Travel and vacation cabin rental news from Maggie Valley, North Carolina

Stanley Abbott, the landscape architect who designed the Blue Ridge Parkway, once spoke of his project this way: “The Parkway … has but one real reason for existence, which is to please by revealing the charm and interest of the native American countryside …”

Today, more than 65 years after Abbott made that statement, the Blue Ridge Parkway remains much as it was envisioned at its creation — a 469-mile stretch of highway that winds along the high Appalachian ridges of the east and offers travelers unsurpassed pristine beauty and a doorway to ways of life that have all but disappeared in this country.

The Blue Ridge Parkway differs from the rest of the nation’s National Park System in one significant way: It was not meant to be a destination, but a journey, and that journey leads to miles and miles of unmatched wonders.

The Parkway’s highest and most remote spots are at its southern end–and so are we! Many of Carolina Vacations rentals are just a short drive from the Parkway entrance at Soco Gap.

While it is a busy route, with top speed limits of 45 miles per hour that are sometimes slowed to a fraction of that by traffic, Parkway travelers still often speak of the sensation of floating through the air like a bird. The Parkway swoops down into valleys, then rises again over the crest of a mountain. There are forested mountain slopes, acres of wildflowers in the spring and walls of brilliantly colored leaves in fall

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Once visitors get over the shock of carrying less weight on their shoulders, they’re ready to enjoy the many attractions Maggie Valley has to offer. Winter sports enthusiasts thrill themselves with downhill skiing and snowboarding at the mile-high Cataloochee Ski Resort; spring wildflower seekers snap photos of bluets growing along the banks of a cascading creek; summer shoppers hunt one-of-a-kind mountain crafts; and fall foliage lovers glance in every direction to take in the patchwork of glorious colors.

While visiting Maggie Valley, parents suddenly find their children much more approachable. With so much to do, parents can rest assured they won’t be hearing that all-too-familar phrase, “There’s nothing to do,” from their children. Instead, it’s, “What should we do first!” Amusements abound in the valley, from horseback riding at Cataloochee Ranch and “car racing” at the Mini-Apolis Grand Prix, to live music and dancing at numerous venues. Family togetherness just happens in Maggie Valley, where warm summer days provide the perfect opportunity for dads to teach their children the precise wrist snap required for fly casting, while moms illustrate the engineering necessary to dam up a knee-high swimming hole.

Maggie Valley offers its visitors many opportunities to shop ‘til they drop. From antiques and art to souvenirs and collectibles, from handmade to brand name, there’s something for every shopper in the valley.

Take a souvenir T-shirt home to that special someone, or visit Skis & Tees to find the perfect outfit for hitting the slopes. Homemade fudge is a local favorite and available in many shops, along with other delicious goodies like jams and candies.

The Cabbage Rose offers an extensive Christmas collection, along with other collectible items, beautiful wind chimes and unique gifts. Country Time Swings can help you relax in no time in one of its offerings, and you’ll find a little bit of everything — including that delicious homemade fudge — at Maggie Mountaineer Crafts. And master magician and illusionist Greg Franklin might share a few of his secrets if you stop by his store, Maggie Valley Magic, where he offers supplies for amateurs, as well as professional magicians.

Many other unique shops line Highway19 through Maggie Valley, but you’ll just have to visit for yourself to discover all of the treasures valley merchants have to offer.

The “Maggie Valley Approach,” a phrase referring to an old-style mountain way of life and the famed brand of hospitality locals show their soon-to-be friends, can be defined in many ways.

Literally speaking, the “Maggie Valley Approach” refers first to the majestic images that surround the town, which was named for Maggie Mae Setzer, the daughter of the town’s first postmaster. Known as the “Jewel of the Smokies,” Maggie Valley is nestled among countless facets of natural beauty, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest.

Approach Maggie Valley from any direction – from the Cherokee Reservation, nearby Waynesville or the long stretch of road called Jonathan Creek – and the area’s small family farms and picturesque pasture land immediately fill you with a sense of tranquility.

This feeling starts deep in the rich soil, penetrates the soul and emanates from the folks who call the valley home. Many in this area continue to live an agrarian life that’s a little less hectic–that is until a herd of sheep breaks through a fence and causes the equivalent of a big city traffic jam along a gravel road!