The Western North Carolina Great Smoky Mountains are filled with Appalachian culture, fascinating history, and breathtaking natural beauty. Home to a wide variety of plants and animals, with hiking trails, waterfalls, and plenty of places to explore, this entire region [...]
Updated for 2022 Picture it now: You’re settling into your comfortable seat in a historic train car, and the whistle blows, echoing out across the mountains. You feel the engine hum to life and gaze out of the train’s wide [...]
Handmade arts and crafts are some of the best preservers of local history. Art influences the way we see and appreciate the culture around us. And artisans have an innate ability to not only encapsulate a piece of history in [...]
Located next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Western North Carolina sits the ancestral homelands of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians Nation. Known as the Qualla Boundary, these 57,000 acres are home to approximately 9,000 members [...]
Discover the rich tradition of Appalachian foraging right outside Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley, NC. Whether you’re a seasoned wild food enthusiast or a beginner seeking edible wild plants in North Carolina, these easy‑to‑find species offer delicious flavors, health benefits, [...]
Looking for a refreshing place to cool off this summer? Discover fresh air and freedom with the sights and sounds of a Smoky Mountain waterfall. From the higher elevation falls to hidden splashes tucked into the old growth forests of [...]
One of the best parts of exploring a new destination – or even an old favorite – is immersing yourself in the local food culture. And nowhere is that truer than the Smoky Mountains around Maggie Valley. These ancient mountains [...]