Fishing in western NC © North Carolina Department of Commerce

The magnificent North Carolina mountains in the west of the state are an outdoor enthusiast's paradise with hiking and biking trails through miles of national parks and forests, grand landscapes and beautiful mountain roadways, and attractive towns that are the perfect base for exploring the area. Natural attractions and outdoor activities abound.

One of the best ways to see the area is to drive along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, which snakes its way along the spine of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains from Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The national park is the most visited in the state and offers a variety of walking trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail that traverses the park on its way from Georgia to Maine. The Blue Ridge Parkway also leads to the holistic centre of Asheville where the Biltmore Estate and Winery, an enormous chateau-styled mansion built for the incredibly rich Vanderbilt family, is located.

Other natural attractions include the highest mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, the Grandfather Mountain, with its Mile High Swinging Bridge, and the natural granite tower of Chimney Rock. The mighty waterfall, sheer cliffs and unusual rock formations are the famous site of filming of the final scenes of 'The Last of the Mohicans'. The Nantahala River Gorge is home to one of the most popular whitewater rafting and kayaking destinations in the country with rapids to suit beginners and experts alike.