This jewel of a state park in the foothills is a great place to enjoy nature. It's located near Morganton in Burke County, about 70 miles east of Asheville (just 18 miles from I-40). The park includes elevations up to 3,000 ft., a waterfall…
Table Rock Mountain's distinctive summit above Linville Gorge can be seen easily from many parts of the North Carolina mountains and foothills. The rocky summit is fun (and safe) to explore. The 2.2-mile roundtrip has some steep climbs, so it's a…
Even if you have never heard of the famous writer Thomas Wolfe, his sprawling 29-room "Old Kentucky Home" and its history are very fascinating. His classic of American literature, Look Homeward Angel, has never gone out of print since its 1929…
Located between Marion and Little Switzerland (near Linville Caverns) is Tom's Creek Falls. This beautiful, 80-ft. multi-cascade waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest is an easy one-mile round-trip hike. And, the hiking trail is just a 1.2…
The Asheville Tourists is our minor league baseball team with a downtown stadium. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994. Enjoy a game in historic McCormick Field near…
Many travelers drive across the top of the 150-foot Toxaway Falls and don't even realize it is there! Located on US Highway 64 west of Brevard at Lake Toxaway, you'll cross a bridge below the dam for the lake. There are spots to park on the…
Thanks to the hard work of Conserving Carolina and their ace trailblazer Peter Barr, there's a spectacular hike to explore in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge area. The 3-mile Wildcat Rock Trail climbs about 1,800 feet in elevation, taking you to a…
The Trombatore Trail is a new, beautiful woodland hike to the grassy summit of Blue Ridge Pastures (elevation 3,780 feet). The 2.5-mile trail (5 miles roundtrip) was completed in late 2014. It's super convenient to Asheville (19 miles from…
Twin Falls in Pisgah National Forest is a beautiful setting with two nearby 100-foot tall waterfalls that can be viewed at the same time. The quickest way to reach it is a 4.5-mile miles roundtrip, returning by the same route on the Avery Creek…
As the only designated liberal arts institution in the 16-campus University of North Carolina system, the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) serves students who are prepared for academic challenges by offering an intellectually…
May 29 - August 14, 2021
America's most popular outdoor drama, Unto These Hills, is the tragic and triumphant story of the Cherokee Indians. Set against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains in Cherokee, the show is presented in the…
Upper Creek Falls is a beautiful setting with multiple cascades and a swimming hole complete with a rope swing for diving! It's located in the North Carolina mountains in Pisgah National Forest along NC Highway 181 (near the small community of…
This mountain plantation, tucked in the Reems Creek Valley area near Weaverville (about 12 miles north of downtown Asheville), explores daily life in the early 1800s in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors can peek inside our historic structures.…
During your visit to Asheville, you may see the "Warren Wilson" name on menus in some of the "farm to fork" restaurants in downtown Asheville that feature local foods. The farm at Warren Wilson sells sustainably raised grass-fed beef and College-…
These scenic drives and maps take you to the best waterfall road trips to enjoy in western North Carolina near Asheville, including the Blue Ridge Parkway. We suggest mapping out your trip with our Top 40 Waterfalls Google Map (below) in…
Waterrock Knob is a must-stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located at Milepost 451.2 (just 18 miles from the end of the Parkway), it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.…
Wayah Bald has a vantage point of 5,342 ft. in elevation in the Nantahala National Forest, near Franklin, North Carolina. On a clear day, you can see north to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and south into the rolling hills of Georgia.…
The 30-foot tall tower atop Wesser Bald, North Carolina, on the Appalachian Trail provides 360-degree mountain views of the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains. The original tower was built 1936 by the Civilian Conversation…
The Western North Carolina Agricultural Center is the home of the North Carolina Mountain State Fair, numerous horse and livestock events, large scale shows and other fun events such as car shows, fishing expos, quilt shows, dog shows, rodeos,…