Some facts to consider about the 469-mile ribbon of scenic roadway that snakes through Virginia in North Carolina include: 875,000,000 visitors have traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway over its 75 year history. All that traffic adds up to big bucks in tourism revenue – $342,500,000 for both states in 2008. Aside from the sheer volume of traffic the Parkway brings to the mountains, it also encourages town hopping – a critical ingredient for the region to realize its tourism potential. The Parkway’s 100 cultural sites foster an image of bygone days with old mills, one-room schools, log cabins and historic estates scattered along its route.

The Parkway was the first paved north-to-south road through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Its 81,000 acres of Park land impact more than 29 counties, dozens of towns and more than 4,000 adjacent landowners.  The Parkway has a $2,300,000,000 economic impact in North Carolina and Virginia. It is responsible for 27,000 jobs and $508,000,000 in payroll in North Carolina.

In the spring, you can hike the Appalachian Trail, or find a wealth of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails  in the Pisgah National Forest or the Nantahala National Forest and at Cashiers area riding stables -  Arrowmont, Whitewater Equestrian Center or Sapphire Valley.

Nearby attractions abound, from the renowned Biltmore Estate to Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center which houses five of Asheville’s premier attractions, including the Colburn Earth Science Museum and the Asheville Art Museum.

Waterfalls, porting the names Cullasaja, Sliding Rock, Silver Run, Whitewater, Turtleback, Rainbow, Mingo and Juneywhank, abound in Jackson County earning it the moniker “land of falling waters”. Pack a lunch and picnic at the falls.

So, whether it’s traveling scenic roads and byways, hiking the AT  marveling at the magnificence of a real-life castle or picnicking beside a waterfall, you’re sure to find an escape to the North Carolina Mountains will take you to new heights. Our luxury mountain lake lodge  is the perfect base for exploring the mountains in 2010.