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Maggie Valley is a small town in Haywood County, North Carolina that is awash with tourist destinations and numerous attractions. It is home to the famed Sky amusement park in which Ghost Town is located. There are many tourist activities and top restaurants where you can sample the finest in savory cuisines Maggie Valley has to offer. There are many places to eat in this area but nothing caps off a good trip better than a visit to some of their best eateries and restaurants, all of them just minutes away from Creekside Lodge.   From home cooking to world-class dishes, Maggie Valley has a variety that will never leave you bored or wanting!

Do you like natural swimming pools? Do you want to enjoy the waterfalls? If you love to swim and you love the great outdoors, nothing can enhance your swimming experience more than a swim in one of nature’s swimming holes!  Just imagine a natural swimming pool nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains backdrop! What a refreshing and exhilarating outdoors experience! If this sounds appealing to you, stay tuned as I reveal to you some of the best natural swimming holes of the Maggie Valley Area!

Asheville, North Carolina is home to of one of the most beautiful historical estates in the United States, The Biltmore Estate.   This magnificent property is located in the beautiful Smoky Mountains approximately, approximately a 40 minute drive from Maggie Valley, NC.  Situated on a staggering 8000-acre estate, this 250-room house was the genius work of George Vanderbilt II. This breathtaking piece architectural genius was originally built as a private residence and was completed at the end of the nineteenth century. Today, the hotel has become a top tourist attraction that any travel enthusiast cannot afford to miss out. Here are some of the top reasons you must visit the Biltmore hotel in Asheville:

  1. The Biltmore is Rich in History

George Vanderbilt, the founder of Biltmore Estate was born in 1862.  In 1888, he visited Blue Ridge Mountains with his mother and loved the place. In his mind, he envisioned building a luxurious country home here to enjoy.  In 1889, the construction of the Biltmore house began. This architectural construction took place over a period of 6 years.

In 1895, the home was opened to host friends and family. This house was made up of a staggering 43 bathrooms, 35 bedrooms and 65 fireplaces among other facilities. In 1898, George married his wife Edith and in 1900 the construction of the horse barn and dairy barn kicked off. After his death in 1914, his only daughter Cornelia and her husband Cecil opened the house to the public where it was used to promote the failing tourism sector during depression.

During World War II in 1942, the house was used to store priceless works of art that had been shifted from Washington DC.   In 1971, William Cecil planted his first vines at the Biltmore and later established the Biltmore Wine Company in 1983. In the latter years, The Inn, Antler Hill Village and the Village Hotel were opened consecutively at the Biltmore Estate.

  1. The Biltmore Consists of Breathtaking Architectural Designs

The Biltmore Hotel offers a wonderful opportunity for art lovers to study the designs of art décor hall and Tudor-style homes. The tour of the hotel is simply unbelievable!  It is amazing to witness that the architectural designs were so highly advanced at that time.

  1. There are Wonderful Festivals Held at the Biltmore

A visit to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville allows you to sample their grand yearly festivities such as the following:

  • Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film-This is a yearly exhibition that showcases wedding fashion as it has evolved across the centuries. This takes place in Antler hill village and includes stories of its founders.
  • Biltmore Concert Series-This is where famed musicians take the stage to entertain their fans with great music. This takes place on the South Terrace of Biltmore House.
  • Summer at The Biltmore- Here people come together to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, fishing etc.
  • Candlelight Christmas Evenings-The Biltmore hotel offers extravagant Christmas evenings that are awash with firelight, candlelit dinners and live music to soothe your soul.
  1. Tourist Attractions at The Biltmore

The Biltmore Hotel offers a wide array of tourist attractions that are breathtaking to say the least. These include:

  • Beautiful manicured gardens such as the azalea garden and the walled garden. These gardens offer a magnificent view as well as excellent relaxation places and were designed by the famous architect Frederick Law Olmstead.
  • The Conservatory- Designed by Richard Hunt, this is a glass green house that is home to palms, ferns and orchids among other plants.
  • The Bass Pond- This is a romantic area that is private to enable you have those quiet, intimate moments, especially at the boathouse.
  • Great Photo Spots-There are great picnic sites here that offer breathtaking views of the hotel such as the pathway from the house to the winery.
  • Antler Hill Village – This is a cozy place that’s ideal for dining, wining, shopping and also learning more about the history of Biltmore. It is home to the winery and the farm.
  • Winery- Here you can enjoy a guided or self-guided tour of the winery and sample some of the finest Baltimore wines.
  • The Farm- This is home to a wide variety of animals such as goats and chickens since the Biltmore Estate was once a full-fledged farm.

In case you have never toured Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, now you have every reason to do so and create wonderful memories to last a lifetime.   The Biltmore is just one of many wonderful outings you can take during your stay at Creekside Lodge in Maggie Valley!  Please call our friendly staff at Creekside Lodge at (800) 621-1260 and reserve your spot today!   We look forward to helping you plan a wonderful visit and many beautiful vacation memories!

Summer is just around the corner and with summer comes a host of festivals in the Smoky Mountains.  Maggie Valley, NC, is a popular summer vacation site and famous for quite a few things. It is scenically gorgeous and therefore attracts tourists from across the country and also from other parts of the world. The summer festivals are extremely popular and draw thousands of visitors on a annual basis to not only experience the natural beauty of the Smokey Mountains but to also enjoy a wonderful display of the art and culture of the area.

There is something special about Asheville, North Carolina, and the world is just beginning to find out! This prosperous mountain town offers an eccentric and eclectic downtown, hundreds of studios and galleries, a culinary culture, world famous craft beer, a lively and thriving music scene, and of course, the majestic landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The natural beauty of the area is amazing!  Starting from the beautiful mountain backdrop, the grandeur of the Biltmore Hotel Estate, and all the wonderful quaint shops and delectable restaurants, the ambience of this quaint mountain destination is one that is a mixture of mountain charm bursting with flavor and energy.

Ashville is lined with sidewalk cafes (with one restaurant chain), several independent coffee shops, and dozens of art theaters, boutique shopping, and parks. This preferred tourist destination is located just forty minutes from Maggie Valley, NC.  This city promises not to disappoint you! Here are some of the popular things to see and do in Asheville.

Explore The North Carolina Arboretum

Spanning 434 acres, the North Carolina Arboretum is located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest, southwest of Asheville, and is an arboretum and botanical garden. Admission is free, but parking is limited. The arboretum is still in development and offers hiking trails and bike paths, and a collection of a river garden and a sacred garden.

Some of those views present in the arboretum gardens include the Blue Ridge Quilt Garden that offers patchworks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Cliff Dickinson Holly Garden, (featuring native and foreign collections) and the Heritage Garden, (which is a craft demonstration garden).

Play at the Sliding Rock Waterfall

Sliding Rock Waterfall on Looking Glass Creek, aptly named because the main aspect of this waterfall is the natural water slide where you can slide over the rocks to the basin below. This is a beautiful natural phenomenon, unique to the area. The gentle slope is about 20 meters long and leads into a basin of 2 meters deep.

This waterfall is a popular place for visitors looking for adventure and also looking to cool down in the hot summer by taking a dip in its’ ice cold water.  It also provides two viewing platforms, parking at the top of the falls, stairs leading to pools and ramps to help the climb. Changing rooms and toilets are provided, and a lifeguard is present sometimes (especially on summer weekends). Otherwise, the natural slide is used at your own risk, and young children should slide on the lap of an adult for safety reasons.

Visit the Folk Art Center

The Folk Art Center is located outside of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway and is a museum with art and crafts from local vendors. It houses the offices of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the National Park Service, and the Eastern National. The museum is managed cooperatively by these factions is the most popular attraction of the circuit.

The center of the museum contains three art galleries, a library, an auditorium, and an information center. The Allan stand Craft Shop is one of the main attractions of the center, which offers over 3,500 artifacts from the early 20th century.

The Biltmore Estate

You can experience the wonder of Biltmore Estate, which houses a priceless collection of antiques and arts original to the Vanderbilt home. It is touted as the biggest privately maintained mansion in America. You can enjoy the spectacular views of the woodlands and gardens, which make a perfect place for leisurely strolls. The most theatrical view of Biltmore House can be enjoyed with a drive to the winery from the house.

The nearby Antler Hill Village offers a relaxing environment learning, shopping, and dining opportunities. You can stay at the village hotel and the Inn at Biltmore Estate for a day or two while exploring the outdoors, which includes the greenway and several great hiking trails.

Have fun at Splashville

Splashville is one of the latest free attractions of Asheville, offering a fun, family place to cool off in summer. Located in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, Splashville is an ideal interactive water park for all ages.

Splashville has random water spray arches that rise and are specially designed to soak and cool off in the summer heat. Given its location, you can enjoy the fountains and then relax on the green lawns to dry and warm up in the sun.

Enjoy the World Coffee Cafe

The World Coffee Cafe is located at the corner of Battery Park and Wall Street in the heart of downtown Asheville. The sky bar of the World Coffee Cafe is located at the top of the building and offers balconies with breathtaking views of the city.

While admiring the landscape, you can enjoy your choice of drinks, appetizers and delectable desserts! The Flatiron Building, which houses the café, also houses 60 additional shops, including a spa, attorney’s office, a church and all kinds of healers and therapists. A feast for the senses awaits you at World Coffee Cafe, a stop not to be missed in the city of Asheville.

Explore the Asheville Urban Trail

The Asheville Urban Trail is a walk of 2.8 km long through the center of the city. It includes 30 stops along the way with public sculptures that mark these stops. The ride was built by volunteers with donations from several businesses and private sources to promote public art and support the improvement of the quality of city life.

Visit the Basilica of Saint Lawrence

The minor Basilica of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Lawrence was built in 1905. It received the status of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1993. It includes the largest freestanding dome d Amerique North, which measures 17 m by 25 m.

The interior of the basilica is decorated with statues of St. Lawrence, St. Cecilia, St. Rose of Lima, St. Patrick and St. Peter Apostle. It also contains a marble altar with a painting in a fresco of the Last Supper highlighted. The basilica is known for its many elaborate stained glasses with significant biblical events and characters.

Take in a Show or Concert

The Asheville passion for the arts does not stop at handicrafts. Dynamic Asheville residents and visitors can enjoy concerts and plays thanks to the presence of several theater companies in town. Asheville is full of concerts and theaters. It covers all kinds of genres.

The Brevard Music Center is located 45 minutes from downtown Asheville and hosts the Brevard Music Festival, offering an abundance of musicians. The Asheville Community Theater, one of many companies located in Asheville, offers a plethora of plays. This is one of the oldest theaters in the country and the oldest in the city, which offer shows for more than 60 years.

Climb Mount Mitchell

The most remarkable structure of North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak, Mount Mitchell, dominates with a height of 2037 meters. Located about 50 km northeast of Asheville, this is an adventure that awaits you.

There is a road of 7.4 km long starting from the Blue Ridge Parkway and a 300-meter trail to climb the mountain. At the top, you will discover the tomb of Dr. Mitchell and an observation platform to admire the breathtaking scenery. Wildflowers, blackberries, and blueberries are a food source for the birds of the area and make this place a true natural paradise to visit.

Asheville, which has been called the “Paris of the South”, is a truly unique urban oasis in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains!  Don’t miss this gem of a city during your visit to North Carolina! Add this on your list of to-dos when planning your visit to Maggie Valley.  Remember, Asheville is just a short 40-minute drive from Maggie Valley – perfect for a day trip!  Call today and make your reservation at Creekside Lodge in Maggie Valley! You can reach us at (800) 621-1260 where our friendly staff will be happy to secure your dates for a wonderful mountain get-away!  We look forward to welcoming you to Creekside Lodge and making your trip a wonderful memory!

The Great Smoky Mountains provide a stunning landscape of alluring dense forest, miles of warm streams, and vast lowlands that make it a must see for nature lovers. It is a unique geographical location and home to rare plant and animal species that people come from far and wide to view and enjoy.  The park’s management has done a great job of preserving this delicate habitat for its residents without compromising visitors’ ability to catch a glimpse. If you are at the right place at the right time, you could see some of the rare animals that make the Great Smoky Mountains their home.  The following are just some of the animals found here:

Maggie Valley, North Carolina is a wonderful vacation spot to just get away from it all!   It is a town blessed with plenty of peaceful tranquility! But, if you are in need of a little bit of retail therapy, Maggie Valley also provides a wonderful shopping experience!  Located just a stone’s throw from Creekside Lodge, quaint shops line the streets of Maggie Valley.  Local shopkeepers will make you feel right at home with a generous dose of southern hospitality!  You will not find the conventional shopping plaza, with the usual fashion chains here.  Instead, you will find lovely little fashion boutiques, unique gift shops, specialty shops, and art galleries.   Take the opportunity to recharge your batteries by sampling a piece of delicious homemade fudge or maybe just relax on the sofa with a welcoming drink of cold ice tea!

We went with a large group to the Maggie Valley Creekside Lodge and they were incredibly helpful and hospitable. The accommodations were great. The large foyer area was wonderful for the group and the staff was incredible. They made us welcome in so many ways. The rates were incredibly reasonable and the room had all the necessary amenities.

We loved our visit here! We just got home last night and we all wish we were still there! The staff is extremely helpful and the rooms are nice and clean. We spent a lot of time by the stunning creek cooking dinner on the grill and roasting s’mores over the fire pit. It is centrally located to many attractions. We went on many day trips and didn’t spend all day in the car getting there. It’s also within walking distance of restaurants and shops, but you may find yourself eating by the rushing creek instead!

Really enjoyable place to stay. Room had a balcony overlooking the creek. Spacious room with comfortable bed. Staff was very nice and friendly. Took only 35-40 minutes to reach the Valley at Cataloochee where the elk were in rut. Awesome stay and can’t wait to go back.

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Creekside Lodge received a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor in 2016!
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