Today we are out and about exploring four new towns in North Carolina; Waynesville, Sylva, Cherokee and Maggie Valley.

About 25 miles west from Asheville sits the quaint town of Waynesville. Its downtown area has a surprising number of art galleries, specialty shops such as local mountain trout and cheese, a dog bakery selling hand-made dog treats, jackets and apparel, and everything in-between that man might like for his best friend. The town also has a creatively named ice cream shop, “Jack the Dipper,” a theatre and several pet-friendly micro-breweries including Boojum where we sit on the terrace with Miss Poppy and enjoy lunch.

Trekking up the mountains, we sneak around two houses which are for sale, both having over ambitious price tags of $1+ million and both seemingly empty and having been so for some time. One property has particularly magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains which I would think would be such a distraction that it would be impossible to do anything but sit and gaze at the view!

We take a drive through Sylva, another lovely little town sitting at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains. Downtown Sylva has many restaurants and shops along its tree-lined streets, and, of course, two craft breweries!

On to Cherokee, the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee Indians. The town offers family attractions, outdoor activities and the rich history of the Great Smoky Mountains. There are 30 miles of well-stocked trout streams making the area a paradise for fisherman. Every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the summer, Cherokee story tellers relate tales of Indian lore around a camp fire. There are tribal bingo rooms and an enormous casino which considering the number of hotels located around it would seem to be the town’s main attraction.

And, finally we drive through Maggie Valley a very pretty town some 35 miles west of downtown Asheville. Home to Lake Junalaska, the Soco Falls – a twin waterfall, dancing at the “Stompin Ground”, Elk tours at the Cataloochee Valley (what a great name!), and in winter, skiing, the town has something for everyone all year round!

View from the Orchards’ Overlook on the Blue Ridge Mountain parkway.