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| Appalachian Morning |
North Carolina school children learn that, geographically, the state is divided into three regions; Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Mountains. The division actually extends deeper than the lay of the land, for each area developed its own character to deal with its particular circumstances. So, while the coastal areas concentrated on farming, fishing and naval stores, the Piedmont developed towns and cities for commerce, the mountains became a backwater of timbering and subsistence farming.
Although the mountains are now considered more of a resource than a burden, the feeling of isolation still filters down, providing many visitors with a sense of peace and natural connection not typically associated with vacation resorts. That is what draws most visitors to North Carolina's mountains, the chance to engage outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, hang gliding, biking, and camping; and the opportunity to separate oneself a little, to imagine you're not quite a part of modern society.
The same natural factors that isolated the mountains in the past still influence how people go about seeing the region. For one thing, the area is vast. The Blue Ridge Parkway alone covers over 250 miles in North Carolina. It's simply impossible to see "everything" in a short trip. It's probably not even the right approach, for the area is more than a few marquee attractions, it's a state of mind. Many people spend successive trips exploring in detail various areas, and then maybe settle on a particular favorite place and return time after time.
We've only begun to reveal all that the area offers, most of the listings in this guide are favorites from the popular Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk region in the northern mountains. As always, we will continue to expand our coverage to other areas.
