If you take a road trip through North Carolina, you will see beautiful scenery and can visit some places where well-known movies were filmed.
Begin your North Carolina road trip in Asheville. Asheville is west of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is a city of about 60,000 residents. There are many things that might interest you in Asheville, including the Folk Art Center, the North Carolina Arboretum, shopping malls and craft shops. Another interesting place to visit in Asheville is the Biltmore Estate.
The Biltmore House, a 250-room mansion, was built in the late 1800s for the George Vanderbilt family and the estate is now open for the public to tour. The estate was the setting for the movie "Richie Rich" and others, and includes the house, gardens, a winery, restaurant, hotel, gift shops and fields where crops are still grown. You can take a tour of part of the mansion, eat a scrumptious buffet in a former calving barn, tour the winery and taste the finished product, and enjoy the breathtaking views found all around the estate. Begin with the film that tells you about the history of the estate, or prepare before you go by reading about the Biltmore House. Allow several hours at the least to fully experience the Biltmore Estate, which is located north of Exit 50 or 50B on Interstate 40.
From Asheville, take 74 Alt to Chimney Rock. Chimney Rock is a quaint little town along the Rocky Broad River, and is named for a large rock formation you will certainly want to visit. You can take a 26-story elevator to the top of the mountain and then climb stairs to the top of the Chimney Rock for spectacular 75-mile views. A short hike will take you to a 404' waterfall that was featured in the end of the movie "The Last of the Mohicans." Hiking trails, picnic areas, a gift shop and interesting information about the area can all be found at Chimney Rock.
Continue along 74 Alt to Lake Lure, a picturesque little lake where the movie "Dirty Dancing" was filmed. Stop and watch the boats spinning around the lake or eat lunch on an outdoor patio at one of the restaurants. Boat cruises around the lake leave hourly, and you can rent canoes, kayaks, hydro-bikes, paddleboats, electric boats and pontoon boats. Swim at the beach and soak up the sun for awhile, and then continue east on 74 Alt.
At Ruth, turn north on 64 and continue driving through Morgantown to Lenoir. Turn north on 321 at Lenoir and travel on to Grandfather Mountain, located on US 221. Grandfather Mountain has many attractions, including environmental habitats for animals such as black bears and cubs, otters, cougars, eagles and deer, and a nature museum. There are scenic overlooks, picnic areas and hiking trails, and you can drive to the top of the mountain to the Mile High Swinging Bridge, a 228' long suspension bridge that overlooks an 80' chasm. It's called the Mile High Swinging Bridge because Grandfather Mountain is 5964' high, and the bridge does swing when the wind is strong. Notice the temperature drop as you climb the mountain.
If you have time, travel 194 up to the towns of Boone and Banner Elk. The Daniel Boone Amphitheater in Boone puts on a play each summer called "Horn in the West," and Appalachian State University and the Appalachian Culture Center are also located in Boone. Banner Elk is home to Sugar Mountain, a popular ski resort; in the summer, enjoy hiking, rafting, golfing, fishing and horseback riding. Both towns have plenty of small shops and restaurants and beautiful scenery.
If you don't have the time to continue on to Boone and Banner Elk, follow 181 south to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is 470 miles long, and connects Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountain National Parks. It cuts through the Blue Ridge Mountains and you can see spectacular views if you stop at some of the many scenic overlooks. There are informational signs, hiking trails and picnic spots. At the visitor centers you can get free maps and brochures and information about the area. If you travel the Blue Ridge Parkway, just remember to fill up your car first, because you will have to exit the parkway to get gas.
Travel back down to Asheville and your North Carolina road trip will be finished. You could do the whole trip in a couple of days or stretch it out to several if you want to spend more time on any particular section. I think you will find North Carolina a lovely place to visit and will want to return to see the rest of the state.
