Western North Carolina Guide to Waynesville and Asheville

Our Western North Carolina mountain retreat is just a short drive to the top attractions in Asheville and Waynesville, as well as all the beautiful trails and outdoor adventures found in the Great Smoky Mountains. We’re happy to help you plan your perfect Blue Ridge Mountain getaway when you stay at our romantic inn or in our private cabins.

Area Overview

Create Your Ideal Getaway in Western North Carolina

Our area offers something for everyone. For the best access to dining, shopping, music, art, and more, visit the nearby towns of Asheville or Waynesville for a fun and eclectic experience. They are both just a short drive from our mountainside retreat.

If outdoor adventures are more your style, our area offers plenty in the Blue Ridge Parkway, national parks and forests nearby. With plenty of hiking, kayaking, zip lining, wildlife viewing, and beautiful waterfalls to discover, there’s so much to do to keep you busy with our Western North Carolina Guide to Waynesville and Asheville.

Picturesque places and scenic overlooks provide endless options to enjoy picnics, snap photos, or just enjoy quiet moments together.

Plan Your Stay

Explore the Best Things to Do in North Carolina

Plan your stay near Asheville with some of our favorite highlights below. Whether you visit our quaint towns or magnificent nature areas, there is something near Engadine Inn and Cabins for everyone to enjoy.

Asheville, North Carolina - Western North Carolina Guide

Small Towns

Experience the Charm and Character of Our Quaint Towns

Asheville

Downtown Asheville is a fun and eclectic place. Artists and street musicians converge with tourists and locals for a vibrancy rarely found in a city of this size. There is always something happening downtown with hundreds of shops to browse and more than 50 restaurants. There are more than 30 art galleries. Enjoy live music in the evening in several nightclubs, including the Orange Peel and ISIS Music Hall Asheville music venues. Go to one of the many festivals in Park Square Park. Enjoy Asheville’s rich architectural legacy with its mix of Art Deco, Beaux Arts and Neoclassical styles that are the perfect backdrop to the city’s edgy energy. And did we mention the great people watching? More information about planning an Asheville itinerary can be found at ExploreAsheville and/or RomanticAsheville.

Waynesville

Waynesville, located just 20 minutes west of Engadine, has a lively and friendly downtown with unique shops, art galleries, cafés and restaurants – all within walking distance on Main Street’s tree lined brick sidewalks. Its historic buildings and quaint charm make Waynesville a thoroughly enjoyable place to visit. After a morning of hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway, we recommend a stop in Waynesville for lunch and a little shopping before heading back to our bed & breakfast and cabins. Numerous popular events and festivals take place downtown throughout the year. The heart of Appalachian culture and heritage, Waynesville hosts FOLKMOOT USA, North Carolina’s official international music and dance festival annually. Visit the Downtown Waynesville Website.

History & Culture

The Biltmore Estate

George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate is located just 15 minutes from Engadine. Your admission includes a self-guided tour of the 250 room Biltmore House, access to the gardens and Antler Hill Village, which features the Winery, the Biltmore Legacy building, the Village Green, and the farm, as well as acres of natural beauty. Frederick Law Olmsted, whose designs include New York’s Central Park and Boston’s Emerald Necklace, designed the estate’s gardens and grounds. More information about visiting Biltmore is available online.

Visit The Biltmore

Great Outdoors

Connect with Nature in North Carolina

The opportunities for outdoor activities are endless with our Western North Carolina guide. Whatever your pace, from leisurely hiker to extreme adventurer, you’ll be able to feed your desire for fun or relaxation within a short drive from our inn.

small waterfall surrounded by green forest

Blue Ridge Parkway

A drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway is slow paced and relaxing, designed as a “drive awhile and stop awhile” experience. Please don’t be in a hurry! Overlooks, picnic areas, campgrounds, visitor centers, hiking trails, and other areas of interest are available along the road. The best way to experience this place is to take advantage of these opportunities. Short trails offer the chance to get away from the road and see the Blue Ridge up close and personal, even if just for a few minutes. Longer trails are also available for the more adventurous. Bicycling, photography, bird watching, and practically any other responsible outdoor activities are available. Hundreds of overlooks allow opportunities to catch a glimpse of sunrises or sunsets, have a picnic, or just enjoy the view across the mountains and valleys of the region. Just a short distance from Engadine is Mt. Pisgah, where you can stop to enjoy lunch with a view at the Pisgah Inn, and Graveyard Fields, both of which offer a variety of hiking trails. View the Blue Ridge Parkway Guide.

Pisgah National Forest

The Pisgah National Forest covers 510,119 acres of mountainous terrain. Elevations reach over 6,000 feet and include some of the highest mountains in the eastern United States. Mount Mitchell, in Mount Mitchell State Park, is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River and lies just outside the boundary of Pisgah National Forest. The forest also includes tracts surrounding the city of Asheville, the town of Brevard and land in the French Broad River Valley. Recreational opportunities include hiking and backpacking, among others. View the Pisgah National Forest Guide.

Chimney Rock Park

Chimney Rock is the perfect place to reconnect with nature and spend time with family and friends. Overlooking Lake Lure, Chimney Rock offers the best of the mountains in one place – spectacular 75-mile views, hiking trails for all ages, a 404-foot waterfall, a variety of special events and much more. View the Chimney Rock Website.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a short distance from Engadine. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park.

Waterfalls

Western NC is the Land of Waterfalls. Some of our guests’ favorite nearby waterfalls include Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock the falls at Dupont State Forest, all of which are just a short drive from Engadine.

Hiking

There are hundreds of hiking trails nearby. Find them along the Blue Ridge Parkway, in Pisgah National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We can help you plan your perfect hike based on your desired level of difficulty and allotted time. More information about hiking the hills of Western North Carolina can be found at the ExploreAsheville, RomanticAsheville, North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville Trails, the Appalachian Trail or National Forest Foundation websites.

Western North Carolina Area Guide