Seeking a pocket of quiet in the mad dash leading up to Christmas, one family heads west and finds a rink they can skate away on.
highlands
Paradise at 4,500 Feet
High on Toxaway Mountain, one of the state’s best-kept secrets unfolds like a fairytale. Southern Highlands Reserve is a native plant arboretum, a research center, a living laboratory. Most of all, it’s a place of unparalleled beauty.
Skillet Cornbread
Fluffy and golden with crispy edges.
5 Mountain Meals Worthy of a Road Trip
Here, “eating local” isn’t a trend — Appalachian cooks have always made the most of the flavors that grow around them. Today, mountain chefs continue that hearty, homegrown legacy.
Making a Masterpiece
On a six-acre campus of renovated barns and an old covered bridge, The Bascom gives people from the rural western part of the state a chance to experience the awe of seeing fine art and the satisfaction of bringing their own creations to life.
Downtown: Highlands
A posh downtown and abundant natural beauty offer plenty of ways to relax and reset in this quiet mountain retreat.
Around Town: Highlands
Whether you fill up your shopping bag on Main Street or your backpack for outdoor adventures, this upscale mountain town is a welcoming escape.
Photo Essay: Giants of the Forest
A survey of the state’s old-growth forests from the mountains to the sea provides a glimpse into our presettlement — and primeval — past.
Bog Turtles Have Reason to Smile in Wilkes County
They may be tiny, but these wee bog turtles are tough.
