Jonathon Engels 
[Updated on October 27, 2024] It’s a bittersweet time when you’re watching the vivid fall colors of the NC High Country begin to fade. Sad because it signals that autumn is coming to a close, but sweet because it means the holidays are coming soon! Whether we’re in our hometown of Elkin NC or visiting … Read more
[Updated November 13, 2024] For us, making the most of Christmas in North Carolina includes spending time at home with family and friends, as well as getting to celebrate by immersing ourselves in the holiday spirit. From the Appalachian Mountains through the NC Piedmont into the Coastal Plains, the state of North Carolina has lots … Read more
Summer in North Carolina is simply glorious, with lots of lakes, swimming holes, river tubing, and waterfalls to explore. And the spectacular beauty of fall in North Carolina is truly breathtaking. But winter in NC most certainly does not spell the end of all the outdoor fun. The climate of North Carolina is quite varied, and the … Read more
Tips for the best campgrounds in the North Carolina mountains, with info on campground facilities as wells as nearby trails & attractions.
[Updated 9/16/22] The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains may not have the jaw-dropping 13,000- to 14,000-foot peaks you’ll find in the Rockies of Colorado or Utah, but there are actually numerous great places to go snow skiing in North Carolina. There are impressive options for skiing near Asheville, not to mention top-flight North Carolina ski resorts … Read more
From a visitor’s standpoint, Bryson City is the ideal of what Western NC small towns can be: It’s walkable, wild, and packed with a mixture of wonder and whimsy. The town is perched on the southern boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a few miles from Lake Fontana, and just as near to Nantahala National Forest. … Read more
[Updated Sept 19, 2024] Straddling the boundary of North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses over 500,000 acres and is the most visited of all the U.S. National Parks. Part of it is located in the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee people, who occupied the territory prior to the 1830s … Read more
Whether you have your own horses or are new to riding horses, these are the top places for horseback riding in (and near) Asheville NC.
[Updated August 20, 2022] Spend any time in the Blue Ridge Mountains you’ll quickly realize that Westen North Carolina waterfalls are a big thing here. Waterfalls in NC can be as literally big– as in over 800 feet high– as they are numerous. You’ll find approximately 250 waterfalls just in the 381-square-mile Transylvania County, located … Read more
[Updated August 20, 2022] For people visiting the North Carolina mountains (or for those simply seeking out great beer), the number of quality breweries in Asheville NC is astonishing. The burgeoning mountain metropolis has been noteworthy in the US craft brewing scene since the 1990s. But after Sierra Nevada set up shop in nearby Mills … Read more
