North Carolina Travel Guide

Earlier this summer, we took a road trip up to North Carolina and stayed in the mountains for a few days. I hadn’t been to the mountains in years and forgot how beautiful it is! The weather was perfect pretty much the whole week we were there. It wasn’t too hot for it being summertime, and it only rained once. Below is where we stayed, the activities we did, and places to eat!

Places to Stay:

• We stayed at a Vrbo house we rented in Maggie Valley. It was up a pretty steep and winding road, which kept us on the edge of our seats each time we drove up; but the view from the house was incredible. Maggie Valley was a great, central location to stay because all of the main places we planned to visit in different towns were only 30-40 mins away.

What We Did:

• If you ever visit North Carolina, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville is a must see place! It is the largest, privately owned home in the United States and was built in the late 1800’s for George Vanderbilt and his family. You could easily spend an entire day seeing all there is to see on the property. You can book a house tour, or just visit and walk around the grounds.
• The Grove Park Inn is a unique hotel with a lot of history. We made a quick visit there to explore, and grab lunch.
• Main Street in Waynesville is a cute little town with a lot of shops and places to eat. This was nearby where we stayed in Maggie Valley.
• On Soco Rd in Maggie Valley, there are muliple gift shops, breweries, and distilleries that we visited.
• Golf..if you’re into golfing, or you’re traveling with someone who is, there are multiple, beautiful courses to play at. My husband and his uncle played at Maggie Valley Club, and I rode along with them at Lake Junaluska Counrty Club one day which had a lot of great views.

Places to Eat:

• Joey’s Pancake House – a must for breakfast! It’s a great little local restaurant in Maggie Valley.
• The Sweet Onion Restaurant – for lunch. It is near Main Street in Waynesville. They have a variety of menu options, and the food was amazing. Their signature dish is their sweet onion soup.
• Frankie’s Italian Restaurant – for a fancy dinner. If you’re looking to get dressed up a little on vacation and go to a nice restaurant, Frankie’s is a great option. Make sure you make reservations!
• BearWaters Brewing Company – a great restaurant for casual dining with a creekside view, local to Maggie Valley.
• Biltmore Courtyard Market – if you’re visiting the Biltmore Estate. We split a sandwich from here right before the house tour so we wouldn’t be hangry. lol
• Biltmore Ice Cream Parlor – the best ice cream, and a sweet treat after visiting the Biltmore Estate property!
• Also, if you rent a Vrbo or Air BnB with a kitchen, you can save money on food by going to the grocery store and eating a few meals at the house. 🙂

Overall, it was such a fun trip, and I can’t wait to go back and visit again someday! If you go, let me know what you end up doing. It’s already on my bucket list to go back to the Biltmore Estate again one year during Christmas time to see the lights!

xx Megan