Haywood County: Open All Year

Did you know Haywood County, 20 miles west of Asheville in the North Carolina Great Smoky Mountains, provides something to do all year long?

You didn't?

Well, let us tell you about it!

In winter, the North Carolina Smokies have some of the best bird watching anywhere, with nine birding trails. Watch as eagles soar, listen to doves coo, and enjoy the color of native red and blue birds against a gorgeous snowy backdrop. Haywood County also has the longest running ski resort in the south: Cataloochee Ski Resort, which generally runs from early November through March. Also, the county's award-winning golf courses are open year-round. You could ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon for a truly memorable experience.

Ah, springtime in the mountains is glorious! The colors are popping with springtime buds, stunning in their beauty. Additionally, visit the World Methodist Council Museum at Lake Junaluska and Wheels Through Time, America's vintage motorcycle museum—two attractions you will only find in Haywood County. The Mountain Heritage Trout Waters offers affordable agritourism fun with three days of fishing for five dollars.

If you visit Haywood County during summer, be sure not to miss its three National parks: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 46 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Pisgah National Forest. The water that originates in Haywood County makes its wildlife, craft brews and spirits pristine. Haywood County has four distinctly different craft breweries and one brand new distillery, all of which offer educational tours and incredible tastings.

Fall is simply spectacular in the North Carolina Smokies. The colors are glorious in the parks. The shops on Main Street in Waynesville are bustling with boutiques and eateries, for a head start on your holiday shopping. Visit any of Haywood County's 700 farms with agritourism tours, and don't forget about the elk: The population is booming! You may see several of these magnificent creatures in Maggie Valley or Cataloochee Valley. And wait until you hear the elk bugling—it's a sound you won't forget.

So you see, Haywood County, North Carolina, has so much to offer—all year. Check us out at VisitNCSmokies.com. And remember: A stay here stays with you!

Information and photo courtesy of Haywood County.