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Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for 469 miles through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Cherokee NC
A culture, a people, and a place that's actually a sovereign nation, Cherokee is located right in the heart of Western North Carolina. It's also base camp for hiking in the Great Smokies, arts and crafts shopping, native elk herd viewing, hours of fishing fun, and home to a history that spans millennia. Ready? Let’s go.

Biltmore House
Nestled within 8,000 acres of pristine Blue Ridge Mountain beauty, Biltmore is a one-of-a-kind destination. From the magnificent house, orchid-filled Conservatory, thrilling art exhibition, and award-winning Winery to myriad dining and shopping venues, 20+ miles of nature trails, and distinctive overnight properties, Biltmore offers an unforgettable escape from the everyday.

Flat Rock Playhouse
The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series, a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program, year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 100,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.

French Broad River Adventures
The French Broad is one of the oldest rivers in the world, dating anywhere from 260-325 million years old. The river's headwaters are in Rosman NC, from there it's one of the few rivers that flows North instead of South. Over 4,000 miles of streams and rivers feed into the French Broad River.

Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain is a place of amazing biodiversity and scenic beauty that towers 5,946 feet above northwest North Carolina. A part of the United Nations’ Southern Appalachian Biosphere Reserve, the mountain is estimated to be 300 million years old — with certain rock formations dating back 1.2 billion years.

Joyce Kilmer National Forest
This forest is one of the Nation’s most impressive remnants of old-growth forest. The forest contains magnificent examples of more than 100 tree species, many over 400-years-old, and some more than 20 feet in circumference and 100 feet tall. This 3,800-acre forest was set aside in 1936 as a memorial to the author of the poem “Trees,” Joyce Kilmer, who was killed in action in France during World War I.

Lake James
Located in Burke and McDowell counties 50 miles northeast of Asheville, Lake James State Park includes two areas to access this picturesque lake that is perfect for boating, swimming, and fishing. Campsites at both Catawba River and Paddy's Creek accesses provide an opportunity to spend the night by the lake, with some sites accessible only by paddling. Trails include bike trails at Paddy's Creek, the kid-friendly Holly Discovery Trail, the historic Overmountain Victory Trail, and the Fonta Flora State Trail.

Lake Lure
Lake Lure is fortunate to have several town-owned recreational facilities and opportunities for residents and visitors. Whether it's a new Lake Lure Green Space overlooking beautiful vistas, easy walking trails alongside the lake's edge, a game of tennis, shooting the hoops with your friends, bird-watching, or a challenging hike with your dog, there's something for every age and ability.

WNC Waterfalls
The state of North Carolina is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of beautiful waterfalls, located mostly in its mountainous western area. And although many different natural attractions can be found in the Southern Applachian Mountain region, waterfalls have without a doubt become one of North Carolina's most treasured outdoor resources.

Mount Mitchell
Located in Yancey County 30 miles northeast of Asheville, Mount Mitchell State Park was the genesis of North Carolina's state parks system. At 6,684 feet, the mountain is the highest point east of the Mississippi River, and an observation deck provides breathtaking mountain views on a clear day. Easy trails at the summit explore the Fraser fir forest, while a vast network of challenging trails — including the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail — extend into adjacent wilderness areas and lead to backpacking opportunities within Pisgah National Forest.

Mount Pisgah
Mount Pisgah’s spectacular views, hiking trails, picnic area, campground, lodge, restaurant, and country store make this area a popular destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway. For generations, Pisgah has been a popular mountain retreat for travelers. Pisgah Inn & Restaurant attracts many visitors who want to experience the resources of the Parkway from a somewhat comfortable environment. Other visitors use the campground and trails to experience the resources from a different perspective.

Pisgah National Forest Hiking
The Pisgah National Forest covers over 500,000 acres of forest land across the central mountains of Western North Carolina. This large forest includes lands surrounding the town of Asheville and the French Broad River Valley, and extending into the higher mountains all around.

Pigeon River
ADVENTURING THE PIGEON RIVER SINCE 1978 - Rafting in the Smokies was a pioneer outfitter on the Big Pigeon River in 1978. We even helped name the rapids back in those early days! Our goal then was to assemble a group of professional whitewater athletes to provide affordable fun on the river. That goal has never changed.

UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville offers an education that is adaptive, affordable, and endlessly relevant as the only liberal arts and sciences campus in the University of North Carolina System. Our small class size, award-winning faculty and a nationally acclaimed undergraduate research program foster connections between curiosity and critical thinking, courage and challenge, imagination and impact, opportunity and responsibility.

Vance Birthplace
Explore daily life on an early 1800s plantation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Step inside a 1790s slave dwelling and hear the stories of the women and men who were enslaved by the Vances. Take a tour through the reconstructed birthplace of Zebulon B. Vance to discover how the environment and society of Western North Carolina shaped his political career.

Asheville Brewery Tours
It’s undeniable – Asheville is a dream come true for craft beer fanatics. The city was ranked #2 in the country on the 2018 “Best Cities for Beer Drinkers” list, due to Asheville’s bevy of microbreweries serving creative and tasty brews all over town. If you’re only visiting “Beer City USA” for a short stay, taking a brewery tour or two will help you hit the highlights and taste the best beers that Asheville has to offer.

La Zoom Comedy Bus
Asheville is known as a unique little city where the mountains mingle with the weird. There’s no place like it, and there’s never been anything like the award-winning LaZoom Comedy Tours! Explore the city with LaZoom Asheville Bus Tours’ wild guides to discover Asheville’s living, beating heart and quirky sense of humor! LaZoom is beloved by locals and visitors alike. Get on the bus for the ride of your life!

Area Skiing Options
While winters are usually on the mild side in the city of Asheville, it's a different story at nearby ski resorts in western North Carolina. Since we have the highest mountains in the eastern United States, you will find plenty of snow, either natural or man-made. Temperatures often run 20 degrees cooler on the slopes than in Asheville, so get ready! If you don't ski or snowboard, go snow tubing.