Waynesville: Greenway, Culture and Main Street

Waynesville offers a range of options. Deciding in advance whether the Greenway, culture or event dates matter most can help you match the destination more closely to your travel plans.

Greenway and outdoor activity

The Waynesville Greenway runs mostly along Richland Creek, through city parkland and alongside US 23 (Asheville Highway). A 1.2-mile section is located in Vance and Recreation Park. This length refers to the section in the park; it does not indicate the total length of the Greenway. The entire Greenway is designed for people with disabilities. When planning to use the trail, you can distinguish the described route from the specific length of the park section.

The Waynesville Recreation Center is a separate option for physical activity. The 64,000-square-foot facility includes a water play park, a lap pool and a 1/10-mile rubberized track. These details describe the facility and its listed amenities; they do not refer to the Greenway. Waynesville therefore offers different options: a trail with a described route and section, and a recreation facility with water amenities and a track.

Arts and history at Shelton House

The Museum of North Carolina Craft and History is located in the Historic Shelton House, which has stood in Waynesville for 150 years. The Shelton House Museum showcases regional crafts and history. The building and museum offer two distinct points of interest for a cultural stay: the house's long presence in the town and its focus on local crafts and history.

The Shelton House grounds include gardens and are open all day, every day. The grounds are a separate feature from the museum's exhibits. When planning your visit, you can distinguish between the cultural focus and the outdoor grounds without assuming that the same visiting hours apply to both.

Main Street, festivals and street dances

Waynesville's Main Street is home to local restaurants, breweries and a variety of shops. It offers several reasons to set aside time for food, drinks and shopping. Events have different schedules: Folkmoot is one of the festivals held in Waynesville throughout the year. The monthly street dances take place in summer. If a specific date is important for your trip, check the event dates for your preferred travel period.

Locally produced goods

Haywood's Historic Farmers Market is an all-producer market featuring goods from Haywood or an adjoining county. Products include meat, fish, eggs, honey and dairy, as well as flowers, nursery plants, preserves, baked goods and traditional crafts. This offers a different perspective on local offerings than Main Street: here, the focus is on products and crafts from producers, while Main Street features restaurants, breweries and shops. Individual vendors and seasonal availability may change. If you are looking for a particular product, check the current offerings before your visit.

Waynesville and the surrounding area

Waynesville is near Great Smokey Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. These regional points of reference add another dimension to trip planning alongside the specific offerings in town.

Discover more destinations: Maggie Valley.

Back to the main travel overview: Haywood County.