This 76-mile mountain scenic drive is packed with things to see and do, including plenty of waterfalls, picnic spots and hiking trails. The Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway is highlighted by beautiful mountain scenery and rich local history…

Here are parts of the official Blue Ridge Parkway map, with Milepost numbers every ten miles. The first map is the section north of Asheville to Grandfather Mountain. See our mile-by-mile list of Parkway things to do. Also, download a PDF of the…

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to enjoy your vacation getaway to Asheville and the western North Carolina mountains. In fact, many activities won’t cost you a dime! Here are our Top Ten Free Things to Do for romantic outings or fun with…

Just a couple of miles north of the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center is a Blue Ridge Parkway overlook (Milepost 361.2) for Glassmine Falls. It's about seven miles south of Mt. Mitchell. After a good rain, the view of the skinny waterfall cascading…

Glen Falls is a triple waterfall near Highlands with four great scenic stops along the roughly 2-mile round-trip hike in the Nantahala National Forest. The upper and middle cascades are the most beautiful. From the parking area, take…

Gorges State Park is the access point to hike to one of our favorite waterfalls, Rainbow Falls, and nearby Turtleback Falls. It's home to rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls and one of the greatest concentrations of rare and unique species…

The Green Knob Lookout is visible from on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Mitchell. The panoramic views from atop the tower are certainly worth the half mile hike from the Parkway. While the top of the tower is not open, the staircase provides…

After 30+ forest wildfires burned more than 70,000 acres of forests in the North Carolina mountains during October and November 2016, we are so delighted that most of the trees and wildlife survived! Plus, only one home was lost in North Carolina…

This 1.5-mile round-trip hike to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain (elevation 4,009 ft.) has an amazing payoff with panoramic views of the canyon of Linville Gorge Wilderness Area - with the valley floor and Linville River 2,000 ft. below you…

Here are some photos and fun facts about the largest home in the United States. Biltmore House's size and architecture are absolutely amazing. Even after six years of construction by 1,000+ workers, the 250-room castle was not complete when…

Eastern hemlock trees are some of the largest and most common trees in the Great Smoky Mountains and the higher elevations along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Unfortunately, they are under attack from a non-native insect called the hemlock woolly…

Highland Brewing Company

For a taste of trailblazing Asheville beer, head to Highland Brewing Company. Highland Brewing Company was founded in 1994 by retired engineer, Oscar Wong. It was the first legal brewery in Asheville since…

Don't like to hike alone? Join a guided or group hike in the North Carolina mountains and meet fellow hikers that love the outdoors. Here are some places to find guided hikes near Asheville:

When the stock market crashed in 1929 leaving shattered lives and a fatigued economy throughout the United States, Asheville carried the heaviest burden of all. Yet like many American cities, Asheville celebrated a booming economy in the 1920s,…

Beautiful scenes from Asheville and the North Carolina mountains appear in many movies. The first movie shot in Asheville was in the 1920s. Titled "Conquest of Canaan," the movie was filmed in what is now Pack Square in downtown Asheville, and…

Whether you're a first-timer or experienced, horseback riding is a great way to enjoy the spectacular scenery in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains and the State and National Forests around Asheville, North Carolina. Here are our top…

NPR calls Asheville the "Napa Valley of Beer!" Our beer scene features an amazing selection of bars, brewpubs, micro craft breweries, and cideries. Sample hundreds of local brews from 50+ western North Carolina mountain breweries. Asheville, per…

From grabbing a hot cup of coffee to-go to sipping a warm beverage while daydreaming in a cafe to getting the perfect midday pick-me-up, Asheville coffee and tea shops have many options. Whether it’s downtown Asheville, West Asheville, the River…