Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area is part of the Nantahala National Forest, located in Jackson County between Lake Toxaway and Cashiers (near US Highway 64). This area is sometimes referred to as the "Yosemite of the East." Find granite rock…
A must-stop for art lovers is the Penland School of Crafts, a nationally-renowned center for craft education tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (6 miles from Spruce Pine). Penland offers one, two, and eight-week workshops…
Looking for ideas for what to do on a weekend escape, family vacation or girl's weekend in Asheville and the mountains? Since there are so many things to do and everyone has a different vision of the "perfect" getaway, here are 40 ideas to help…
You will find Asheville and many places in the North Carolina mountains to be very pet-friendly. Since so many travelers bring along their canine companions, here are some helpful tips and resources.
Downtown Asheville
In addition…We love the many historic courthouses in the towns of western North Carolina near Asheville. While many are still in use, others have been repurposed into a variety of uses for the community. These seats of government remain an important focal…
Where to picnic in our Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains near Asheville? While possibilities in our many national and state parks and forests are endless, here are some of our favorite places and ideas. Remember to plan ahead to pick up picnic…
If you are driving on NC Highway 215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (exit at Milepost 423) on the Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway, you will cross a bridge with a series of cascades, including a picturesque waterfall beneath the historic…
Pink Beds has been a popular woodland hiking and picnic spot in the Pisgah National Forest for many years. Located four miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway on US 276 (Forest Heritage Scenic Byway), the five-mile loop hike has little elevation…
Discover a hidden space center deep in Pisgah National Forest. If you are fascinated with science and the stars, The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a must-see in the Asheville area. This complex was initially developed by NASA…
The 500,000+ acres of the Pisgah National Forest surrounding Asheville feature some of the most beautiful and rugged mountain scenery, and the best recreational opportunities in eastern North America. The Pisgah National Forest covers…
One of our favorite paved bike greenways in the Asheville area is Point Lookout Trail, a 3.6-mile trail through Pisgah National Forest and barricaded to motorized vehicles at both ends. It was formerly part of Old US Highway 70, winding through…
The 500,000+ acres of Pisgah National Forest surrounding Asheville feature some of the most beautiful and rugged mountain scenery, and the best recreational opportunities in eastern North America. One of the four districts, "Pisgah Ranger…
Asheville Parks and Recreation maintains 54 public parks, 6 miles of greenways, 11 community centers, a comprehensive athletic program, many facilities that provide resources for a range of activities, and numerous programs for youth, seniors and…
Explore the countryside on a savenger hunt to find some (or all) of the 200 quilt blocks on of nine trails in various regions of Mitchell and Yancey counties, north of Asheville. The Western North Carolina Quilt Trails organization reaches a…
Bakersville is a charming tiny town of about 465 people in Mitchell County, near Spruce Pine, Roan Mountain and the famous Penland School of Craft. The town was formed in the mid 1800s. However, Native Americans mined local mica deposits long…
Whitewater Paddling magazine named Asheville, North Carolina, a "Top 10 Whitewater Town." ABC's Good Morning America and National Geographic Adventurer named NC the "#1 Vacation with a Splash." It's no wonder with six rivers for rafting nearby in…
Rainbow Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfall settings in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This 150-ft. tall waterfall is impressive, especially after rainy weather that swells the Horsepasture River. The best feature of…
See several cascades that fall a total of about 50 feet in a lovely park setting with a trail and picnic tables. It's located on NC Highway 194 in Newland - on the way to Elk River Falls. It's about 12 miles from Banner Elk.
The Waterfalls…