Winter Activities in Maggie Valley

Spend a day, a weekend, Christmas vacation, or the whole winter in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. You’ll never run out of exciting winter activities.

Christmas lights in Waynesville, here in Haywood County, are beautiful. The whole town is lit up, with all its quaint shops, street musicians and restaurants. Biltmore Estate in nearby Asheville (about 30 miles from Maggie Valley) offers a truly spectacular presentation at Christmas, with the estate lit up with thousands of twinkling lights and special tours.

Tube World and the Cataloochee Ski Area are popular during the winter with locals and tourists alike. If you’re hunting ‘real’ winter snow, you’re likely to find it in Maggie Valley during the winter, but if you don’t, take the scenic drive up to Newfound Gap and you will usually find it at this highest mountain peak.

It doesn’t get more festive in Maggie Valley than having a Smoky Mountain Christmas. In addition to winter hikes, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and all kinds of family-friendly winter fun, there are also annual events that will get you in the holiday spirit in no time.

Here at the Meadowlark Motel, we throw an annual holiday party with Christmas music, eggnog, desserts, raffles, a reading of The Night Before Christmas, and a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Then on Christmas Day, we host an Appalachian Christmas Supper with all the festive fixin’s. (You can find more details on our Events Page.)

The historic Shelton House in Waynesville hosts an Appalachian Christmas Event every December, complete with hundreds of twinkling lights along their Tinsel Trail and a visit from old Saint Nick! Or take a memorable Christmas journey when you board the Polar Express at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot in Bryson City (about an hour from Maggie Valley).

Visit the Biltmore House over in Asheville, festooned in all its Christmas glory. Just down the road from the Meadowlark Motel, the charming town of Franklin, NC presents its annual Winter Wonderland with living window displays and live holiday music. Or head over to Chimney Rock State Park and watch Santa practice his climbing skills as he repels down one of the largest chimneys ever.

And discover some of the best Christmas shopping in the Smoky Mountains with Maggie Valley’s delightful shops where you can find unique ornaments and gifts for that special person in your life.

Ward off the post-holiday blues with fun winter activities in Maggie Valley, like skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and hiking. An exhilarating winter hike is an incredible way to enjoy the great outdoors. The trails are clear of the typical warm-weather crowds, making it feel like you have the whole of the Smokies to yourself.

Or strap on a pair of cross-country skis, and head to the iconic Clingman’s Dome for a one-of-a-kind Smoky Mountain winter adventure. Enjoy the time and space to take in the picturesque winter scenery, and the majestic 360-degree views at the top of the dome stretch out for miles.

Celebrate the Scots-Irish heritage of North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains with a Robert Burns Dinner. The Meadowlark Motel joins Scottish descendants around the world when we host our annual Burns Night dinner every January 25 to honor Scotland’s National Poet. This event showcases traditional Scottish music, prayers, poetry, speeches, and the ritual slicing of
a steaming haggis. (Feel free to wear your kilt!)

Warm up from the inside out with a hot toddy from one of Maggie Valley’s local distilleries, like Elevated Mountain. This craft distillery produces delicious Smoky Mountain Whiskey as well as other premium spirits with the same time-honored traditions and secrets of their forefathers. Plus, they have live music on their outdoor patio on Friday and Saturday nights.

At the end of an exciting day hitting all the winter attractions in Maggie Valley, head back to your cabin and 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.

When the calendar flips to February, there’s romance in the air in Maggie Valley. Celebrate your love in our charming mountain resort-style town with an abundance of attractions and vast natural beauty right at your doorstep.

Book a romantic getaway at the Meadowlark Motel where you can snuggle up in a cozy cabin and sip hot cocoa or wine in the glow of the dancing flames of a crackling fire. It’s the perfect home base for an amazing winter adventure.

You still have plenty of time to enjoy the longest running ski season on the East Coast at Cataloochee ski resort, right down the street. There’s skiing, snowboarding, and tubing nearby. And afterwards, you can fuel up with a delicious meal and a glass of wine at one of the many local Maggie Valley restaurants, like J. Arthur’s.

Find handmade crafts that are made with love as you stroll hand in hand down Maggie Valley’s charming streets or venture onto the Blue Ridge Craft Trails. Talented local artisans and makers create unique pieces that make the perfect mementos to commemorate your romantic getaway. Better yet, take an art class taught by one of these artisans and make your own one-of-a-kind piece for your home – or have some fun and recreate that iconic scene from Ghost with a pottery class!