. Furnished to accommodate wifiers, there are lots of comfortable tables, chairs, and overstuffed furniture. We found a great mix of customers – young and old, locals and visitors. When the weather is pleasant, which is most of the year, you can even wander outside and eat by the creek.

Good Food
The servers behind the counter always greet you with a smile and never seem to meet a question they can’t answer. At Panacea, the coffee couldn’t be fresher because it is roasted on the spot. We selected from a creative lunch menu and were pleased with our freshly prepared press sandwiches on delicious and exotic breads.

Fun Location
If you are looking for something a little off the beaten trail, you will find Panacea on Historic Frog Level at 66 Commerce Street. Arrive a little early or stay a little late and enjoy some of the wonderful antique shops like Leapin’ Frog Gallery right next door.

Mark, the dedicated jogger in our home state of Florida, replaces jogging with ambitious hiking when we vacation in Maggie. He found this wonderful hike right off of Creekside Drive where Mystic Mountain Cabin is located.

The hike starts out at the driveway going up Creekside, this is a steep incline, up to Saddle. Once you take a right turn onto Saddle, the level of difficulty eases back. You can enjoy long range views of the valley along Johnathan Creek as you follow a dirt road through Killian Knob. As the trail winds back down to the lower elevation, you end up at a spot where a stream tumbles and rumbles down the mountainside. At the top of a wooden stairway that runs along the stream stands a great little deck with benches. When you continue on down past the stream, you arrive back at Country Club Drive which wraps you back to Riddle Cove Road and back to Creekside. This wonderful little loop takes a minimum of 45 minutes, longer if you explore the stream.

Once you get into the Maggie Valley neighborhood of Creekside you need to go no further. The homes of Creekside sit in the holler or hollow of Killian Knob . Mystic Mountain Cabin located at an elevation of 3,300 feet provides a great starting point for hikes in, around, and to the top of the knob.

Let the Hike Begin

From the base of the driveway, you have several hikes to choose from. The most ambitious of these, the hike to the top, takes you from an elevation of 3,300 feet to 3,900 feet. Because of the elevation change the hike alternates between moderate and strenuous. The hike takes around 60 minutes. Since it originates from the house, if you are a novice hiker, you can gradually build up to completing the hike over a series of days. Or if you really aren’t a hiker, you can just hop in your car and drive the approximately half a mile to the top. It is paved most of the way. Whether you drive or walk, it is well worth the effort.