Experience the living heritage of arts and crafts in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Explore the Blue Ridge Craft Trail to find local, handmade artwork in galleries and studios across the region, including work by Cherokee artists. Or follow the Appalachian Mural Trail to learn about the history and culture of the region as told through public art.

Celebrate the timeless tradition of gingerbread houses at Omni Grove Park Inn. For over three decades, The National Gingerbread House Competition has filled the resort with holiday magic. The creative and edible creations remain on display for several weeks between mid-November and the beginning of January and have been featured on news programs across the country.

Learn about the flora and fauna of North Carolina. Stroll the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, a half-mile trail meandering through gardens that feature over six hundred species of Appalachian plants. Or tour the Western North Carolina Nature Center, a zoo specializing in the wildlife of the Appalachian region.