To get the most out of your vacation days advance planning is essential fun. Enhance the time spent daydreaming about your upcoming trip by reviewing these helpful travel websites.

Area Information
A very active and well maintained website, Welcome to Maggie Valley, developed by the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce, provides a wealth of information that is updated daily. This website provides local weather reports along with links to live webcams and a critical events calendar. It also provides tips for hikes, scenic drives, and entertainment within minutes of downtown Maggie.

The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority provides an extensive overview of activities in the Maggie Valley area. Developed locally by people in the know, it links to activities that are off the beaten path as well as information about the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and local waterfalls.

Guided Hikes
A visit to Maggie Valley/Waynesville would not be complete without a visit to see the elk of Cataloochee Valley. Cataloochee Valley Tours will take you there. April through October the valley is host to a variety of natural beauty. Along with the elk you can see unique wildflowers and birds in April and May and the show of the synchronous fireflies in May and June.

Motorcycle Tours
For motorcyclists or for anyone who wants to find great loop tours in the valley check out America Rides Maps. Wayne Busch, “The Map Guy,” has covered thousands of miles to develop maps that take riders on the most scenic and challenging rides in the area. The website provides custom designed maps, tutorials, and links to Wayne’s blog.

Fly Fishing
For beginners to experience fishermen, the people at Waynesville Fly Shop are your connection to successfully fishing the Haywood County area.

This nationally maintained website Trails.com should be a go to for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities. With detailed information on trail heads and maps for hikers, bicyclists, campers, scenic drivers, Trails.com is an essential resource for planning a visit to Haywood County.

Despite being located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Mile Marker 458.2, you might say Heintooga Ridge Road is off the beaten trail. Found near the entrance of the Parkway from the North Carolina end, Heintooga Ridge Road links the Blue Ridge with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

During our outing we encountered three elk who had wandered over from the Cataloochee side of the park. Grazing along the side of the ride, the elk provided a great photo opportunity. Along with the elk, a flock of wild turkeys were foraging along the roadside.

After taking advantage of the roadside photo op, we continued on to Flat Creek Trail to take in the view of the Smokies from Heintooga Overlook. The overlook is situated just a few yards from the parking area. The trail head has a lovely picnic area with numerous tables plus a well-maintained convenience station. The overlook has two comfortable benches to enjoy the view. Sunsets and sunrises would be spectacular. The birding opportunities are some of the best in the area with a chance to see Broad-winged Hawk; Ruffed Grouse; Black-billed Cuckoo; Northern Saw-whet Owl; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; Least Flycatcher.

Max Patch is a hike that should be on every visitor’s to-do list. The novice hiker has the option of an easy to moderate 1.4 mile loop with a magnificent payoff. The summit affords the hiker 360 degree long range views. If you are looking for more of a challenge, there is a wider loop that encompasses 2.6 miles of trail. Finally, the experienced hiker can choose the Cherry Creek Trail/Appalachian Trail Loop. All trails lead to the summit for a panoramic experience you will not forget.

A bald, Max Patch, is covered by beautiful native grasses. A mystery to scientists, these balds are a conundrum. The moderate climates should support heavy tree growth but none exists. However, this lack of trees at the summit results in tremendous views and a great place to enjoy a picnic.

Hiking Max Patch takes you into the Pisgah National Forest by way of Interstate 40 west when coming from Maggie Valley, NC. Take exit 7 to access Cold Springs Creek Road and turn to your right. A hundred yards down Cold Springs Creek Road ends and becomes F.R. (Fire Road) 148, a gravel road. Travel 6.1 miles to S.R. 1182. At this writing the sign marking the left turn onto S.R. 1182, Max Patch Road, is down so keep track of your mileage. S.R. 1182 ends at the parking lot, a 2 mile ride.

In and around Haywood County birders will find three excellent viewing opportunities.

Devil’s Courthouse Trail, located near Milepost 422.2 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, provides an opportunity to view the Peregrine Falcon, Alder Flycatcher, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. The .4 of a mile hike to a rocky outcrop at 5,720 feet is very steep but short. The long range views are spectacular. The best time for birding is late spring through early summer. You’ll find details of this hike on this page at Trails.com.

Heintooga Spur Road is located on a spur of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Wolf Laurel Gap (Milepost 458.2). In this spruce fir and hardwood forest, you will find a variety of species common to elevations of 3,800 to 5,400 feet. For a list of the birds and hiking details check out this page at Trails.com. The best viewing takes place between mid-April to mid-October.

If you are searching for Golden-winged Warblers and Least Flycatchers, Max Patch Road and Bald provides an excellent environment for these species. Located off Interstate 40 at exit 7, an easy hike takes you to the top of the bald. The 360 degree long range views entice you to sit and stay awhile so bring a blanket and a snack. Although the views are always worth the trip, the birding opportunities are best between mid-April and June. See details of this hike on this page at Trails.com.

Need a place to stay? Check out Mystic Mountain Cabin in Maggie Valley, NC within 30 minutes of each of these locations. The front porch is a great place to sit back and watch the birds come to you.

The road to Cataloochee Valley can be intimidating. While totally doable, the ride takes you from the valley floor on the Jonathan Creek side of Haywood County, NC, up and over Cataloochee Mountain by way of a gravel road, and down the other side to the floor of Cataloochee Valley.

Cataloochee Valley Tours offers a better way. Not only do they provide transportation but also provide a tour conducted by a University of Florida certified naturalist. Cataloochee has much beauty to behold. That beauty can only be enhanced through the perspective of an expert on the valley, its inhabitants, and its history.

Every season has something special to offer. Check out the schedule of activities that vary with the time of year.

In Waynesville, Balsam Mountain Inn, one of the jewels of the Blue Ridge, wears its 105 years well thanks to the loving attention of the innkeepers, Kim and Sharon Shailer. Southern Living magazine highlights the inn as one of their favorites.

What a great venue for Songwriter’s in the Round! We happened upon this fantastic dinner show quite by accident. One Saturday evening a month (except January), talented artists come from around the music world to entertain guests of the inn, locals and visitors to the area. Last May Benita Hill, Becky Hobbs and Chas Sanford treated dinner guests to a wealth of original sounds in the intimate setting of the Balsam’s lovely old dining room. We dined family style. Spending the night with guests of the Inn along with local residents, we had a stimulating evening of food, conversation, and spectacular music.

Each of the songwriters introduced their songs with extensive background and history. Songwriters in the Round allowed the listeners to feel up close and personal with the artists as they shared generously about the creative process-the successes and failures. I plan to make this an annual event when I stay at Mystic Mountain Cabin.

In the community of Lake Junaluska, within minutes of Maggie Valley, you’ll find the Corneille Bryan Native Garden. You can easily locate the garden within a short walk of the rose garden on Stuart Circle. Best known for its collection of native vegetation including wild flowers, trees, and shrubs, this little gem can be quickly traversed within minutes or explored for hours.

The conservators of the garden do an excellent job of identifying and tagging the extensive variety of plants. Consequently, the garden provides an easy way to view and identify the native plants of the area. Walking the garden is a great way to begin your study of the beautiful wildflowers of the region. Seeing them in the garden should make identification in the wild a little easier for the novice.

Seasons in a Wildflower Refuge provides an index of all the plants in the preserve and highlights the seasons in the garden. Written by Lake Junaluska residents, Janet Lilley and Linda McFarland, members of the garden committee, the guide will enhance your walk through the garden.

A tour of the Corneille Bryan Garden is an activity that you can squeeze in on a down day. Take along your camera even an amateur photographer like me can find success photographing the jewels of the garden up close and personal.

As always we would love to have you stay with us at Mystic Mountain during your visit to Maggie Valley and the surrounding area.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, the Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway rides rated in the top ten in a survey in April’s 2011 issue of American Motorcyclist Magazine. Wayne Busch of America Rides Maps has been detailing these rides for years. Stay in Maggie Valley, NC and all these roads can be on your to do list.

From Maggie you are minutes from the Soco Gap entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 455.7. Head west to the southern entrance/exit of the park way at mile marker 469.1, you will find yourself 2 miles south of Cherokee. Head east from Soco Gap, your first stop should be Waterrock Knob. But, you won’t want to linger too long. This stretch of the Blue Ridge has much to offer including Richland Balsam Overlook, the highest point on the Blue Ridge. At mile marker 417, you’ll find Looking Glass Rock. Mount Pisgah Inn is a must do at mile marker 408. Grab a meal or just pause to take in the view from the “Peak of the Parkway.”

The Cherohala Skyway meanders through the Nantahala National Forest on the North Carolina end of the ride. You’ll enjoy long sweeping curves and spectacular views on this challenging ride. Photo ops are prominently marked along the way. Other than a couple of restrooms along the 36 mile ride, it is pure wilderness so be sure to top off your gas tank. Riding on this $100,000,000 skyway, you won’t be disappointed with views that compete with those of the Blue Ridge. Allow a full day for this ride if you are traveling from Maggie, an 80 minute ride one way. The ride begins out Robbinsville, NC.

You’ll find the Tail of the Dragon adjoining Cherolala Skyway. This challenging 13 mile stretch of road is said to have as many as 318 curves. To protect riders the 55 mile per hour speed limit was lowered to 30 miles per hour in 2005 with stepped up law enforcement on the Tennessee side.

For up to the minute travel information on all of these rides check out America Rides Map. Wayne Busch designs these custom maps to help you plan out the best route and key you into some little known side tours that you won’t want to miss.

If you are looking for a comfortable and affordable place to stay with easy access that is always clean and well maintained please check out Mystic Mountain Cabin in Maggie Valley, NC.

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.