RoadTrip to Maggie Valley, NC

INTRODUCTION

We recently took a road trip to North Carolina for a big family getaway. We rented two cabins in Maggie Valley through Airbnb. Some close friends from Virginia Beach joined us for the first week of our two-week stay, while our kids and grandkids were there for the entire time. It was a great way to escape the Florida heat for a while.

OUR CABIN

Our rental was a comfortable two-bedroom cabin near Lake Junaluska and Waynesville, about an hour from Asheville. The unit also had a loft with a large bed, and the first floor had a sleeper sofa. We especially enjoyed the wraparound porch—a great place for morning coffee or an adult beverage before dinner.

A view from up the hill, looking back toward our cabin (the gray roof).

First floor of our cabin

We immediately felt at home here. It was a comfortable rustic environment - homey in other words. Lots of wood, an impressive fireplace, a master bedroom downstairs, a second bedroom upstairs along with a loft area. A full bath on both floors.

This cabin was just above ours—and it was for sale.

ACTIVITIES

Our son-in-law and two granddaughters enjoying Lake Junaluska.

Enjoying a ride in a swan paddleboat.

Lake Junaluska

Our newest family member couldn’t be left out of the fun.

A little fish to throw back.

We found plenty of great places to hike.

Her dad knows how to find the good mushrooms. (At least we hope so!)

My buddy and I played twice at Maggie Valley Golf Club, an excellent course just a short distance from the cabin. We were impressed with the outstanding condition of the course, and the weather was perfect for us. The club had a grill open for breakfast and lunch that had a nice variety of tasty choices.

There was another course at Lake Junaluska itself (cleverly named the Lake Junaluska Golf Club) that we did not get to try. It too appeared to be in great shape. The geography and natural beauty of the area made for very attractive places to golf.

Waynesville was a charming small town about 20 minutes away, with plenty of shops and restaurants to explore. We were told that Waynesville was a lot like Mayberry. Our first restaurant visit was to the Frog Level Barbecue restaurant by a creek running through town.

And with so many restaurants to choose from, good BBQ was easy to find.

We went tubing twice on a local river. A little exertion was followed by a wonderfully relaxing float downstream, and the little ones loved it. It was August, so the water temperature was just fine, cool and refreshing. The area was safe for the kids; no strong currents or drops to worry about.

We did have great weather for our two-week vacation, but there were some late-afternoon showers, usually arriving just about the time we fired up the grill.

Rocking out on the porch.

THE CATALOOCHEE SKI AREA

Our Virginia friends joined us for a day trip to Cataloochee Ski Area. It was gorgeous there, and we scoped it out as a possible future winter destination.

Outdoor seating with a fireplace, with cabins in the distance.

This massive fireplace must be a popular gathering spot during ski season.

A cozy bar near the dining areas.

A large hall for gathering around another fireplace.

Looking from the fireplace toward the main dining area.

More cabins on the Cataloochee property overlooking beautiful acreage.

Horseback riding is available onsite.

These lunches were as good as they look.

THE BILTMORE ESTATE

Another day took us to the Biltmore Estate near Asheville, and it was truly impressive. We marveled at how one young man had the vision and unlimited financial resources to create a place like this (with his grandfather’s fortune.)

The estate had an active farm and a vineyard producing wines. The farm area had displays, animals, and activities for the kids.

A beautiful atrium inside the mansion.

His Man Cave.

A modest but nice dining room.

One of the many reading areas in the mansion. There was also an indoor pool and a bowling alley. They certainly spared no expense—after all, it was the grandfather’s money!

A view from the mansion balcony.

Hiking near a shallow part of a local stream.

A great way to cool down.

Let’s go tubing again!

FINAL THOUGHTS

We had two wonderful weeks in Maggie Valley with family and friends, but eventually it was time to head home. We may well come back, because there is still so much to see and do. The relatively mild weather was a welcome change from Florida, too. Swimming, hiking, tubing, golfing, and exploring made our time together especially memorable.

After all that activity, some of us needed a little break from the excitement.