Find yourself surrounded by birdcalls and wildflowers as you welcome the season with a walk in the woods — through old-growth forests, along mountain summits, and past clear, cold creeks.
Appalachian
A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala
Celebrate the season in this mountain town — no matter what time of year you visit.
In Search of Fall Color in the Blue Ridge Mountains
An Appalachian State University professor explores the mountains to find the telltale shades of autumn. Then he shares on social media the best places to find the most color in nature.
Written in Stone: North Carolina’s Rock Formations
According to Cherokee legend, when the Earth was created, the Great Buzzard flew low over the flat land, his beating wings sculpting mountains and valleys below. Today, science offers its own explanations for our state’s geological marvels.
Our State Knows Best: Leaf Peeping
We talked to three biologists about how and when to plan a trip to see peak fall color in North Carolina, their favorite hikes and overlooks, and why our mountains are one of the best places in the country to see stunning autumn leaves.
NC Icons: Mountain Primer
Find out what makes our ancient Appalachian Mountains so magnificent in this primer on our peaks.
The Joys of West Jefferson
In this artsy Ashe County town, discover dozens of colorful murals and local galleries, try famous “squeaky cheese,” float down the New River, and more.
Queen of the Pawpaws
Native to all 100 counties in North Carolina, this odd fruit had been all but forgotten. A farmer in Watauga County intends to change that.
Our State Knows Best: Hiking
Find out what three hiking experts have to say about hitting the trail, the gear they’d never leave behind, and North Carolina’s must-do mountain treks with stunning views.
