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Tag Archives: wildlife viewing

The Swag Resort and Inn-A Maggie Valley Jewel in a Golden Mountain Setting!

A common room at the Swag-ultra comfy and country gorgeous!
A common room at the Swag-ultra comfy and country gorgeous!
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Rough wood crafted gazebo fits the environs so nicely at the Swag Inn!

American Press Travel News, The Swag, 5000-feet up in Maggie Valley-makes a fine tale, if you will; “a tale of two mountains” would  be appropriate to call our experiences at both the Cataloochee Ranch perched high atop Fie Top Mountain in Maggie Valley, where we lived, enjoyed ranch style breakfasts and wonderful barbecue dinners for 4-days as we visited and experienced the pleasures of Maggie Valley. We visited and had a wonderful al fresco lunch at the Swag Resort, high atop another mountain ridge also called Cataloochee. The views were astounding, witnessed and making for indelible memories as we lunched near a beautifully crafted gazebo by an esteemed New York Architect,  who also did one in the most famous park in New York; Central Park.  Everyone in the “know” would like to have their wedding at and in the forever views of the Smokies.  We hear the regular sit down fare at the Swag is gourmet all the way,  we looked over one of the rooms with copper bathtub on the porch with a view that was purely astounding from the giant bed, or anywhere else in the suite!   We are looking forward to return and fully experience this special place in time and space, designed for hikers and trail blazers from around the world, as well as Americans.

Dan and Deena Mathews developed this property as a vacation home in 1971. They originally had no intentions of becoming owners of an Inn, but now and for the past several decades they have put together a treasured  (cool low 60’s even in August) environment where things are low key, but always very special for their guests, their employees and for themselves as well!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ON A SCALE OF 1-10 THE SWAG IS AN 11!  800-789-7672  E CONNECT IS  TheSwag.com

A crafted wood cut gazebo by the Architect who did the New York natural wood work in Central Park.
A crafted wood cut gazebo by the Architect who did the New York natural wood work in Central Park.
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So relaxing and beautiful a view from the gazebo at the Swag Inn!
Barb looks over a map of the Cataloochee Mountain Range of the Smokies!
Barb looks over a map of the Cataloochee Mountain Range of the Smokies!

Savage River Lodge Was Our Treat! Loved this Place!

Aptravelnews-April 3rd, Savage River Lodge worth a visit! Barb and I spent a few days here and loved everything about this place! Take a look at their website or give them a call and also check out their new Yurt cottages!

Save the Dates!
Call us at 301-689-3200 or email for more information, or to reserve a spot!
April
5th – Easter Brunch
25th – SRL’s first cabaret, “John Holt – Voices of the Stars”
May

9th – Wine Tasting with FireFly Farms

10th – Mother’s Day Brunch

Wedding Bells
If you’re like us, your summer calendar is already filling up with weddings, weddings and more weddings! What better gift than an SRL gift card?
A unique gift that the couple will both enjoy, gift cards can be made out in any denomination.
Visit our website for more info.

Day Trips

Art & Nature
Let us plan your day trip to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob houses with our   Art & Nature Package. We’ll send you on your way with tickets and a gourmet picnic lunch to enjoy while taking in the beauty of the grounds! The houses have opened for the season, so call us to book your package today!
Taste of Garrett
June 27-28 is the Best of Garrett weekend, with events all weekend long! Better yet, all proceeds support the mission of Garrett Trails.

  • Race Up the Face: a 400 meter foot race – up the
    black diamond ski slope of Wisp Resort!
  • Taste of Garrett: Enjoy tastes and treats from the area’s finest restaurants! Don’t miss our booth with goodies from Chef Tylor, and also from the Cornucopia Cafe!

 
Attention Fly Fishermen!
Fly fishing guide, Travis Gilbert is back for a limited time!

Available Tuesday through Thursday during April for full day, guided

fly-fishing trips!
Call 301-689-3200 to book him while you can!

April Green Tip: 
Bring on the Bees!

You don’t have to be a beekeeper to help improve the current bee-loss epidemic that’s sweeping the world. Planning your garden for the year? Consider adding a pesticide-free space for the world’s pollinators and growing a variety of their favorite native flowers like wild lilac, goldenrod and lavender. Pollinators affect a whopping 35% of the world’s crop production, and during this epidemic, those little guys need all the help they can get!

One of just a few APtravelnews-Best Places to Visit!!!

Bear With Me! Don’t Do This!

APtravelnews-Ely, Minnesota-A couple of summers ago! Barb and I wanted to see bears and we heard that there were wild bears at the Vince Shute Bear Viewing Sanctuary. Shute began leaving peanuts out for bears so they wouldn’t break into his cabin anymore. They weren’t tame at all, but were used to seeing people watching them. However, the people watched them from a distance and a safe viewing platform. We came before the platform was build and I took a chance letting Barbara get close to the sow bear and her cubs. In the image you can see the mother just before she turned and woofed at Barbara to stay back. The bear didn’t charge, Barb and I both got the picture we wanted and we both backed off. I shot this with a telephoto lens-frankly, Barb was way too close, but this time we got the bear, the bear didn’t get us!!!!

This is how not to photograph wildlife, especially a bear with cubs, especially not!
This is how not to photograph wildlife, especially a bear with cubs, especially not!