About Western North Carolina

There’s something mystically compelling about North Carolina’s state motto, which is Esse Quam Videri, meaning To Be, Rather Than To Seem. Nowhere exemplifies this adage better than the majestic mountains of Western North Carolina—where the sheer beauty of the surroundings beckons you to stop, take a breath and be present in the moment.

People flock here from all parts of the world to enjoy this masterpiece of nature along with its seemingly endless recreational offerings and diverse creative community. Its cities and towns offer a wealth of art, culture, dining and entertainment.

For the adventurer, this area’s temperate climate allows you to engage in outdoor activities year-round. The Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National Forest and Great Smokey Mountains National Park extend countless invitations. Spring, summer and fall bring whitewater rafting and kayaking, fly fishing, golfing, camping, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and bird watching. During winter; skiing, ice-skating, snowboarding, tubing and snowmobiling are accessible through the area's half-dozen resorts.

For the music enthusiast, concerts abound, and nightclubs hum with a wide range of musical styles. The numerous theatres spread throughout the area feature everything from locally written plays to Broadway musicals – and hardly a week goes by without some sort of festival going on.

Dining out offers an abundance of culinary delights. Some establishments’ dishes are so elegantly presented, it’s not surprising to learn that your chef is a transplant from New York’s famed Le Cirque restaurant. Others tempt you with award winning French, Italian, Japanese, Continental or Vegan cuisine – and there’s always the Mom-and-Pop establishment known for its legendary lemon meringue pie.

Western North Carolina is teeming with art galleries and museums. In Asheville, many are within walking distance of each other, and Asheville, Hendersonville, Waynesville and Brevard are among the WNC towns that have monthly "art crawls.”
The multi-faceted geography of these mountains, which are considered to be the oldest range on the planet, allows you to feel far away from it all (even when you’re not.) Maybe you can even find a spot for a cozy afternoon picnic next to one of North Carolina’s 200-plus scenic waterfalls.

Four distinctly beautiful seasons supply an ever-changing backdrop to daily living. Spring blossoms gracefully as a Japanese watercolor. Summer nights glow with fireflies dancing to a resounding orchestra of Katydids. Autumn looks as if God dropped His paint-box over the mountains and left the resulting splashes of color for everyone to enjoy. Winter has its own special charms; whether it’s brilliant sunshine one day, a thunderstorm the next, or snowflakes as big as quarters spreading a quiet blanket of white for your enjoyment.

Whether you’re flying in from across the country or making a quick grocery run for your morning coffee, well maintained roads and freeways, along with the proximity to private, municipal and international airports makes traveling to and around Western North Carolina easy and convenient.