Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

By Andrew Stratton

Western North Carolina has been a vacation destination for over a century. Tourism in the area is a booming business as is the local real estate market. By simply exploring the area for yourself, you can easily see why! Whether you enjoy antique shopping, hiking, fishing, or historic sites, the area has something to offer for everyone. Whether you are looking for a place to relocate or simply vacation, the Western N.C. area is just the place you have been looking for.

Western North Carolina is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area is loaded with a variety of attractions which range from national parks to historic sites. If you prefer the outdoors there are plenty of places to hike, fish and camp. If you prefer indoor activities there are plenty of shops, art galleries, and historic places you can visit. The area has an abundance of things for you to do and see.

Some of the best places to visit in the Western North Carolina area are listed below:

Downtown Asheville: Downtown Asheville is known for its vibrant art and music scene. You can spend some time people watching while you enjoy a local coffee shop, take in a local music club, eat at a variety of restaurants, go on an art walk to visit the city’s 30+ galleries, or you can simply walk around and shop in the quaint shops which line the downtown streets.

Historic Downtown Hendersonville: Historic Downtown Hendersonville is known for both the North Carolina Apple Festival, celebrated each year over the Labor Day weekend, and The Mineral & Lapidary Museum of Henderson County.

Connemara: Connemara is a National Historic Site and the home of famous American Poet, Carl Sandburg. Tours of the home area available and you are able to roam around the 5-acre property at your leisure.

Flat Rock Playhouse: The Flat Rock Playhouse is The State Theatre of North Carolina and has been in existence for over 70 years. Here you can catch the latest production.

The North Carolina Arboretum: The North Carolina Arboretum is a 434-acre site with a focus on education, economic development, research, conservation and garden demonstrations with respect to landscape design, architecture, and plant sciences. The site has 1.8 miles of Bent Creek running through it. The Arboretum offers classes and nature walks for visitors of all ages and abilities.

The Biltmore Estate: The Vanderbilt Family Biltmore Estate is located in Asheville, N.C. and offers its visitors tours of the Biltmore House, the Biltmore Gardens, the River Bend Farm, an award-winning winery, shops, restaurants, and an amazing 8,000-acre backyard where you can play and explore.

The Blue Ridge Parkway: The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most popular parts of the National Park System. Known as “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Parkway is 469 miles of highway which travels through some of the most scenic mountains and vistas in the United States.

Pisgah National Forest: The Pisgah National Forest contains some of the most beautiful scenery of the Western North Carolina area. From meadows to rugged mountains there is a view for everyone to enjoy. Camping in the Pisgah National Forest is plentiful as is hiking and fishing.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in the United States. It offers you camping, fishing, horseback riding and miles upon miles of hiking trails.

As you can see, the Western North Carolina area has something to offer for everyone.

The Western North Carolina area has an attraction to everyone. If you are relocating or buying a vacation home in this Blue Ridge Mountains area, please visit Preferred Real Estate Center at www.preferredrealestatecenter.com. Our experienced Asheville, NC real estate agents have a detailed knowledge of the area to guide you in your search.

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By Andrew Regan

Situated on the South Eastern Atlantic Seaboard, North Carolina is a geographically diverse state with mountains up to 6000 feet in the west, 4000 miles of rugged coastline in the east, and the beautiful rolling hills of the Piedmont region in between.

Winter sport fans will find ample opportunities for skiing and snowboarding in any one of the eight ski resorts in North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains, which offer the highest peaks east of the Mississippi and harbor some of the lowest winter temperatures in the region. Come summer, the same mountains offer fantastic hiking opportunities through lush forests, with cascading waterfalls and stunning vistas to enjoy. Keen fishermen can take advantage of North Carolina’s many lakes, rivers and streams in which three species of trout can be found; and the 4000 miles of coastline also offer sea fishing for king mackerel, striped bass and trigger fish. For adrenaline junkies, North Carolina offers white water rafting, caving, mountain biking, surfing and scuba-diving amongst sunken shipwrecks. Motor bikers will also enjoy the long, quiet winding roads, with their sweeping curves and mountain top views.

Nature enthusiasts can look forward to the vast amounts of untouched scenery found in the state’s various national parks, which offer hiking and horse riding trails of varying lengths and difficulties, from short, flat woodland strolls to challenging mountain hikes. Be on the look out for North Carolina’s wildlife which includes a number of rare and endangered species such as the Finback Whale, Red Wolf, Eastern Cougar and West Indian Manatee. And if you’re visiting one of the bigger cities in North Carolina, such as Charlotte, you’ll find various botanical parks and gardens to visit.

Anyone who’s interested in exploring the state’s culinary offerings will find miles of wine growing regions to visit, hundreds of small farms producing organically grown foods and many restaurants specializing in local dishes made with regional produce.

Art and culture are also alive and well in North Carolina, with plenty of opportunities to watch live theatre, dance, music and visual art. The city of Charlotte, for example, is well known for its array of museums, galleries and arts venues. The Charlotte Museum of History, the Carolinas Aviation Museum and the Levine Museum of the New South are just a few of the countless sites of cultural interest in the city. You’ll also find annual festivals which celebrate this diverse culture, which is heavily influenced by the Native American Cherokees, Bluegrass music and African American history - and there are even defined trails that allow you to absorb North Carolina’s heritage at your own pace.

If you’re planning a trip to North Carolina, there are plenty of options for accommodation in Charlotte and throughout the state. With its unusual terrain, unscripted landscape and stunning cities, North Carolina makes a great vacation destination for anyone who loves culture and the great outdoors.

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance journalist.

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