Travel Guide to the Mountains of North Carolina

With a rugged terrain that straddles the eastern continental divide at 4,000 feet above sea level, the Blue Ridge Mountains of northwest North Carolina includes unparalleled natural wonders and endless attractions. This is where you’ll discover the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests and the spectacular Blue Ridge Parkway (“America’s Favorite Drive,”) which winds its’ way along 469 miles of scenic highway through the southern Appalachian Mountains. Spring, summer, fall and winter – each season in North Carolina’s northwest mountains offers its’ own unique beauty and myriad opportunities for family vacations and romantic adventures. The small towns and villages of this area are steeped in local tradition and strong family ties. The first inhabitants in northwest North Carolina were the Cherokee Indians and the first white settlers arrived around 1825. By the early 1900s, many people began building summer homes in the area, and today this beautiful mountainous region is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country. You’ll find plenty of summertime attractions with many championship golf courses in the area, camping, hiking, world-class fly-fishing, white water rafting, horseback riding, swimming and numerous other outdoor activities. There are 17 ski resorts in the region and western North Carolina has become one of the premier vacation destinations for winter sports in the south. After the snow melts in late spring, the mountains explode in a kaleidoscope of color with blooming wildflowers, mountain laurel and wild rhododendrons. Spring also marks the beginning of trout season in western North Carolina in the region’s many crystal clear brooks and streams. Autumn arrives early in the mountains (usually by the first week of October,) and is a wonderful time for a vacation, when you can drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and soak in all the brilliant colors of fall (don’t forget your camera!)