The slow pace of life in the mountains is one of my favorite things about living here. For a moment, the world stops and all is right with the world when mountains surround you on all sides and a long view out the door is your constant view. Even the evening air has a sweetness to it when the mountains surround you on all sides and the sound of a creek babbling away down in the valley below creates images of you and your loved one being alone in the world. While the intimate artsy town of Waynesville is the perfect base for a mountain vacation, there are other locations within Western North Carolina that offer an even outward-looking perspective that would be perfect for romantic getaways. Here’s how to make your Smokies vacation truly unforgettable.
Why Couples Love Smoky Mountain Dream
We can sleep 10 people, which is nice, but that means 2 people can have the entire 5 bedroom, 3 level cabin to themselves. Five bedrooms, three levels, separate living areas on three different levels.
Beautiful western location with sunset and morning views of the mist lifting off the valleys below the Plott Balsam mountains. Enjoy these views from the deck that wraps around the cabin.
We spend cooler evenings with a fire in the fireplace in our living room, but warm evenings enjoy a fire at our fire pit island. You can access the fire pit island by a little log bridge from the deck. The creek runs all the way around you on both sides of the island and it’s dark enough to see the stars. Several engagements have taken place there on the fire pit island.
The hot tub is in a great location, at night you look out into the trees and can actually see up and thus can star gaze, during the day you have a tree filled view. You can sit in front of the fireplace or out at the fire pit, or soak in the hot tub or just lounge out on the deck and hang out together.
Sunrise at Waterrock Knob
This is the best of all the hike and view options for couples. It is an easy 15-minute walk to the summit at 6,292 feet. At the summit couples can watch the sun rise behind the Blue Ridge Mountains. The change in light is spectacular going from a deep purple at the base of the mountain to gold as it ascends above the ridges lining the horizon and then shines down in the valley below. Get there 30 minutes before sunrise with a blanket and a thermos of coffee and this will be one of the highlights of your trip. The parking lot is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, just a few miles from the Waterrock Knob. It is approximately a 20 minute drive from the cabin.
Sunset Walk at Lake Junaluska
Lake Junaluska is one of those secret spots that is just a few miles from our mountain cabin. The paved path is relatively flat and pretty easy to walk. I love it at the end of the day when all you see is the beauty of the water and the mountains, trees, and sky reflected perfectly. Walk slowly, hold hands, and let the lake do the talking. There are benches spaced along the path where you can sit and just watch the light change across the water.
Sunset from the Cabin Deck
There are many great things about staying with us, but perhaps the best views are right out your door. The wrap around deck offers a spectacular view of the Plott Balsam mountains and on a clear evening the ridgeline will turn orange, then pink, then purple as the day comes to a close. Sit outside on the porch in a comfortable rocking chair with a glass of your favorite wine.
A Day on Waynesville’s Main Street
Downtown Waynesville shops and restaurants are about a 12 minute drive from the cabin. Waynesville is a small mountain town full of friendly people and you can immediately feel their warm welcome. The main street through town is full of independent shops including art galleries, antique stores, bookstores and unique boutiques carrying items you won’t find anywhere else.
For those sweet treats on the way up to the cabin, stop on by Kilwins and check out the hand-dipped chocolates and ice cream. Seeing them make fresh fudge in the window every day is part of the fun, but most of it doesn’t make it out the door! You can look and eat ice cream there or buy a box of truffles to bring with you. Unfortunately, even packaged up, most of it doesn’t make it to the cabin!
Waynesville’s Main Street is filled with many of the town’s shops and galleries as well as tasting rooms filled with local wines and other handcrafted beverages. You can stroll around downtown Waynesville in a afternoon or even a day and not run into the “tourist trap” feeling so prevalent in many of Western North Carolina’s more popular “destination” towns.
Singletree Heritage Kitchen — A Special Night Out
Singletree Heritage Kitchen in Waynesville is where you’ll find one of the best dinners in WNC. This is upscale, white-tablecloth dining at its best, with a seasonal menu composed of heritage ingredients and served up with a focus on Southern Appalachian cuisine. The space is small and intimate, so you may want to make a reservation, especially on the weekends.
Smoky Mountain Dream is about 12 minutes from downtown Waynesville’s restaurant row and 35 minutes from Asheville’s food scene. Check availability →
Breakfast at Crepe & Custard on Lake Junaluska
We started the day off right with crepes at Crepe & Custard, a little breakfast spot right on the Lake Junaluska walking trail. The crepes were made to order on a flat griddle — sweet or savory — and you eat on a covered porch facing the water. It’s a counter-service spot, casual and charming, right where the trail hugs the lake. After breakfast we took a walk around the lake. It was a great start to the day. The restaurant is about 10 minutes from our cabin.
Asheville’s Food Scene (35 Minutes)
Asheville is often called one of America’s best food cities and is just a 35-minute drive from the cabin. For a truly special dinner, head to Cúrate — Spanish small plates from James Beard Award-winning chef Katie Button. Reservations required and books up fast. Other standout options are in the River Arts District, a collection of renovated warehouses home to a number of farm-to-table restaurants and shops lining the French Broad River. Or head to the South Slope, where a dozen or so craft breweries are located in just a few very walkable blocks. Come for a low-key afternoon of beer tasting.
Cook Together at the Cabin
Venture out to the local Waynesville farmers’ market on Saturdays during the season to purchase items for a delicious meal at the fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Afterwards, sit back and enjoy your meal while listening to high quality music on any of the decks – inside or out!
A Night Out in Asheville
Asheville has a thriving Night Life scene! Take an evening out around town to enjoy live music, good food and beautiful night views. Most entertainment venues are within walking distance of downtown restaurants, night clubs and hotels. The Orange Peel is a favorite music venue in the Southeast and there is always a concert going on as well as movies, comedians, live stage performances and more. Take in some live music at local pubs and night spots, have a drink or cocktail and enjoy some great appetizers. All of these activities are worth an evening out and you’ll be back at the cabin by midnight roasting marshmallows by the fire pit.
Smoky Mountain Dream sits on a private wooded lot with a fire pit, hot tub, and sunset views over the Plott Balsam range. Check availability →
Dancing at Stompin’ Ground in Maggie Valley
Stompin’ Ground Dance Hall, located in Maggie Valley, is one of the most unique date nights in the area — live mountain music and clogging on a proper dance floor. Either get out there and dance, or just sit at the bar sipping a beer watching the action. It’s genuine, unpretentious, and just 15 minutes from our cabin. This could make for a great spontaneous date night when it’s in season.
Stargazing from the Deck
It’s very dark on this property with minimal light pollution. On a clear night you can see the Milky Way and all of the stars and constellations without the need for any telescopes. Bring out a chair to the deck and enjoy the night sky. Or gather around the fire pit with a blanket. You can enjoy the dark of the fall/winter months. Or sit out on a warm summer night and view the stars and listen to the creek flow by.
Biltmore Estate — A Grand Day Out
Head out to Biltmore Estate (40 minutes from the cabin) for a full day of grand touring. Spend the morning and afternoon touring America’s largest privately owned home, viewing all 250+ rooms. Stroll the grounds and enjoy the seasonal flower displays. End the day with a visit to the winery for a tasting. This is the ultimate expression of romantic travels with or without a special someone. Tours must be pre-booked and you should plan for 4–6 hours at the property in total.
Couples Spa Day
Several good spas in the area offer couples treatments and services. The Swag, a luxury mountain retreat near Waynesville perched at 5,000 feet on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers spa services in a secluded, elevated setting. If you want to make a full overnight of it, The Swag is an all-inclusive inn (meals included) — pure romance. Further afield, The Spa at the Omni Grove Park Inn is hard to beat. Their 43,000-square-foot subterranean spa features grottos, hot and cold pools, steam rooms, and volcano mud treatments — it’s otherworldly. Reservations are necessary, especially on weekends.
Anniversary and Proposal Ideas
We’ve hosted countless anniversaries and more than a few proposals at Smoky Mountain Dream. Here are some ideas that have worked beautifully:
The fire pit island is the most popular proposal spot. Set up candles, flowers, and a bottle of champagne on the island, then lead your partner across the little log bridge. With the creek rushing around you and the string lights overhead, the setting does most of the work.
A sunrise proposal at Waterrock Knob, just the two of you on a mountaintop at dawn, is hard to beat for sheer drama and beauty.
The fireplace and home cooking at the Smoky Mountain Dream make for the perfect setting to celebrate an anniversary. We’re always happy to help with special touches — just let us know what you’re planning.
Plan Your Romantic Getaway
So many awesome activities to do for a romantic getaway in the Smokies. But honestly some of the best things to do on a romantic getaway in the Smokies is to take it slow and enjoy each other’s company. Arrive late, sleep in, make breakfast together, hit a trail or a town, have a good dinner and then sit by a fire or under the stars.
Having arrived from larger tourist hotbeds like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, we appreciated the authentic mountain town feel that Waynesville offered us. Set in western North Carolina, about 35 minutes from Asheville, Waynesville was a perfect setting for our visit.
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