Three years after a devastating fall from the side of a mountain in the rocky wilderness of Linville Gorge, an avid hiker returned to the scene to find acceptance and renewal.
Good Times at the Old Hampton Store
In an old trading post and gristmill near Grandfather Mountain, an artist has created a community of locals and tourists who come together over pulled pork and fried pickles, High Country cocktails, and traditional Appalachian art and music.
The Heart of Morganton
Merchants and their regulars in this Burke County town have banded together like family, uplifting and reinventing a community rich in nature, compassion, and creativity.
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.
Signs of Change
For 125 years, the North Carolina School for the Deaf has drawn generations of students from all over the state, evolving with the times. Now, as NCSD prepares to enter a new phase, it’s clear what the historic campus has always been for its community: a second home.
The Linville Look
The elegantly rustic bark shingles that give this mountain town its character are as fashionable today as they were more than a century ago when a famous architect introduced them.
Where Cabbage Is King
A staple crop of Watauga County for generations, the glorious green cabbage remains a savory symbol of old mountain ways and comforting suppers. Plus, it might just cure what ails you.
Our Native Grape: A Guide to North Carolina’s Muscadine Wineries
A true Southerner, the muscadine is both sweet and tough — a resilient survivor in our hot, humid climate. Much like the winemakers who grow it, the story of our native grape is deeply rooted in the landscape of our state.
Hollywood Meets Hickory
When two movie buffs started a film society at their local theater, they discovered a community of cinephiles waiting in the wings. Now, their international film festival has created new fans of this charming foothills town.