Experiences to Explore in and Around Maggie Valley
Restaurants | Outdoor | Events | Harrahs Casino | Hiking | Bikers | Winter
Restaurants
Click below for a quick list of local restaurants & pubs.
Outdoors
Click below for a quick list of some great outdoor activities!
Events
Maggie Valley Fairgrounds event list - click below!
Harrahs Casino
Large Casino & Resort nearby with plenty to offer!
Hiking
Quick list of some great hiking trails nearby!
Bikers
Motorcycle enthusiasts will love these rides & stops!
Wintertime
Winter activities for the family!
Restaurants & Bars in Maggie Valley:
- Pop’s Place
Great small diner with fabulous food & friendly staff. Breakfast & lunch only. - Joey’s Pancake House
Open since 1966, this iconic breakfast spot has great food, but be prepared to wait for a table most days. - Guayabitos Mexican
Authentic Mexican food from a super friendly staff, plus a full bar for drinks. Open for lunch & dinner. - J Arthur’s Steakhouse
Another staple in Maggie Valley, J Arthurs has some fabulous dinner options with a full bar. Make sure you check out their decorations during Fall & Christmas! - Butts on the Creek BBQ
Great southern style BBQ with an amazing view overlooking Jonathan Creek! Beer & wine available with lunch & dinner. - Salty Dogs Grill
Another long-standing iconic stop in the Valley, with a full bar and even karaoke on some nights. This popular biker-stop has an extensive menu and a separate dining area from the bar area. Great spot for lunch or dinner and a cocktail! - BearWaters Brewing
The Valley’s only brewery features a fantastic menu that has WAY more than just bar food. For dinner, enjoy a variety of steaks, pizza, salads, and even great Thai food! Or just drop in for a cold, mountain-made brew and sit right on Jonathan creek. - Legends Sports Bar
Large full bar with a great food menu, and of course TV’s always showing the games. Another popular biker stop, you almost always see some motorcycles in the parking lot. - Maggie Valley Sandwich Shop
Great local deli with weekly specials. Only open for lunch. - Frankie’s Italian
Great Italian food (plus pizza & salads) in a nice setting with a huge wine selection. Great way to enjoy a dinner with a nice bottle of wine in the Valley. - Twisted Spoke
Great local spot up the mountain towards Cherokee, with outdoor seating that has an amazing view. Weekly food specials and a full bar for lunch and dinner, this is a great hidden gem – but always check their hours. The restaurant is seasonal only, and they’re only open 11am-7pm Thursdays through Mondays (closed Tues/Wed). - Brickhouse Pizza
Relaxed eatery offering classic pizza with creative toppings, sandwiches & burgers, plus a full bar. - The Switchback Restaurant
Want to impress? This upscale dining option is on the top of Fie Top Road and is located inside of Cataloochee Ranch. They also have limited outdoor seating with amazing views. Reservations only, and it is pricey.
Please keep in mind this is just a quick list of Maggie Valley only; just 15 minutes away is the town of Waynesville, NC with too many options to list. Also in the other direction, in just 20 minutes, you can be at Harrah’s Resort with even more dining options, including both fast casual and upscale options.
Outdoor Activities in and Around Maggie Valley
- Cataloochee Ranch
Horseback riding, adventure course, archery and more. If you are looking for memorable experiences, definitely check out Cataloochee Ranch. - Scenic Tours & Adventures
Explore the great Smoky Mountains on UTV or Safari Jeep tours and see elk, black bears and more! - Maggie Valley Fly Shop
Guided fly fishing tours that practically guarantee you a boatload of catches. Plus a full Fly Fishing shop with rods, reels, waders, nets and more! - Hiking
Although there are no immediate hiking trails in the town of Maggie Valley, you are surrounded by plenty off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a huge paved trail that surrounds Lake Junaluska, and tons of trails in Clyde and Canton. Visit AllTrails.com to find trails and more info! - NOC – Nantahala Outdoor Center
Nantahala Outdoor Center is perfectly positioned where the Appalachian Trail meets the Nantahala River, just a stone’s throw from the Great Smoky Mountains. Enjoy kayaking, white water rafting, or just enjoy lunch and a beer by the river. - Tube World (Winter-time only)
Fun for the whole family, especially the children. innertube downhill on a huge mound of snow and enjoy the festive winter season in the mountains! - Cataloochee Ski Area (Winter time only)
Skiers and snowboarders rejoice! Just a quick 15 minute drive from the cabin and you can enjoy carving up the mountainside with three lifts and a terrain park!
Maggie Valley Fairgrounds Events!
Art & Craft Festivals, Biker Rallies, Car/Truck Shows, Live Concerts & More! Click the link below for the fairgrounds 2025 event calendar!
Harrah’s Resort & Casino
Need a change of pace from the calm serenity of the mountains? There is no better place than Harrah’s resort in Cherokee, NC. Only about a 25 minute drive from the cabins, you can enjoy a full Vegas-like experience with gambling tables, sports book, slot machines, bars, shops, restaurants, concert events and more. The indoor bowling alley plus video game room (seperated from the casino) is the perfect solution for both adult and children activities. Enjoy top-notch dining with both casual and upscale options including Gorden Ramsey’s food court, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Brio Italian and more. For all the info and more, click on the links below:
Hiking & Waterfalls!
In Maggie Valley, you are surrounded by amazing hikes and waterfalls. There are too many to list so we just created a small list of our favorites – for a full list of hiking trails, visit AllTrails.com
- The Boogerman Trail
7.3 miles, rated hard, estimated 3h 16m. - Hemp Hill Road Trail
3.8 miles, rated moderate, estimated 1h 56m - Lake Junaluska Trail
3.7 miles, rated easy, estimated 1h 9m - SoCo Gap
3.6 miles, rated moderate, estimated 1h 38m - SoCo Falls Trail
.1 miles, rated moderate, estimated 4m - Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower
1.5 miles, rated moderate, estimated 48m - Hemphill Bald Trail
13.3 miles, rated hard, estimated 7h - SoCo Gap
3.6 miles, rated moderate, estimated 1h 38m - Woodfin Falls
.2 miles, rated moderate, estimated 6m
Please keep in mind this is a small sample; there are many more trails literally all around the area. Some may require a quick drive to get to, but they will be amazing hikes. We recommend you use the AllTrails.com app or website to pick the best hiking trails for your next adventure!
Motorcycle Enthusiasts!
The owner of the cabins has been riding for nearly 30 years, the majority of those miles have been in the mountains of Western North Carolina. It’s hard to find a road that isn’t worth riding on, but below is a list of some of my personal favorite spots to ride to/ride on. They are outside of Maggie Valley but you are very centrally located to get to them easily.
- Tail of the Dragon
Riders from all over the world travel to WNC to experience this road, featuring 318 curves in 11 miles, with literally zero houses or buildings on the stretch. Be careful though – they have a lot of accidents every year on this road. - Highway 209 – The Rattler
This road, starting in Waynesville, takes you all the way up to Hot Springs, NC which is basically on the border of TN. Incredible sweeping turns and switchbacks, you will enjoy every slice of this asphalt. - Crabtree Mountain Road
Not far from the cabins, this little-known road has some insane switch-backs and a beautiful overlook near the top. - 441: Smoky Mountain National Park
This beautiful ride features it all – views, waterfalls, wildlife and more. It’s a great way to spend a day riding up to Gatlinburg and back, just plan accordingly. Certain times of the year traffic can be heavy. - Blue Ridge Parkway
Sweeping curves, breathtaking overlooks, tunnels and more, either way you go on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a win/win. For an iconic photo, stop at the Richland Balsam Overlook (mile marker 431), it’s the highest elevation on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway (and has a big sign for a great photo-op!) - Tapaco Lodge & Restaurant
About an hour and half ride from the cabins, this is a GREAT place to stop and enjoy lunch or an early dinner overlooking the Cheoah River. - Cherokee, NC
Less than 30 minutes from the cabins, take Highway 19 over the mountain into Cherokee and enjoy the rich heritage of the American Indians. You’ll find shops, restaurants and of course, Harrah’s Casino – all of which make great short stops on long bike rides. - Cataloochee Valley
Although you may spend a good bit of your time on a gravel road, the bonus of scenery and the good possibility of seeing an elk herd make it worth while. Make sure you have plenty of gas, there isn’t much civilization, but you will encounter other tourists/riders. - Highway 276 to Brevard
Beautiful drive through the Pisgah Forest, you’ll pass at least 3 waterfalls and encounter some amazing curves.
These are just a FEW recommendations. Where you are in Western North Carolina, you are literally surrounded by amazing, beautiful rides. We strongly recommend stopping at some local motels/gas stations and looking for “Freeman Maps” which many times are given out for free. These maps have defined rides complete with stops and time frames.
Wintertime In Maggie Valley!
Yes! Even in the wintertime there are things to do in Maggie Valley and surrounding areas. In addition to having fireplaces and fire pits at both cabins, here are some things you can do away from the cabins!
- Skiers & Snowboarders: Cataloochee Ski Area
Just a quick 15 minute drive from the cabins puts you directly in Cataloochee Ski Area. With 3 lifts and a new terrain park, the entire family can have a blast. Even if there is no snow in the forecast, they blow artificial snow all winter. - TubeWorld!
Fun for all ages, grab your inner tube and spin, go fast or even backwards down a snow-packed runway complete with a conveyor lift that will get you (and your tube) back to the top. Fun for all ages and a great way to celebrate the winter/holiday season in Maggie Valley! - Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
The historic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot sits in the heart of Bryson City, NC – about a 30 minute drive from the cabins. A round-trip on the train is an ideal way to see extraordinary places that you can’t get to by car. Get a front-row view of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Nantahala National Forest, Fontana Lake, extraordinary trestles, pristine mountain rivers, historic structures, and stunning foliage. Have children? Check out their wildly famous Polar Express Train Ride Experience! - Wheels Through Time Museum!
Wheels Through Time Museum is home to the world’s premier collection of rare American motorcycles, memorabilia, and a distinct array of unique “one-off” American automobiles. Located just 5 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Maggie Valley, North Carolina our museum houses a collection of over 300 rare machines, and almost every single one actually runs! - Grill Out By the Creek
Both cabins feature outdoor grills on the back porch, and there are fire pit/woodstoves to help keep you warm while cooking. Enjoy the serenity of nature, and cook a wonderful meal for you and your guests! - Make Fresh S’mores!
Both cabins have outdoor, wood burning firepits that are perfect for making fresh-made s’mores for you and all of your guests! For the ingredients, just make a quick 15 minute drive to Ingles in Waynesville! - Relax By the Fireplace!
Winter is the perfect time to snuggle up on the couch, turn on the fireplace, read a good book or watch a movie or some football. Both cabins have propane fireplaces that are always filled, so you can stay warm and enjoy the serenity of winter time inside.
These are just a few recommendations; there are many more things to do in surrounding towns/cities.
Something We Should Add?
If you know of any other wonderful things to do in Maggie Valley or the surrounding areas, please drop us a quick note and we’ll get it added!
