Our top mountain beach is found at Lake James State Park, with a wide sandy beach, bathhouse, concessions and kayak / paddleboard rentals. Nearby, camp, picnic, hike and mountain bike.
The one-mile Craggy Gardens Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway takes you across the Craggy Flats, a mile-high rhododendron bald (elevation 5,680 feet). It starts at the south end of parking area at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center (far left if you…
(1 mile, easy) Walk across a mile-high bald filled with rhododendron, wildflowers and mountain views. Access the trail from the Craggy Picnic Grounds or Visitor Center (Milepost 364.4) on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Ride down the family-friendly rapids of the "Tuck" in a raft, inflatable kayak or tube in Jackson County - near Dillsboro and Sylva. Outfitters offer a variety of guided and self-guided river trips.
Take a tour or sign up for a class at this internationally-known school for art and craft, tucked away in the mountains near Spruce Pine. Their multiple galleries are free to visit with amazing works created by students and teachers.
Find hotels, cabins and B&B inns in charming Little Switzerland, located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, including favorite mountain retreats that have been there for generations.
The Carson House in Marion is one of the top house museums in North Carolina. We love its fascinating history. The original log section of the home was built in 1793 by Colonel John Carson after he fought in the Revolutionary War. To become the…
Tour one of the most interesting house museums in the state, dating back to 1793, with a big collection covering 200+ years on three floors.
The grand Shelton House in Waynesville was built in 1875 and now houses the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts. So your guided tour is double the fun in this Charleston-style farmhouse with a double veranda. Each room is stuffed with 19th and…
A must stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway is an historic mountain estate with thousands of acres and grand mansion to explore. Located at Milepost 294, Moses Cone Memorial Park is about 88 miles north of Asheville and 11 miles north of Grandfather…
This grand, historic home built in 1875 is home to the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts, with every room packed with craft, art and furnishings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Open May-October.
June 2024
Celebrate the best of Latin America at Hola Asheville, a one-day outdoor festival in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. Experience the sights, sounds, music, pageantry, colorful costumes, and extraordinary talent representing…Located just five miles from downtown Hendersonsville is Jump Off Rock, a drive-to scenic overlook with panoramic mountain views. It's open all year, sunrise to sunset, and located in the town of Laurel Park. Admission is free.
After…
For one of the most spectacular views in the North Carolina mountains, head to Wiseman's View on the western side of Linville Gorge (often called the "Grand Canyon of Eastern America"). Find two stone observation areas perched on the cliff at…
A great way to experience the rugged Linville Gorge is to hike among the Chimneys, dramatic rock formations along the canyon rim. It's an easy 1.5-mile roundtrip hike that starts at the Table Rock Mountain parking area. The trail is a roller…
(1.5 miles round-trip, moderate) Hike across and through towering rock formations called the Chimneys atop the rim of the spectacular Linville Gorge, starting at the Table Rock trailhead parking area.
See the spectacular panoramic view of Linville Gorge at Wiseman's View in Pisgah National Forest, overlooking Hawksbill and Table Rock Mountains. Near Linville Falls.
Explore McDowell County east of Asheville, with the small towns of Marion, Little Switzerland, Old Fort and Linville Falls. Includes Pisgah Forest, with hiking, waterfalls, fishing, Lake James and many things to do. See their Blue Ridge Traveler'…