Haywood County touts fall scenery to lure tourists

Here’s the press release from the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority:

Foliage on Blue Ridge Parkway Illustrates Incredible Beauty

An incredibly unique and enchanting experience unlike any other in Western North Carolina

Haywood County, NC – There are plenty of good reasons why the Blue Ridge Parkway has been dubbed “America’s Favorite Drive,” and all the evidence needed to understand the lure of this national landmark for more than seven decades is revealed with a cruise on any portion of its 46-mile stretch through Haywood County, North Carolina.

During the fall season, the foliage begins an incredible transition that can be seen throughout the Parkway and the towns that comprise Haywood County: Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Canton and Clyde. The leaves display a dramatic arrangement of autumn colors, ranging from gold, read, orange and brown. Many people pack their bags to adventure to the Blue Ridge Mountains to photograph the extraordinary views and observe Mother Nature’s incredible mosaic of dazzling fall colors.

Haywood County is more unique than other parts of Western North Carolina because within it lies both the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway is home to hundreds of miles of scenic byways and back country roads wined through the region, with overlooks and turnouts that offer breath-taking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains decked out in their finest fall colors.

At elevations greater than anywhere else on the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, the Haywood County span offers motorists breathtaking views of seemingly endless mountain ridges and picturesque valleys.

“The Blue Ridge Parkway offers an experience like no other, and it’s almost impossible to put into words the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway.” says Lynn Collins, Director of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority.

“Fall foliage in North Carolina is breathtaking,” Collins said. “Luckily there’s no limit to the amount of times you can utter oohs and aahs.”

The 20 overlooks that dot the Haywood County section of the Blue Ridge Parkway include Richland-Balsam Gap at milepost 431 (the highest point on the entire parkway at 6,053 feet) and one of the best views in the country of Cold Mountain at milepost 412 (made famous by Charles Frazier’s award-winning, best-selling historical novel of the same name). There are many other reasons to interrupt your drive and pull over, from more scenic overlooks to recreational opportunities (including scores of great hiking trails) and hidden gems, like waterfalls, that require a bit of exploration. But, the incredible mountain views aren’t the only reason to visit Haywood County. There are plenty of events going on around the area, so it is easy for visitors to come out and have some fun. For more information on all there is to see and do in Haywood County, visit this link http://www.visitncsmokies.com/fall-color-events to browse our calendar.

Fall Days in Maggie Valley

Every year, Maggie Valley residents decorate the town in fall festivities to make the town a welcoming place to spend some time this fall. Pumpkins, haystacks, scarecrows, and wreaths (to name a few) line the streets, storefronts and houses, transforming the valley into a beautiful holiday masterpiece. This is a wonderful time to visit and immerse into this incredible holiday experience.

There are lots of fall events going on during this time, ranging from harvest festivals, to hiking tours, and two craft shows being featured on two weekends in October. To find out more, click this link http://www.visitncsmokies.com/fall-color-events

Along with its picturesque fall beauty, Haywood County offers year-round cultural, music, family-fun activities and special events throughout the year. For more information, click http://www.visitncsmokies.com/do.