It is often said that there are two types of Southerners—those who head to the beach when the weather heats up, and those who escape to the mountains. If you count yourself in the latter group, here’s a little-known fact to inspire wanderlust: Haywood County, North Carolina, boasts the highest average elevation of any county east of the Mississippi. Even better? It’s a scenic destination year-round, with farm-to-table dining, charming local boutiques, and welcoming art galleries that complement the vibrant landscape.
Come spring, the mountains explode with a bold quilt of wildflowers. In summer, adventurers ascend twenty-five mountain peaks cresting more than 6,000 feet—and reward themselves with well-earned sips at area breweries. Autumn drapes the Blue Ridge Parkway in fiery foliage—time your visit right and you’ll catch the Apple Harvest Festival or the toe-tapping Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival—while winter wraps the scenery in a cozy embrace with skiing at Cataloochee, snow tubing at Tube World, and crowd-free hikes through the frosty forest. Ready to set your vacation sights higher?
