Photo by Rebecca McKenna on Unsplash
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 22, 2026
At a Glance
Western North Carolina has eight distinct rivers worth floating, from the family-flat upper French Broad near Rosman to the Class III finale at Nantahala Falls. This guide covers …
Photo by Nhom Nhom Duong on Unsplash
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 21, 2026
The Blue Ridge Parkway opened its campgrounds, picnic areas, and visitor centers for the 2026 season this Memorial Day Weekend. If you haven't been on the Parkway since Tropical Storm Helene came …
View MoreBy Jon Tharp, Broker · May 20, 2026
At a Glance
Western North Carolina hosts four of the most celebrated driving roads in North America: the Tail of the Dragon's 318 curves in 11 miles, the Cherohala Skyway's 43 miles of high-altitude scenery, NC 209 (The Rattler) from Lake …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 20, 2026
If you haven't spent time fishing in Highlands, you're missing one of the better-kept secrets in Western North Carolina.
The area around Highlands sits at …
View MoreBy Jon Tharp, Broker · May 20, 2026
At a Glance
Western North Carolina is home to some of the best natural swimming holes in the South, fed by cold mountain streams that stay refreshing even in the heat of August. This guide covers both the famous spots that …
Photo by Hunter Brumels on Unsplash
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 10, 2026
At a Glance
The West Fork Pigeon River flows through Haywood County in …
The pump track going into Swannanoa this fall won't just be the largest in North Carolina. It will be the largest in the Americas. That detail alone tells you something has shifted in a community that spent two decades watching a former blanket mill sit empty, flood, …
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