A guys getaway trip to Maggie Valley and Haywood County pairs 6,000-foot summits with craft-beer cool and casino thrills, making it perfect for a modern mancation. Located just south of Asheville in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, this region delivers everything from world-class fly fishing and thrilling mountain roads to exceptional dining and gaming excitement.
What Do You Call Your "Guys Trips"?
- Boyd Mountain Cabins now features 9 restored log cabins plus "The Home Place" on 175 acres with private fishing ponds and hiking trails
- Andon-Reid Inn is a repeated TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winner and ranked in the 2021 Top 25 B&Bs in the U.S. list, offering custom packages for men's groups including fitness weekends
- Wheels Through Time Museum houses over 350 rare American motorcycles and automobiles, making it one of the premier motorcycle museums in the country
- Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort features over 3,000 games, multiple restaurants, and luxury hotel accommodations just 40 minutes away
- Sunburst Trout Farm is one of North Carolina's premier trout producers, offering tours and fresh mountain trout at their 12,000-square-foot market facility
Authentic Mountain Lodging for Your Smoky Mountains Guys Getaway
When planning the perfect guys weekend, accommodation sets the tone for your entire experience. Haywood County offers options that cater specifically to groups of men seeking both adventure and comfort.
Boyd Mountain Cabins
Boyd Mountain Cabins has expanded significantly since opening, now featuring 9 authentic hand-hewn log cabins dating back 150-200 years, plus "The Home Place" farmhouse on 175 acres overlooking the Smoky Mountains. Each cabin accommodates 2-10 guests and includes modern conveniences like full kitchens, washers and dryers, high-speed internet, and cable TV, while maintaining their historic character.
The property features three stocked fishing ponds, 4 miles of marked hiking trails, and a Fraser Fir Christmas tree farm. Basketball courts, volleyball, and a mountain trout stream called Jonathan Creek provide additional recreation opportunities right on the property. The cabins are strategically spaced to ensure privacy while capturing scenic mountain views.
Andon-Reid Inn
For smaller groups seeking a more refined experience, the Andon-Reid Inn is a repeated TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winner and ranked in the 2021 Top 25 B&Bs in the U.S. list. This historic 1902 property offers seven spacious guest rooms and suites with working fireplaces, spa tubs, and mountain views.
The inn features a game room with pool table, shuffleboard, and board games, plus a fitness center and sauna in the basement level. Owners Brenda and Peter specialize in creating custom packages for men's groups, including fitness weekends and fishing adventures, making it an excellent choice for a sophisticated bachelor party or boys trip.
Outdoor Adventures That Define Mountain Living
Haywood County's natural landscape provides endless opportunities for outdoor pursuits that appeal to men seeking authentic mountain experiences.
World-Class Fly Fishing
The region offers thousands of miles of wild trout streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, plus designated Delayed-Harvest water stocked five times each season by NCWRC. The West Fork Pigeon River system offers wild brook trout in higher elevations and wild browns downstream, along with hatchery-supported waters and Mountain Heritage sections.
Several outfitters serve the area, including Tuckaseegee Fly Shop with locations in Waynesville and Maggie Valley Fly Shop, both offering guided trips and equipment. Fly Fishing the Smokies has won Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine's "Best of the Blue Ridge" award for top fly fishing guide service six times and also won Southern Living Magazine's 2021 "Best of the South" award.
Mountain Roads Built for Adventure
The Blue Ridge Parkway skirts Haywood County with multiple access points (four official entrances), providing scenic driving with twisting mountain roads that attract thousands of motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts annually. The county is situated next to the famous Tail of the Dragon (Route 129), while Moonshiner Route 28 starts about 30 miles southwest, making an easy day-drive loop.
Hiking and Mountain Peaks
Haywood County contains 14 peaks soaring to elevations of at least 6,000 feet, including the 6,030-foot Cold Mountain (inspiration for the award-winning novel and major motion picture), Mt. Guyot at 6,621 feet, and Richland Balsam at 6,410 feet. The Shining Rock Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in North Carolina at over 18,000 acres, offers pristine hiking with elevations ranging from 3,300 to over 6,000 feet.
Exceptional Dining and Local Flavors
The mountain region has developed a sophisticated culinary scene that showcases local ingredients and traditional mountain cuisine with contemporary twists.
The Sweet Onion
The Sweet Onion, ranked #3 of 95 restaurants in Waynesville with 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor, opened in 2007 and serves regional cuisine with contemporary flair. Their signature sweet onion soup and pink Sunburst trout from the local Sunburst Trout Farm represent the restaurant's commitment to local sourcing.
The menu features everything from cornmeal-crusted catfish and bacon-wrapped beef short ribs to wild mushroom ravioli and locally-sourced pecan-crusted trout. Their location in downtown Waynesville makes it perfect for groups exploring the area's art galleries and specialty shops.
Sunburst Trout Farm
Sunburst Trout Farms has grown to become one of North Carolina's premier trout producers, raising rainbow trout in the clean, cold waters of the Pisgah National Forest watershed. The third-generation family operation now features a 12,000-square-foot processing facility in Waynesville with the Sunburst Market storefront.
Beyond fresh fillets, they offer smoked trout dip, trout jerky, rainbow trout caviar, and even trout burgers, with products served at destinations including the renowned Biltmore Estate and Grove Park Inn.
Museums and Cultural Attractions
Haywood County's cultural attractions provide fascinating glimpses into American transportation history and regional heritage that will captivate any group of men interested in craftsmanship and innovation.
Wheels Through Time Museum
Located just 5 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Maggie Valley, Wheels Through Time Museum houses over 350 rare American motorcycles and automobiles in a 38,000-square-foot facility. The collection includes 25 different makes of motorcycles, featuring Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Henderson, Pope, Yale, Crocker, and Flying Merkel machines.
Museum founder Dale Walksler has created more than just a display of machines; the layout feels like an old garage touched by period artwork and housing thousands of pieces of memorabilia. The museum raffles off a restored motorcycle annually, with past winners receiving bikes like 1937 Knucklehead Bobbers and 1948 Panheads.
Gaming and Entertainment
For groups seeking nightlife and gaming excitement, the nearby Cherokee area offers world-class casino entertainment right in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
Located 40 minutes from Haywood County in Cherokee, Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort features over 3,600 slot machines and 150 table games including blackjack tables, craps, and roulette. The property includes a dedicated poker room, more than 1,100 hotel rooms across four towers, 10 restaurants, and an 18,000-square-foot spa. The UltraStar Multi-tainment Center features 24 bowling lanes, an arcade, and three bars, plus a 3,000-seat event center.
As an enterprise of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the casino also offers privileged access to the Sequoyah National Golf Club and operates Caesars Sportsbook, North Carolina's first legal mobile sportsbook on tribal lands, allowing sports betting throughout the property.
Strategic Location and Accessibility
Haywood County's central location makes it exceptionally accessible for weekend getaways and serves as an ideal base for exploring multiple destinations:
Within 2-3 hours:
- Charlotte, North Carolina (120 miles)
- Raleigh, North Carolina (180 miles)
- Atlanta, Georgia (150 miles)
- Charleston, South Carolina (200 miles)
- Nashville, Tennessee (180 miles)
Day trip destinations:
- Asheville, North Carolina (40 minutes)
- Cherokee, North Carolina (40 minutes)
- Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (90 minutes)
Creating Your Perfect Mountain Mancation
Haywood County represents the evolution of mountain tourism, where genuine Appalachian culture meets modern amenities and adventure opportunities. In 2014, travel and tourism generated over 1,610 jobs in Haywood County and a $31.48 million payroll, demonstrating the region's commitment to hospitality and visitor services. Whether you're planning a bachelor party, organizing a boys trip with college friends, or seeking a weekend escape from urban life, this mountain destination provides the perfect combination of adventure, relaxation, and authentic mountain culture that creates lasting memories for any group of men seeking something beyond the ordinary vacation experience.
I original visited this destination in 2010 and most of the photos are from that trip but the article has been updated for 2025 with new information about traveling to Haywood County, North Carolina.
