Visiting the North Carolina Mountains
Check out our extensive guides to the best things to do in the North Carolina Mountains, including an overview of the best outdoor activities, restaurants, roadside attractions and accommodations in Western NC.
The 20 Best Pisgah National Forest Hiking Trails in North Carolina
If you enjoy getting deep into the forest, exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, and looking up as gorgeous waterfalls cascade down, then Pisgah National Forest is
The 15 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes for NC Day Trips
The Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is an American classic. It’s possible to traverse the entire 469-mile route on rubber alone, stopping at some of
The 15 Best Western North Carolina Mountains For Hiking
North Carolina is home to the five highest mountains east of the Mississippi: Mt. Mitchell, Clingman’s Dome, Mt. Guyot, Richland Balsam, and Potato Knob. In
How to Get to Crabtree Falls Near Little Switzerland NC
The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited national park unit in the USA, attracting more than 15 million visitors each year. It’s far more
15 Best Things to Do in Boone NC (Blue Ridge Parkway MM 291.8)
Located just a couple of hours north of downtown Asheville, the town of Boone NC is the county seat for Watauga County. This hub of
Visiting Historic Engadine Inn and Cabins Near Asheville NC
With only one or two Blue Ridge Parkway hotels in North Carolina, it’s not easy to find accommodations along the world-famous route during the peak
The 20 Best Things to Do in Asheville NC
[Updated Jan 23, 2021] For a relatively small Blue Ridge mountain town with a population of under 100,000, there is a surprising wealth of unique
Exploring The 12 Best Asheville NC Breweries
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.
40 Fascinating Facts About The Blue Ridge Parkway
Arguably ranking among the world’s great road trips, the Blue Ridge Parkway was built in the 1930s to connect Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Shenandoah
The 10 Best Places for Snow-Skiing in North Carolina
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 for
Exploring Emerald Village: North Carolina Gem Mines in Little Switzerland
Located just 31 miles from Asheville and three miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Emerald Village proved to be one of our favorite things to
The Best Things to Do in Elkin NC (Blue Ridge Parkway MM 229)
Just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rocky ridges smooth out into the rolling hills and lively mountain streams known as the North Carolina Piedmont.
The 27 Best Waterfalls Near Asheville NC
Asheville’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 Best Western NC Christmas Tree Farms in Boone, Asheville, & Beyond
Whether you’re continuing a lifelong Christmas tradition or getting your first ever live tree, picking out a tree from a Christmas Tree Farm is truly
The Black Walnut Inn, a Historic Bed and Breakfast in Asheville NC
“You don’t choose Asheville… Asheville chooses you.” This enigmatic insight from Peter White, co-owner of the Black Walnut Bed and Breakfast Inn, was a perfect
The Best Western NC Christmas Events in Asheville, Biltmore, Bryson City & Beyond!
There’s nothing quite like celebrating the holiday season in a magical place, and many of Western North Carolina’s small towns offer something special for Christmas lovers
The Appalachian Culture & History of the Blue Ridge Mountains
If you’ve lived in the Southeast for a good portion of your life (as our team has), chances are you’ve been exploring Appalachia and the
Little Switzerland, NC: Cutest Mountain Town on the Blue Ridge Parkway (MM 334)
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
30 Fascinating Blue Ridge Mountains Facts
Stretching north to south across the eastern United States, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are truly an iconic American landscape. The Blue Ridge range encompasses
Fall in North Carolina: The Best Places to See Fall Colors in Western NC
Fall in North Carolina is particularly special because the autumn leaves are around for an extended amount of time. The vibrant fall colors almost seem
Cottages at Spring House Farm: Dog-Friendly Cottages in Pisgah National Forest
As professional travel writers/photographers, our trips are usually tightly packed with adventures. So much so that we often come home feeling like we need a
Asheville River Arts District: A Guide to Galleries & Restaurants
Over the last decade, Asheville has emerged as a progressive haven of arts and culture in the middle of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The
The 20 Best Western NC Small Towns To Visit (and Live In!)
Western North Carolina is perhaps best known as home to Asheville, one of the most deservedly popular up-and-coming small cities in the United States. But
Pisgah National Forest: A Beginner’s Guide
Pisgah National Forest encompasses over half a million acres of the Appalachian Mountains in Western North Carolina. The forest is separated into three ranger districts:
The 20 Best Western North Carolina Waterfalls for Hiking
Spend any time in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina and you’ll quickly realize that waterfalls are a big thing here. Waterfalls in
Stone Mountain, NC: State Park Camping, Hiking & History
Stone Mountain State Park (not to be confused with the famous North Georgia park) stands prominently just beyond the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge
20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in NC & VA
If ever there was a perfect time to take a road trip with little outside social interaction, plenty of open spaces to roam, and lots
Exploring Craggy Gardens, NC (Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 344.1, 382.5 & 384.7)
As a tourist destination, the Blue Ridge Parkway specializes in three things: spring blooms, autumn leaves, and jaw-dropping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While
Top 10 NC State Parks in the North Carolina Mountains
When we first moved to NC in 2017, I was beside myself envisioning the many cascading waterfalls and breathtaking vistas to be seen in the
The Top 20 Blue Ridge Mountain Towns in GA & NC
It’s not hard to imagine why so many people love to retreat into the Blue Ridge Mountains, which stretch 550 miles from North Georgia to southern
Visiting Doughton Park (Blue Ridge Parkway Mile Marker 238.5 – 244.7)
Located in North Carolina between Blue Ridge Parkway mile markers 238.5 and 244.7, Doughton Park is actually the largest recreation area along the famous road.
Exploring the Sierra Nevada Brewery– Asheville, NC
Sometimes when a recipe is right, it is simply right. There’s no arguing the fact that Sierra Nevada nailed its flagship beer, Sierra Nevada Pale
The Cataloochee Valley Elk in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Created in 1934 and encompassing 522,419 acres, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America, attracting more than 10 million travelers
The Best Downtown Asheville Restaurants
The first time we visited the city back in 2012, we were blown away by the Asheville food scene. For a 45-square-mile mountain town with
Downtown Asheville, NC History: From Biltmore to the 21st Century Boom
The essence of downtown Asheville, NC exists between two dichotomous extremes, with the outlandish opulence of the Biltmore Estate at one end of the spectrum,
Highland Brewing: Visiting the First Asheville Brewery
Of the many cities across America currently vying for the title of “Best Beer City,” Asheville, North Carolina has a legit claim to the crown.