The Five Things You Must Do on a Trip To Western North Carolina

Try these can’t miss options when traveling to the “other” side of the Smokies

I spend some time kicking around analogies for the East Tennessee – Western North Carolina tourism relationship. I noodled around the idea of a “Beaches” reference, the Bette Midler vehicle famous chiefly for launching the “Wind Beneath my Wings.” But I don’t think the idea that Western North Carolina lives in East Tennessee’s shadow when it comes to tourism is quite right.

Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina share many traits but also several significant differences – both on the tourism front and in many aspects of mountain culture. Both sides of the Smokies share natural wonders that are astonishingly breathtaking. They have historic sites, amazing artists conclaves and mountain lore. They have so much in common but somehow – if you take the time to get to know them – are polar opposites in many ways.

I came to the Taoist ideal of Yin and Yang, the idea of two halves of a greater whole that are some how complementary and opposing of each other. I don’t know if that’s exactly right – turns out I am NOT an expert in Taoism – but I think it’s close enough.

But it is interesting the way the larger whole of the Smokies is home to the bright, gaudy and sometimes overwhelming amazingness that is Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge but at the same time home to the quirkier, quieter, and less commercially focused places like Hendersonville and Asheville and beyond.

Five things to do in the mountains of Western North Carolina

Biltmore Estate

America’s answer to the Palace of Versailles – I don’t mean the one in Northern Kentucky. Biltmore is a monument to the possibilities of massive generational wealth. It is grand and ostentatious and was built by the grandson of one of America’s early robber barons.

Old Cornelius Vanderbilt built his empire with ferry boats – which is how he earned the Commodore nickname – and later shipping and rail. His grandson George was the visionary who acquired 125,000 acres of North Carolina wilderness on which he had Biltmore constructed. Biltmore was ultimately the chief life’s occupation for George – who as the youngest never dealt much with that family business.

The result was the magnificent Châteauesque-style mansion and grounds that evolved into a complex. Today, there are working farms and dairy and hotels and little shopping villages and the like. As the family fortune eventually dwindled, Biltmore became one of the premier destinations in the American East.

Why do I like Biltmore? It is exceedingly beautiful in ways I can’t fully articulate. I could spend days among the flowers in its manicured gardens. Weeks could be spent just wandering the rooms, thumbing through books in the library and exploring the hidden servants’ passages. I am not an elaborate or ostentatious man. I’ve never really invested in spending what money I’ve made on life’s finer things. But I am fascinated by them.

But it’s also exceedingly weird. The swimming pool room is the stuff of nightmares. It has also launched a thousand less-than-half-baked internet conspiracies that run the gamut of secret mason enclave to aliens to whatever new red-pilled weird thing is popular right now.

Having been to some of the historic sites in Europe, Biltmore certainly carries the intended vibe, feeling like the extension of royalty into the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Let’s put it simply. If you’re on vacation and you have the opportunity to experience something that is beautiful and ostentatious and incredibly weird, you should probably do it just on general principle.

Elk viewing in Cherokee

It’s been roughly 25 years since they reintroduced elk to the Smokies. But it still shocks me whenever I see one. Part of that, I’m sure, is I live on the Tennessee side of the Smokies. We do have elk in Tennessee now. However a siting is pretty rare unless you live over near LaFollette near the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area.

The only times in my life I’ve seen wild elk were on the North Carolina side of the mountains. But the other part? I don’t know if it’s part of human nature or just a me thing. But there weren’t any elk in the mountains when I was young. They’d been gone for generations. Then, somebody decided to run it back and all of a sudden, we had elk again for the first time.

I’ve seen all manner of wild things in the mountains. So, I am pretty used to see the usuals, deer, bears, and turkeys – but an elk sighting still somehow feels exotic and new. I like it so much that I would be for bringing other animals back to the Smokies. Or giving some animals that were never here a shot.

How about Moose? You ever see those videos of a moose just walking down the road somewhere in Candida or Alaska? And they’re so big you could drive a Volvo under them? I’d take a few dozen moose down here if we could get them.

Or Wooly Mammoths? I think some scientists in Russia are bringing back the Wooly Mammoth Jurassic Park style. Can we get a few of those? We could really kick some life into the drive around Cades Cove.

Anyway, back to the Elk. The best places to see Elk – in my experience – have been near the Oconaluftee Visitors Center near the Cherokee entrance to the National Park and on the train rides out of Bryson City.

And while I was joking – mostly – about the moose and the Wooly Mammoth, I’m not kidding about the Elk. Seeing these creatures returned to the tall grass of a mountain meadow is a breath-taking, awe-inspiring experience.

Downtown Hendersonville

We like to go to Hendersonville for the apple-picking and the agribusiness. However, it should be noted that Downtown Hendersonville is thriving, throwback to yesteryear filled with interesting shops, artists groups and culinary experiences.

We’ve been going to an Italian spot there called Mezzaluna for more than a decade. We’ve had nothing but excellent experiences there. If you’re looking to expand your options, the nearby town of Flat Rock has some interesting historic sites – including the Carl Sandberg Home.

If you’re looking for other dining options, the Haus Heidelberg German Restaurant is fantastic. It stands out in a region that doesn’t offer a lot of Bavarian dining options.

Also consider Great American Hot Dog and Seafood. It’s located in a strip mall right on the edge of Hendersonville and Flat Rock. The non-descript restaurant serves classic seafood diner fare, and a lobster roll that is so much better than you’d have any right to expect in a strip mall in the North Carolina mountains.

Grandfather Mountain

Going a little further afield, we go to Grandfather Mountain Nature Park and Swinging Bridge. Up until 2008, Grandfather Mountain and its famous swinging bridge – the highest in America and originally built in 1962 – was privately owned. However, the state took over operation and it’s now a state park.

The site is a great place to get away to camp or hike and enjoy all the wonders you’d expect in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But the ultimate attraction is the view from the top. The entire world – it seems – spreads out before you from the top. It is truly one of the most spectacular views in the Eastern United States.

Take a scenic drive

In normal times, this section would tell you to get up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But after the events of Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024, much of the Blue Ridge Parkway isn’t available for such drives. Consider instead the Cherohala Skyway connecting Tellico Plains to Robbinsville, North Carolina. This beautiful drive offers scenic views of the Tennessee Valley as well as the Unaka Mountains.

Make sure to schedule time to stop at the Indian Boundary Recreation Area with its stunningly beautiful mountain lake. There are hiking, camping and picnicking options available. Newfound Gap Road – which connects Gatlinburg to Cherokee through the National Park is another amazing drive with several pull offs featuring majestic views.

You can also visit the Rockefeller Memorial where FDR stood when he dedicated the National Park in 1940. It’s also good spot to set foot on the Appalachian Trail. You can make your way up to Kuwohi – formerly known as Clingman’s Dome – where the observation tower is world renowned.

What are your favorite things to do in Western North Carolina? Let us know in the comments!