The October 2023 Issue

Locals in this Catawba County community have built a lively downtown using the resources and small-town pride instilled by former generations.

For a purist, nothing but a wood fire will do — even if it means converting a gas fireplace and performing minor house surgery along the way.

For decades, a Polk County inn embodied 20th-century luxury and hospitality. After years of renovations by its current owners, it’s a timeless place to stay once more.

A Pender County couple has created a forest of living sculptures using their signature bonsai-style pruning.

A longtime Chatham County bookseller shares his affinity for suspenseful plots so that readers can experience the thrill of answering a mystery novel’s key question: Whodunit?

Check out these four books — written by North Carolina authors and selected by mystery aficionado Pete Mock — for a month of nonstop thrills.

In North Carolina, apples are our sweet and tart stars of autumn.

Anglers come from all around to fish the cold, clear waters of the Great Smoky Mountains, where trout is the prize.

A restaurant owner in Graham County extends a warm welcome to locals, motorcyclists, and leaf peepers who stop in to enjoy a meal while exploring the Smokies.

From family apple orchards to vast fields of corn and sorghum cane to wild persimmon trees scattered across our hillsides: In the North Carolina mountains, delicious gifts abound.

Even when it wasn’t Halloween, the late founder of this magazine put the “trick” in trick or treat.

Relics of life in early 20th-century Henderson County were hidden in plain sight. Uncovered by a local chef, they’re now on display at Shine, the restaurant that he and his family built in their hometown.

Although dwarfed by their thundering cousins, small-scale falls hold their own special magic. It might take some extra legwork to find one, tucked among the rugged peaks of the High Country, but stumbling upon an elfin cascade is an enchanting reward.

In a land that has remained mostly unchanged for thousands of years, Cherokee culture continues to evolve. With renewed energy, citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are shaping their own narrative.

Each month, we’re celebrating North Carolina’s official Year of the Trail by exploring amazing places to hike, bike, walk, and play across the state.

It may seem counterintuitive in this land of sweeping views and soaring peaks, but to fully appreciate the wonder and diversity of the Great Smoky Mountains, follow the advice of three naturalists who have returned to the area again and again: Look down.

A couple shares their experiences with Smoky Mountain black bears so others will know how to react if they have a close encounter of the ursine kind.

In the early 1900s, a self-made businessman fell in love with Graham County and spared no expense in building an extravagant hunting preserve there. A century later, his granddaughter visits to find that all that’s left of his Hooper Bald dream is local lore — and wild boar.

A renowned fishing guide in Robbinsville knows just where to find the Smokies’ favorite catch.

Ready to cast a line? Whether you’re an experienced angler or have never fished before, these fly shops offer something that everyone can appreciate: a good time on the water.

A trip to the Smokies is incomplete without a taste of the region’s iconic fish. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert angler to land a local trout: Three chefs bring the pride of our mountain waters straight to your plate.

Churches have played many roles in western North Carolina. During the week, they once drew children from miles around to attend school. On Saturdays, they became community centers for potlucks and dances. And on Sundays, parishioners still gather to worship, answering the call of the church bell’s peal.

In the early 20th century, a Japanese photographer and his writer friend traversed the rugged terrain north of Cherokee, mapping its peaks and valleys, documenting its beauty. In the process, they helped save the land we now know as Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Every Saturday night from May to October, in a cavernous hall in Maggie Valley, cloggers celebrate North Carolina’s official state folk dance — and, in the process, preserve a treasured tradition.

Every fall, motorcyclists descend on Maggie Valley for the stunning colors, twisting roads, and a visit to a mecca for bikers and history buffs alike: Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum.

Take a trip to this far-west corner of North Carolina and use our county-by-county guide to fill your itinerary with mile-high overlooks and cozy lodges, rushing rivers and waterfalls, favorite shops and restaurants, and thrilling mountain adventures.

This ever-growing hub has evolved into a place to shop, eat, and gather.