are perfect for enjoying the lush green forests, sparkling lakes, majestic mountains, and charming towns of this fabulous destination. The lovely mountains of North Carolina are a year-round vacation paradise with colorful spring wildflowers, mild summer temperatures, fabulous fall foliage, and snow-capped mountains in the wintertime.

The North Carolina mountains are great for family vacations. In the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, visitors can enjoy a wealth of activities, from hiking, fishing, and whitewater rafting to golfing, visiting historical sites, and shopping for arts and crafts. In the winter months, guests of will find plenty of winter sports such as downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and ice skating.

North Carolina mountains national parks are one of the area's biggest attractions. America's most popular national park, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, boasts more than half a million acres of scenic terrain filled with an incredible diversity of plant and animal life. This national treasure, situated along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, encompasses mountain peaks, meadows and valleys, old-growth forests, clear mountain streams, and numerous waterfalls. The park boasts the highest mountains east of the Rockies with 16 peaks over 6,000 feet above sea level.

Vacationers staying in can tour the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by car, or go cycling, hiking, or horseback riding on 800 miles of trails. Anglers will find 700 miles of fishable streams in the park with catches such as brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout widely available. Other popular activities include picnicking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, and visiting some of the 80 historic structures located within the park.

Guests of can also hike on sections of the famous Appalachian Trail, a 2,175-mile long footpath that passes through North Carolina on its way from Maine to Georgia. This magnificent hiking trail, completed in 1937, is enjoyed by an estimated 4 million hikers annually. The trail is open year-round, but certain sections may be closed due to weather conditions. Access to hikers is free, but there are fees for some parking areas and overnight shelters. Call 304-535-6331 for maps and information.

For a spectacular view of the North Carolina Mountains, take a drive down the famed Blue Ridge Parkway that stretches for 469 miles from Waynesboro, Virginia to Asheville, North Carolina. Drivers will find entrances and exits at all major highways and there is no charge for driving on the parkway, which passes through the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Most picnic areas, restaurants, and visitor centers along the route are open from mid-May through October. Year-round facilities include the Folk Art Center at Milepost 384 in Asheville and the Museum of North Carolina Minerals at Milepost 331 near Spruce Pine.

Vacationers can take a scenic train ride in the North Carolina mountains aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which runs between Dillsboro and Bryson City. Prices start at $29 for adults and $14 for children and vary by season and route. Special trips include the Gourmet Dinner Train and the Mystery Theatre Dinner Train. Call 800-872-4681 for information.

Don't miss a visit to America's largest home, the magnificent Biltmore Estate. This 250-room mansion, situated just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, was built by George W. Vanderbilt in 1895. The French chateau-style home boasts four acres of floor space, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and is filled with thousands of antiques and artworks original to the house. Vacationers staying in can tour the house, explore the extensive gardens, sample the wines at the estate winery, browse the gift shops, and enjoy hiking, cycling, horseback riding, or rafting on 8,000 acres of scenic grounds.

The Biltmore Estate is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from January to March and 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from April to December. Special events include the Festival of Flowers in April, the Harvest Home Celebration in September and October, and the Christmas celebration in November and December. Admission prices vary by season and start at about $25 for adults, $19 for children aged 10-16, and no charge for children under 10. Special tours are available for an additional fee. Just outside the gates of the Biltmore Estate is the historic Biltmore Village, built in the late 1890's in the English style and now housing shops, galleries, and restaurants.

In the North Carolina mountains, shopping for traditional arts and crafts is always a pleasure. Numerous galleries and folk art centers showcase pottery, textiles, paintings, musical instruments, metal work, jewelry, and wood carvings. Check out the Folk Art Center in Asheville or pick up a copy of the "Craft Heritage Trails of Western North Carolina" brochure and visit local artist studios. Gift shops abound in the mountain towns of North Carolina and outlet centers such as the Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway in Blowing Rock offer bargains on clothing and home furnishings.

North Carolina mountains restaurants serve up everything from casual fare to fine cuisine. Performing arts options include live theatre, music festivals, and opera. In Cherokee, the long-running outdoor drama "Uto These Hills" portrays the history of the Eastern Bank of Cherokee Indians.

Other North Carolina Mountains attractions include the Oconaluftee Indian Village on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, Linville Caverns in Marion, the famous Mile-High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain, the Wheels Through Time motorcycle and car museum in Maggie Valley, and the Tweetsie Railroad theme park in Blowing Rock.

make the perfect home base for enjoying popular vacation spots in the North Carolina Mountains such as Asheville, Bryson City, Cashiers, Lake Santeetlah, Lakes Fontana, Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Murphy and Andrews. And with , you can even bring along your four-legged friends!

North Carolina Mountains Attractions