Jason Frye - Moon Blue Ridge & Smoky Mountains

Linn Cove Viaduct

The mountains here are aptly named. In the Smokies, mist rises in the morning and evening, resembling the smoke from cook fires and chimneys, and it lifts to reveal coves and hidden hollows. Along the Blue Ridge, from the tallest peak to the lowest gap, the mountains appear to grow blue with distance. Wildflowers blanket high mountain meadows, and rhododendron, mountain laurel, and flame azalea compose wild, fragrant thickets along roadsides and trails.

The Blue Ridge Parkway traces a path along the ridges of this storied Appalachian range, offering visitors a glimpse of the scenery. Stop the car to stretch your legs on a trail or admire the view and youll find yourself drawn into the landscape. Talk to someone who lives here and youll find yourself immersed in the place.

The music of the mountains is everywhere: spring peepers, cicadas, birds, streams and waterfalls, and the bugling call of elk make up the natural soundscape. Though the front-porch jam session is long gone from all but a few places here, those high harmoniesthe twang of a banjo string, the strum of a guitarare still heard in concert halls and on street corners throughout the region.

lambs on the Biltmore Estate

Blue Ridge Parkway overlook

Cades Cove

Theres a photo in my home (a tintype actually) of my parents and me in the Smoky Mountains. Its from my first trip, one I can only remember because of this tintype. In it, we are dressed in old-timey garb, as if wed stepped out of the mountains 150 years ago. I like to think that, aside from cars and smartphones, not much has changed since those times. The mountains remain lush and wild; the people friendly and open; the culture strong. And when you find yourself surrounded by forest, the mist rising from some far-off cove, the mountains blue in the distance, youll be changed.

Hickory Nut Falls in Chimney Rock State Park

downtown Asheville.

old cabin on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Where to Go

North Carolina High Country

The North Carolina High Country is all about the mountains. The peaks here are snowy and skiable in winter, rife with hiking trails and rock-climbing routes in spring and summer, and positively stunning in fall. The peak of Grandfather Mountain looms high over the Blue Ridge Parkway, and places like Blowing Rock, a stunning outcrop where snow falls upside down, add to the magic of the region. The spectacular Linn Cove Viaduct, which seems to float above the mountainside, is part of the commute, and countless waterfalls are just a short hike away. Friendly foothills towns like Mount Airy and Wilkesboro are rich with mountain music, while nearby college town Boone is progressive and eclectic.

Asheville Area

Located between the Blue Ridge and Smokies, with easy access to the mountains, Asheville is home to the lauded Biltmore Estate and some of the best restaurants in the South. Filled with galleries, boutiques, and the general weirdness you expect from bigger cities, Asheville boasts artistic wealth and deep creative passions.

the Biltmore Estate

Southern Blue Ridge and Foothills

Between Asheville and Cherokee is the highest and most crooked part of the Parkway. Here, the mountains are tall and steep, making for dramatic views from hikes and overlooks. Small, appealing towns like Dillsboro, Waynesville, and Sylva are rich with history and culture.

Cherokee and Maggie Valley

Cherokee, where the Blue Ridge Parkway ends, is the ancestral home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, who celebrate their history and culture, past and present, on the Qualla Boundary. Visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village to immerse yourself in the daily life of a Cherokee village. In the small towns throughout this region, youll find the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, outdoor recreation from hiking to fly-fishing, and charming small towns that may just have you rethinking city life.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Straddling North Carolinas border with Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country. The scenery and wildlife are incredible: rounded peaks and jagged mountaintops, crystal-clear trout streams and white-water rivers, elk and bear, and morning mist and evening firefly shows all delight millions of visitors every year. Crisscrossed by more than