- 1). Determine what kind of mountain trip you want. Are you up for extreme outdoor adventure or a casual romantic weekend? Will this be a family trip or a reunion of old friends? Do you want to be closer to big city amenities or as far away from them as you can get? All of these possibilities are within reach in the Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina. You can be in a secluded cabin far away from civilization or in a hotel room in downtown Asheville making river runs, taking extreme hikes and still make it back in time for a night on the town.
- 2). Book your lodging as far in advance as possible. There aren't many last minute deals for this region in the summer because it is such a popular destination. Families, couples and individuals from all over the Southeast flock to the mountains of North Carolina during the summer months and they usually book their lodging far in advance, especially for cabins and houses. Your best bet for last minute lodging would be the chain hotels in Asheville and other nearby towns. Boone is a vibrant mountain college town that also puts you close to the outdoor action. If a cabin is what you want check out the Carolina Mountain Vacations website (see resources below).
- 3). Don't forget the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when planning your trip. Because the closer-by tourist towns of Pigeon Forge (home of Dollywood) and Gatlinburg are located in Tennessee the park is often more associated with that state. In fact more than half of the park sits on the North Carolina side. The opportunities for hiking, including the Appalachian trail, and camping are in abundance in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as the rest of the region.
- 4). Plan a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Often called "America's favorite drive," you shouldn't miss driving a section of the Parkway. Any trip to the North Carolina mountains will bring you close enough to enjoy this scenic drive. Established in 1935 the parkway runs almost 500 miles between Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountain National park. The parkway is operated by the National Park Service and they claim it is the most visited site in the National Park System.
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