A Guide to North Carolina Mountain Vacations

The mountains in western North Carolina are amongregion.
the most beautiful in the entire United States. ThreeThe Appalachian Trail is a footpath that stretches over
mountain ranges -- the Great Smoky Mountains, the2000 miles from northern Georgia all the way to
Appalachian Mountains, and the Blue Ridge Mountainscentral Maine. This beautiful trail winds through some of
-- converge in North Carolina, giving the area a charmthe most stunning parts of the mountains in North
unsurpassed in the rest of the country. These threeCarolina. Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the trail,
mountain ranges provide the perfect backdrop for aprovides a breathtaking panoramic view of the
fun and adventurous North Carolina mountain vacation.surrounding area. On a clear day, visitors can see up
There are a wide variety of attractions in theto 100 miles away.
mountains of North Carolina. Visitors can go camping inNantahala National Forest encompasses many of the
the vast wilderness surrounding the mountains, stay inpeaks and valleys of the western North Carolina
an historic cabin not unlike the dwellings of the area'smountains. It includes the Tusquitee River. Another
early settlers, or stay in a modern, state of the artattraction of the Nantahala area is the river rafting.
resort. The Appalachian Trail, Nantahala NationalThere are difficult class II and III rapids along with
Forest, and the Western North Carolina Nature Centercalmer waters more agreeable to families.
are just a few of the exciting places to visit in this