Jackson County's rich cultural heritage welcomes you year-round! About an hour's drive west of Asheville, this area includes the towns of Cashiers, Dillsboro, Sylva, Balsam, Glenville, Cullowhee, and parts of Cherokee. This is the place to witness, learn from, and carry home mementos of rich culture.
Appalachian Heritage & Crafts
Greening Up the Mountains, shown in the photo at the top of this page, is an annual celebration of spring and Appalachian culture held in downtown Sylva. This daytime festival began as an Earth Day celebration and continues to focus on sustainability and promoting local businesses and community. It features fine crafters from wood carvers and basket makers to cane chair makers demonstrating traditional heritage crafts. It includes regional musicians and children's activities. Local shops and restaurants are open and welcoming during the event.
The Blue Ridge Craft Trail connects you with artisans working in traditional Appalachian methods. Stop at studios throughout Cullowhee, Cashiers, Dillsboro, and Sylva. Watch blacksmiths shape hot iron. See potters center clay on wheels. Meet woodworkers continuing techniques passed through generations. Most artisans welcome questions and share their process.
Plan Your Trip to Jackson County, NC
Jackson County NC Lodging 
Jackson County NC Visitor Guide 
Things to Do in Sylva, Dillsboro, and Cashiers
Discover Jackson County’s unforgettable mountain experiences, from breathtaking waterfalls, scenic hikes and lakes to lively small towns, arts, festivals, fly-fishing, brewery trails and Appalachian culture in Cashiers, Sylva, Dillsboro and beyond.
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Winter Wellness Getaways in Jackson County
Discover winter wellness getaways in scenic Jackson County, NC — from certified forest therapy trails and peaceful snowy landscapes to spas, retreats, and cozy lodging in Cashiers, Sylva, Dillsboro, and surrounding small towns, perfect for relaxation.
Forest Therapy - Certified Forest Therapy Trails in Jackson County, NC
Jackson County, NC offers two Certified Forest Therapy Trails near Asheville, designed for mindful forest bathing. These sensory-focused paths promote relaxation, stress relief, and wellness.
Lake Glenville Waterfalls
Lake Glenville, one of the highest lakes east of the Rockies, has four hidden waterfalls along its 26-mile shoreline. Accessible only by boat these beautiful falls are majestic and serene. Hire a… More Information
Cashiers, NC
Shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants center around the Village Green with outdoor sculpture, walking paths and gardens. Find a sophisticated arts and music scene. Nearby are Silver Run…
Restaurants in Cashiers, Sylva, and Dillsboro
Savor Jackson County’s thriving culinary scene, from farm-to-table restaurants and cozy cafés to craft breweries and local food trucks. Enjoy fresh, locally sourced flavors that reflect mountain heritage in Sylva, Dillsboro, Cashiers and beyond.
More InformationDogwood Crafters in Dillsboro represents over 100 regional artisans. This gallery features quilts, pottery, jewelry, and woodwork. Everything is handmade in the Southern Appalachians. Dogwood Crafters is the perfect place to find unique gifts that carry mountain heritage home.
The Appalachian Women's Museum in Dillsboro honors the often-overlooked contributions of mountain women. Exhibits highlight their roles in preserving culture, developing crafts, and sustaining communities. This small museum offers powerful stories of resilience and creativity.
Photo of Cashiers Historical Society Airing of the Quilts, courtesy Plateau Daily News
Airing the quilts is a mountain tradition not just to freshen and sanitize bedding in the sunshine, but also to celebrate craftsmanship. At The Appalachian Women’s Museum, quilters and collectors hang family quilts in the sunshine at the annual Airing of the Quilts mini-craft festival in early May. Visitors can enjoy displays, participate in a fabric scrap, quilt pattern, and book exchange, and watch live music. Meanwhile, the Cashiers Historical Society hosts an Airing of the Quilts in late May. Quilters display their handmade works outside the preserved buildings, musicians perform traditional music, and artisans demonstrate their craft. Visitors are invited to pack a picnic and a blanket to enjoy this free event.
Community Celebrations
Mountain Heritage Days in Cullowhee brings 20,000 visitors to Western Carolina University each September. This festival celebrates Appalachian culture through music, dance, crafts, and storytelling. Watch cloggers. Hear old-time string bands. Sample traditional foods. Children of all ages can try their hand at heritage crafts and games.
Historic Tours
The Sylva Heritage Tour walks you through downtown Sylva’s historic architecture and stories. The self-guided tour covers the 1914 Jackson County Courthouse, historic homes, and buildings that shaped this mountain town. Pick up a map at the visitor center and explore at your own pace.
Ancient & Sacred Sites
Judaculla Rock in Cullowhee stands as one of the Southeast's largest petroglyph sites. The massive soapstone boulder bears mysterious carvings made by Cherokee ancestors. Some symbols date back over 2,000 years. Cherokee legend connects this site to the powerful slant-eyed giant Judaculla. Standing before this rock, you can feel the weight of millennia.
Living Cherokee Culture
Part of Cherokee—home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians—lies within Jackson County. The Qualla Boundary land trust preserves a culture that has thrived in these mountains since time immemorial.
The Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee tells 11,000 years of Cherokee history through artifacts, stories, and multimedia exhibits. The museum presents a Cherokee perspective and voice. Plan at least two hours to visit.
Next door at the Qualla Arts and Crafts Co-op, you can browse work by local artisans. Just a stone’s throw away is the home of the Unto These Hills outdoor drama. Performances are in the summer and have been held for more than 75 years. Adjacent to Unto These Hills is Oconaluftee Indian Village, where guides demonstrate traditional skills like canoe carving, pottery making, and beadwork and engage visitors in traditional games.
Experience Jackson County's Living Heritage
Cherokee and Appalachian cultural experiences await you in the small mountain towns of Cashiers, Dillsboro, Sylva, Balsam, Glenville, Cullowhee, and Cherokee. Whether you spend a day or a week, these experiences offer connection to the people and stories that make these mountains sacred. Contact Jackson County tourism to plan your visit.