Features
Area ski slopes
Ski season in the Southern Appalachians is an exciting time, and in this region in particular that’s because of Cataloochee Ski Area. The Maggie Valley ski resort is usually one of the first in North Carolina to open among the last to close, thanks to its incredible snowmaking ability and the cooperation of Mother Nature. Cataloochee is always increasing its snowmaking capacity and opened two new trails over the last couple of years.
Check Cataloochee’s Web site for opening day information or pick up the weekly Smoky Mountain News for information on current conditions.
Black bears an object of early tourists’ affections
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has long been synonymous with black bears. From the first automobile tourists to today’s long-distance backpackers, catching a glimpse of the iconic animal is the ultimate Smokies’ experience.
The North Carolina Arboretum: Asheville’s botanical gardens pay tribute to Southern Appalachia
Whether it’s a meadow covered in spring wildflowers, a forest teeming with colorful blooms of the rhododendron, or a grove of towering hemlocks, the Smoky Mountain landscape is defined by an incredible array of plant life.
Taking aim: Disc golfing takes flight in WNC
It’s lunch hour in Waynesville, and a man who at first appears to another greenway walker whips a Frisbee from his shoulder bag and eyes the horizon with the stealth of a hunter before sending the disc soaring.
There’s no one on the receiving end to catch his Frisbee, however. Instead, it ricochets off a tree, lands on its edge and rolls off through the grass.
Anglers hooked on the nation’s only fly fishing trail
Fly anglers can visit a lot of places in the United States, but there’s only one place they can go to fish a designated fly fishing trail.
The Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail in Jackson County is in its second year of providing 15 prime spots to catch trout in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Get outside and learn something new
A huge variety of outdoor programs and exhibits give visitors the chance to get up close and personal with the nature and beauty that define the mountains. While looking at the views can easily fill the hours, the interaction with the natural world
Moto-vational literature
More and more, Western North Carolina is becoming a haven for motorcyclists looking for great places to ride. The mountains have an endless supply of winding roads with elevation changes that are sought by bikers. Here are a couple of books about riding in the region and a couple of rides
