Just off the beaten path, you’ll find mountain scenery, shops, adventures, and restaurants worthy of being the main attraction.
high country
5 Cool Mountain Towns to Explore this Summer
When you’re longing to escape the humidity, head to these charming High Country towns off the Blue Ridge Parkway for unforgettable adventures.
The Perfect Pitch
In the right tent, you can camp just about anywhere. For the Ramblin’ Family, a nylon palace was a home away from home and a shelter through gusty nights in the High Country.
High Country Bounty Hunter
Chef Andy Long puts Appalachia on the table (by way of Louisiana), and everyone — from locals to leaf peepers — is eating it up. But it’s the mountain community he’s found and fostered that makes his farmhouse restaurant feel like home.
The Happy Shack in West Jefferson
At a colorful, travel-inspired shop in the High Country, expect the unexpected.
Bog Turtles Have Reason to Smile in Wilkes County
They may be tiny, but these wee bog turtles are tough.
20 Best-Kept Secrets of the NC High Country
North Carolina's High Country — composed of six mountain counties — is such a well-known tourist destination you might think you've seen all there is to see there. But if you've spent any time in the area, you know it's more gravel road than beaten path. Here, we reveal twenty of the High Country's best-kept secrets to reintroduce you to a region you thought you already knew.
