With a wealth of Asheville breweries earning the mountain town the nickname “beer city,” plus the wealth of breweries in Boone and around Hendersonville, Western North Carolina is known for some of the nation’s best microbrewing. But NC wineries have also been gaining an increasingly high-profile national reputation. Farmers in the area have gradually realized that old tobacco fields, which … Read more
[Updated on March 9, 2022] The Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is truly an American classic. It’s possible to traverse the entire 469-mile route on rubber alone, stopping at some of the 200+ Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks for those famously breathtaking mountain views, without ever breaking a sweat. The list of the area’s natural attractions … Read more
[Updated March 8, 2022] Western North Carolina waterfalls are both plentiful and stunning as they cascade down the state’s ruggedly majestic peaks, including the Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Balsams, Black, and Craggies. Of course, if ever there were a perfect scenic road for soaking in NC’s natural wonders, the Blue Ridge Parkway is that route. … Read more
The Blue Ridge Mountains are known to blow visitors away with its jaw-dropping panoramas. Nature abounds in the region, with countless hiking trails, thunderous waterfalls, mountain streams, vibrant wildflowers and wildlife. And there’s an inherent peacefulness that comes with these pastoral landscapes. A road trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the best ways to take … Read more
[Updated 2/16/22] Between the vast Pisgah National Forest, rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, wondrous waterfalls, and countless meandering creeks and verdant meadows, there’s no shortage of natural beauty in Western North Carolina. The area is also home to some of the most charming Blue Ridge mountain towns, from quaint small towns such as Banner Elk and Burnsville to larger … Read more
[Updated January 21, 2022] One of the things people don’t tell you about taking a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is how remarkably uncommercialized this 469-mile slice of Appalachian Americana is. You can drive for 50-100 miles and never see any Blue Ridge Parkway hotels, resorts, restaurants, or gas stations. Which is precisely what makes … Read more
[Updated January 15, 2022] With a population of around 100,000 people, Roanoke is both the largest city along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the largest in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region. Extending its size, the Roanoke metropolitan area incorporates the neighboring city, Salem, as well as several small historic villages. It gives the whole scene a … Read more
[Updated December 28, 2021] Asheville NC’s reputation as a forward-thinking, nature-loving town in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains precedes it. Despite being only the 12th largest city in the state, Asheville still ranks among the most popular tourist destinations in North Carolina. In addition to the famous Biltmore Estate, the mountain town has … Read more
The waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest rank among the best waterfalls in Western North Carolina. Some of their cascades plummet over 100 feet, pushing thousands of gallons of water per minute into crystalline pools. Pisgah NF occupies over half a million acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, stretching from the border with Virginia in the … Read more
One of the most popular Western NC Christmas events, Tweetsie Railroad Christmas is a must-see for residents and holiday visitors who spend Christmas in Blowing Rock. Tweetsie Railroad history dates back to 1866, when the Tennessee legislature granted the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad company permission to construct a railroad stretching from Johnson … Read more