It may still be fall in the Smoky Mountains, but winter is right around the corner. With snow-capped peaks, festive holiday events, and the soft glow of twinkle lights, Maggie Valley, NC is the perfect spot to rekindle your love and plan your next romantic winter getaway.
Set in the Southwestern part of the Appalachian Mountain range, on the fringe of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, Maggie Valley is a small mountain resort-style town with massive amounts of charm. Home to an abundance of attractions, rich in local history and culture, and the vast beauty of nature right at your doorstep, unforgettable memories await in Maggie Valley!
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Winter transforms the hiking trails around Maggie Valley into a veritable wonderland. If you pack away your hiking boots when the temps start to drop, you’re missing out on some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable. Towering peaks covered in fresh powder, glittering fields blanketed in white, and frozen waterfalls with dramatic ice formations all come together to create an incredible frozen fantasy. Plus, in the off-season, you may find yourself hiking for miles through a wintery scene without ever seeing another soul. It’s the perfect time to steal a kiss with your love.
Warm Up With A Hot Toddy
Toast your love and celebrate your romantic getaway in Maggie Valley with a silky red or an intoxicating white wine at a charming mountain winery. Open 365 days a year, the Biltmore Winery, located on the Biltmore Estate in nearby Asheville, NC, is the most visited winery in the country. Or If you’re looking for something a little stronger to warm you up, you can sip on some of North Carolina’s legendary spirits at Elevated Mountain Distilling, located right down the road from the Meadowlark Motel. Take a free tour and sip some of the finest moonshine around.
Scenic Smoky Mountain Drives
Slip into your car and leisurely cruise the mountain roads, discovering stunning vistas around every bend. Even in winter, a lot of the roads are clear and passable. (Just double check local reports before you go.) Get enchanting glimpses of snow-capped mountains, evergreen forests, and valleys filled with wintery scenes and wildlife. With no particular place to be, you can take your time and savor the views, stopping to snap photos or steal a kiss. For motorcyclists, the world-famous Tail of the Dragon is a must-drive. Bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest, its 11 miles are filled with 318 curves and tight turns with no intersecting roads or highways to slow you down.
Hit the Slopes
If you’re looking for a taste of adventure to add to the romance on your winter getaway, head into the great outdoors for a skiing adventure. Skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing are some of the most popular winter activities in Maggie Valley. The Cataloochee Ski Area has something for all ages and skill levels. Strap on skis or a snowboard and carve your own trail through fresh powder. Beginner skiers can take a group class or private lesson, and intermediate and pro skiers can fly down the expert slopes. You don’t even need your own equipment – affordable ski rentals make it easy to just strap in and go. And if you’re a bit intimidated by skiing or snowboarding, then head over to Tube World for a fun day of snow tubing.
Handmade Crafts Made with Love
The Maggie Valley area is filled with talented artisans and makers who create unique and beautiful handcrafted pieces. Stroll down charming and festively decorated small town streets or head to the Blue Ridge Craft Trails to find one-of-a-kind treasures in one of the area’s many locally owned shops and galleries. Rare finds like jewelry, handcrafted pottery, home accessories, and stunning woodwork can be the perfect mementos to commemorate your romantic winter getaway in Maggie Valley.
Take an Art Class
Get inspired by all those handmade crafts and create something of your own to memorialize your love. A lot of those artisans and makers who sell their wares in galleries and craft shows actually open up their studios to the public. Some of them even offer classes. Etch your names in wood, paint a one-of-a-kind piece to hang in your home, or recreate that iconic scene from Ghost and take a pottery class!
Dining with a View
All these romantic winter adventures can really work up an appetite. If you’re feeling a little peckish, it’s time to fill your belly. There’s nothing quite like watching the snow fall outside while you’re tucked safely indoors enjoying a delicious meal and a glass of wine beside a blazing fire. Whether you’re ordering in from your cabin or motel room, or enjoying a quiet dinner at one of Maggie Valley’s fantastic restaurants – like J. Arthur’s, – you’ll find something to satisfy any appetite.
Cozy Up in a Smoky Mountain Cabin
However you spend the days of your romantic winter getaway in Maggie Valley, you’ll eventually want to end up in the comfort of a cozy cabin. Enjoy a hidden sanctuary, where you can warm up beside a crackling fire. Drape yourself in a comfy blanket and snuggle up on the couch while you sip hot cocoa or wine in the glow of the dancing flames. There’s no better way to wrap up your adventure!
Meadowlark owner, Joseph Franklyn McElroy, hosts Gateway to the Smokies Podcast – in this episode, listen in to the full conversation with Teresa Smith, from the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce & Area Visitors Bureau, and find out more about all that Maggie Valley has to offer!
