Western NC Visitor Center

Tourist & Relocation Information Guide

Join Us in a journey across our incredible city and learn what travelers discover every day: That no other place offers the natural beauty and unique experiences of Western North Carolina.

Come to our mountains, where we will reveal to you a botanical paradise. You will see 43 mountain peaks that reach 6000 feet, including Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern United States. You will find breathtaking valleys and the powerful rivers that rush through them. Hike or bike the miles of trails and discover cascading falls in the many state and national parks that nestle among them. Planning your visit to our majestic mountain ranges has never been easier.

With so much to experience in Western North Carolina, we are sure that we will be welcoming you back.

Western North Carolina (often abbreviated as WNC) is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains, thus it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It is sometimes included with upstate South Carolina as the "Western Carolinas", which is also counted as a single media market.

The term Land of the Sky (or Land-of-Sky) is a common nickname for this mountainous region and has been more recently adopted to refer to the Asheville area. The term is derived from the title of the book, Land of the Sky, written by Mrs. Frances Tiernan, under the pseudonym Christian Reid. The book often mentions the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains, the two main ranges that comprise Western North Carolina. The Asheville area regional government body, the Land-of-Sky Regional Council, utilizes the nickname.

Located east of the Tennessee state line and west of the Piedmont, Western North Carolina contains very few major urban centers. Asheville, North Carolina, located in the region's center, is the area's largest city and most prominent commercial hub. The Foothills region of the state is loosely defined as the area along Western North Carolina's eastern boundary; this region is comprised of a transitional terrain of gentle hills between the Appalachians and the Piedmont Plateau. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have a reservation situated in the Western North Carolina region, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

High Country

The northern counties in Western North Carolina are commonly known as the state's High Country. Centered around Boone, the High Country boasts the area's most popular ski resorts, including Ski Beech, Appalachian Ski Mountain, and Sugar Mountain The area also features many attractions, historical sites, and geological formations such as Stone Mountain State Park, Linville Caverns, Grandfather Mountain, Blowing Rock, Tweetsie Railroad, Glendale Springs Inn, Shatley Springs, and Mystery Hill. Education, skiing tourism, and Christmas tree farming are among this area's most prominent industries, although agriculture and raising livestock also remain important.

Tennessee Valley

The westernmost part of Western North Carolina is part of the Tennessee Valley. In this area, there are a few hydroletric projects as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority, including Fontana Dam.

Foothills

The Foothills is a region of transistional terrain between the Piedmont Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains. Cities and towns like Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Forest City, Rutherfordton, and Spindale have branded the Foothills title to their section of the state.