Enjoy Banner Elk's beautifully landscaped parks (right) and the annual Wooly Worm Festival (Oct 19-20).
Boone's Appalachian State University (1899) is the town's heart & soul, but there's plenty of nightlife, too.
At left, visitor contemplates the serene beauty of Lake Lure from atop Chimney Rock.
The quaint town of Blowing Rock is named for a legendary mountain outcropping with a nearly constant updraft (left), and the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park offers a glimpse into the Gilded Age, mountain style.
Countless natural lakes, rivers and fresh mountain air invigorate the senses in what many call their favorite season.
Fred's Mercantile is a must-visit atop Beech Mountain. Come for breakfast or lunch, shop for groceries, hardware, and mountain knick-knacks.
Can you spot the snoozing grandad of Grandfather Mountain?
The Tweetsie Railroad theme park offers rides aboard 100-year-old trains, and seasonal programs.
