The Pisgah National Forest is one of four national forests in North Carolina and occupies most of the eastern edge of the Western North Carolina area. (The other is the Nantahala National Forest that is in the western mountains.) More than half a million acres of land have been set aside; some of as wilderness. Pisgah is a favorite for...

Forget roller coasters. If you are looking for a thrill on wheels, this is the place for you. Tail of the Dragon is an 11-mile stretch of road along US 129 in Western North Carolina. What’s so special about it, besides the scenery, is that within that 11-mile stretch are 318 curves. Hence the name! It’s a dream road for...

The Swannanoa Museum & History Center is very clear about its mission as a local museum that serves the western North Carolina community as Buncombe County’s primary museum of general, local history. But there is also an appeal for the visitor as well. This is a real people’s museum about real people … the people of Black Mountain and the Swannanoa...

Highlands is a delightful town in the foothills between Cashiers and Franklin on the scenic Highway 64 that winds through the Pisgah Forest. For decades it was forgotten, except as a stop for travelers coming up through Georgia, but now it is coming into its own as a tourist destination with heavy emphasis on the nearby outdoor beauty of the...