See elk grazing in the meadows (and sometimes walking through town) in Cherokee. After being reintroduced to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cataloochee Valley in 2001, many of the elk have migrated toward Cherokee during the last few…
Watch majestic elk graze and interact in meadows at the Great Smoky Mountains Oconaluftee Visitor Center and other areas around Cherokee.
Explore a variety of Blue Ridge Mountain farms, including historic sites to see the homesteads of yesteryear and working farms with animals and local food.
NC Mountain Working Farm Tours near AshevilleHickory Nut Gap Farm (pic above):…
The Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina that surround Asheville are well-known for their many fly fishing streams and creeks with diverse stream conditions, from tiny, plunge-pool headwater streams to broad, open-valley…
Flat Rock Playhouse is officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. They present a stellar line-up of shows since they are a Professional Equity Theatre. It's just 30 minutes from Asheville in the village of Flat Rock near …
Some 30 million bees call Wehrloom Honey home! Stop by to sample and buy a big variety of honey products and watch the bees at work at their fascinating observatory in Robbinsville – in Graham County near Lake Santeetlah. Since 2/3 of the county…
Visit this farm for all-natural raw honey products and watch bees at work in their observatory, located in Robbinsville, NC. Self-guided and guided tours available.
A must stop for art lovers is the Folk Art Center in Asheville, featuring the finest in traditional and contemporary craft of the Southern Appalachians. Shop the wonderful Southern Highland Craft Guild store (pic above) with a big variety of…
(Many options, easy to moderate) Located just 10 miles south of downtown, the Arboretum has 10 miles of easy to moderate walking and biking trails. Our pick is the Natural Garden Trail, a one-mile loop starting from the Plants of Promise Garden…
(Many options, easy to moderate) There are 23 miles of trails, for all fitness levels, to explore at Biltmore. You can walk several miles around the gardens near the house, including a half-mile stroll around the Bass Pond. Our favorite hike at…
Take a "walk in the woods" in the most scenic sections of the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail near Asheville, high in the North Carolina mountains. See our favorite six-day hikes for all fitness levels.
Traditionally held beginning to mid-December, downtown Waynesville's historic Main Street area's shops, galleries, and restaurants open late from 6-9 PM with live music, live carolers, Bethlehem market place and live nativity, old-fashioned wagon…
Watch Santa practice for his world-wide chimney-dropping tour on his "practice chimney," the 312 ft. tall Chimney Rock monolith. Included with park admission.
Get great deals on amazing art directly from the artists, offering over-runs, discontinued stock, and studio seconds in a festive atmosphere. And don't miss the special exhibits and main store at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.…
This drive-through light show in South Asheville features 50 animated light displays and thousands of colored lights in a lakeside park. $10 per car. 6-9 PM. Tickets must be purchased online. This year, December 2-3 is a walk-through experience…
Main Street twinkles with thousands of lights and many festive events, including hayrides, tours, ice skating, and fantastic shopping.
Self-driving tour to discover studios of 100+ artists and craftsmen, many internationally-known and from the acclaimed Penland School of Crafts. A blend of contemporary and traditional art - Burnsville and Spruce Pine area. Free admission!
This quirky exhibit in downtown Brevard features dozens of vintage aluminum Christmas trees and more than 400 Shiny Brite ornaments and tree toppers inside the Transylvania Heritage Museum. This year's event will also feature a room devoted to…