The Great Smoky Mountains are a recipe for romance. Whether you’ve just begun your relationship or you’ve been together for decades, there are endless possibilities to celebrate your love. When you’re surrounded by stunning mountain views and tranquil natural beauty, you can’t help but be inspired. Keep reading for 6 romantic things to do in the North Carolina Smoky Mountains that are sure to light your fire.
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Hike the Trails Near Maggie Valley
Walk hand in hand down picturesque hiking trails through the eastern gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With access to some of the best hiking in the country, Maggie Valley provides easy access to both the Park and Blue Ridge Parkway. Choose from easy short strolls to longer, more challenging day hikes.
The Waterrock Knob Trail is about a mile and a half roundtrip hike with an easy climb in elevation. The trail is well-maintained with plenty of places to rest and enjoy the views. Andrews Bald Trail is a hidden gem that most people miss. It’s a 3.5-mile trail that can be accessed from the Clingmans Dome Parking Lot and leads you to a wide-open bald with unobstructed mountain views.
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Go on a Romantic Picnic
There’s nothing quite like gazing into each other’s eyes over a glass of wine and picnic lunch under the Smoky Mountain sunshine while surrounded by breathtaking nature. The Deep Creek picnic area inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open year-round with nearby hiking trails dotted with cascading waterfalls. After you fuel up on your packed meal, explore the Deep Creek Trail Loop or the Juney Whank Falls Loop.
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Take a Scenic Drive
Hit the road for a scenic drive – either by car or motorcycle– and steal a kiss when you pull over at one of the stunning vista outlooks. The roads up the Smoky Mountains deliver freedom and adventure with hundreds of miles of picturesque vistas and thrilling twists and turns.
Clingmans Dome Road takes you 6,634 feet above sea level to the classic Clingmans Dome and its scenic lookout point. Deal’s Gap (aka Tail of the Dragon) is an 11-mile section with 318 continuous curves and is world-famous among motorcyclists and sports car drivers. The Blue Ridge Parkway can be accessed at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just outside of Cherokee, NC, and boasts breathtaking mountain views.
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Go for a Horseback Ride
What’s more romantic than a relaxing horseback ride through wooded forests and mountain streams? Saddle up and slip onto the back of one of these strong, majestic creatures as they carry you through awe-inspiring scenery to places that you can’t get to by car.
Cataloochee Ranch offers trail rides for beginning to advanced horse riders. They also offer a wide range of options for your trail ride, from their Hemphill Bald Trail to the scenic Salamander Creek Trail, which winds down an old wagon trail, past a waterfall and creek, through forests, open vistas, and a chestnut orchard. Smokemont Riding Stable, located just off US 441 North inside the Great Smoky Mountains Park, gives leisure rides on well-trained horses at an easy walking pace through gorgeous mountain terrain.
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Go Wine Tasting
Toast your love with a glass of wine in a stunning vineyard setting. B&C Winery, located at 2499 Soco Road in Maggie Valley, uses grapes from around the world, along with pure mountain water, to create a fine collection of 40 varieties of wine. You can find red, white, and dessert table wines in addition to the winery’s custom vintages, cooking products, and wine-making supplies. If you’re a wine enthusiast, you’ll definitely want to stop by during your stay in Maggie Valley.
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Relax in Your Very Own Romantic Smoky Mountain Getaway
Leave the world behind and get lost in the bliss of romance with a private and relaxing Smoky Mountain cabin when you stay with us at the Meadowlark Motel. You’ll feel like the only two people on earth when you’re snuggled up together and relaxing into the slower pace of life in this peaceful corner of the Smokies in Maggie Valley.
Book your chic Appalachian-inspired cabin, where you’ll wake up to the blissful sound of birdsong and the soft burbling of Jonathan Creek as it ripples gently by your cabin. Stay in bed or slip a blanket around your shoulders and sip your morning coffee from the deck as you breathe in the fresh mountain air and embrace the tranquil seclusion of the Smoky Mountains.
