Waynesville North Carolina is very close to the eastern side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are lots of outdoor activities to do in and around this area. Located just minutes from Maggie Valley, NC, and Cataloochee Valley where Elk was reintroduced in the early 2000s. You can visit this area, hike, see the Elk, Visit nearby Cherokee, and ride the train in Bryson City, among other things. It is a great central location to do many things to keep you occupied. Also, Waynesville has awesome shops such as the Mast General store and food options.