Maggie Valley lies in one of the most beautiful and varied natural landscapes around. You can explore the craft shops in the laid-back atmosphere during the day, and relax under the stars at night. One of the best reasons for paying a visit to Maggie Valley is that you are so close to nature. You can experience the power of waterfalls, the splendour of mountains and the beauty of the varied wildlife.

All of this is available just 35 miles away from downtown Asheville. This means that you can book a motel near Asheville, then drive on out to any of the areas of natural beauty around you.

Soco Falls

The Blue Ridge Parkway can be used to access many stunning areas. Soco Falls is one of these. The double water fall is an amazing sight. The best way to get great views of the falls is to take the path to the viewing platform. Stick to this area and you will be safe. It’s not a good idea to try and access the bottom of the falls as the path is not an official one and it’s dangerous. If you are impressed by your visit, you may want to take a look as some of the other waterfalls in the area.

Five ways to get close to nature in Maggie Valley NC

Image by Jared via Flickr

Waterrock Knob

Also accessed via the Blue Ridge Parkway, Waterrock Knob is known for being a place where you can just stop and admire the incredible natural surroundings. It’s a peaceful place where you can choose to hike to higher ground, and get a different viewing perspective, if you want to.

Five ways to get close to nature in Maggie Valley NC

Image by Patrick Mueller via Flickr

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a varied encounter with nature. You can take a look at black bears in their natural habitat, walk amongst wild flowers and camp out under the stars at night. It’s hard to believe that all of this is within touching distance of your comfortable motel.

Five ways to get close to nature in Maggie Valley NC

Tours of the Cataloochee Valley

To take a guided tour of the Cataloochee Valley is to step off the treadmill of life and take time to relax and enjoy your time on this planet. You get to walk amidst wildlife such as grouse, elk and white-tailed deer. It’s an amazing experience to get a look at these creatures in their natural habitat. Visit the Cataloochee Valley and you will not want to leave the tranquillity behind you.

Five ways to get close to nature in Maggie Valley NC

Blackrock Mountain

It’s hard to imagine that the rocks which surround you in this area are approximately 545 million years old. That is way before humans were in this world. A visit to Blackrock Mountain is not just about admiring the scenery; you can also experience one of the hiking trails that are available. Some of the trails are more difficult to complete than others, so you should think carefully about how much physical effort you want to put in.

Five ways to get close to nature in Maggie Valley NC

Image by Josh Hallett via Flickr

After experiencing the nature of the Maggie Valley area, at any of these places, you can head back to your motel and get some rest before heading back out for more adventures the next day.