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 Best Downtown Asheville Restaurants
[Updated May 17, 2021] The first time we visited the city back in 2012, we were blown away by the Asheville food scene. For a
The 25 Best Things to Do in Asheville NC
[Updated May 13, 2021] For a relatively small Blue Ridge mountain town with a population of under 100,000, there is a surprising wealth of unique
Things to Do at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Near Blowing Rock NC
The short stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway that runs from just east of Boone NC to just west of Blowing Rock is particularly packed with
How to Get to Hooker Falls NC (in DuPont State Forest)
If you’re looking for challenging North Carolina waterfalls to hike, Hooker Falls is probably not for you. Located between Brevard and Hendersonville in DuPont State
40 Fascinating Facts About Cherokee Culture & History
Before Europeans settlers began spreading throughout the southeastern United States, the Cherokee were the dominant Native American tribe in the Blue Ridge Mountains for centuries. Cultivating
Review of Pinecrest Bed and Breakfast in Asheville NC (Montford Area)
You don’t have to look very hard to find great bed and breakfasts in Asheville NC. In fact, the Montford Area Historic District– one of the
The Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest (Near Brevard NC)
The Cradle of Forestry in America was originally known as the Biltmore Forest School. It was founded in 1898 by Carl A. Schenck, a German
North Carolina Wildflowers Guide (& Where to See Them in Western NC)
Western North Carolina is truly stacked with natural beauty. From the misty hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the towering trees of Pisgah National
The 10 Best Things to Do in Hendersonville NC
For far too long, Hendersonville NC seemed like the Jan Brady to Asheville‘s Marcia, never quite garnering all the accolades and attention it deserved. But
Things to Do in Elk Knob State Park Near Boone NC
There is no shortage of stunning state parks in the North Carolina mountains. We’ve been fortunate to visit a good number of them, staring up
The 10 Best Boone NC Hiking Trails to Explore
The Blue Ridge Mountain town of Boone NC is best-known for its Christmas tree farms and outdoor recreation opportunities, offering everything from mountain biking and
Top 15 NC State Parks in the North Carolina Mountains
[Updated April 5, 2021] When we first moved to NC in 2017, I was beside myself envisioning the many cascading waterfalls and breathtaking vistas to
The 15 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfalls in North Carolina
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,
15 Highlights of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Western North Carolina
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (a.k.a. the MST) stretches from North Carolina’s western border with Tennessee all the way east to the Atlantic Ocean. This epic NC
The Hickory Ridge Living History Museum and “Horn in the West” in Boone NC
The Southern Appalachian Historical Association was formed to preserve the history and cultural heritage of Watauga County and the surrounding areas in the North Carolina
The Best Things to Do in DuPont State Forest, NC
The DuPont State Recreation Forest, more commonly known as DuPont State Forest or just DuPont Forest, offers 12,000+ acres of blow-your-mind beautiful wilderness in the
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
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
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 in Mills River NC (Near Asheville & Hendersonville)
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
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.