The North Carolina Mountains boast spectacular views and encourage active involvement. Hiking, swimming, rafting, skiing, and more are all available. Asheville is the largest city in the mountain region and serves as a hub for visitors during all four seasons. Kids of all ages will appreciate Asheville's quirkiness. Street performers make music on every corner, and shop windows are filled with items ranging from traditional Appalachian crafts to new age crystals.

The Technicolor hues of the autumn leaves bring the biggest crowds to the North Carolina Mountains, but other seasons have their share of wonders. Spring boasts gorgeous blooming flowers along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and summer is perfect for diving into natural swimming holes and scooting down whitewater rapids. The surrounding mountains get snow in the winter, but Asheville, in a valley, rarely does. It can be a great home base for a ski or tubing trip. Arts and music festivals draw visitors to the area year round.

The daytime highs in spring and autumn are a comfortable 68 degrees, and in summer the mercury climbs to around 83 degrees. The mountains keep Asheville's winter temperature moderate. Even in January, the low temperatures are around 24 degrees and highs reach 47 degrees on average during the day. The higher elevations in the surrounding mountains can get quite a bit colder. Mountain roads can quickly ascend more than 1,000 feet and the weather can change dramatically. View more weather info.

Visitors to the North Carolina Mountains typically fly into Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), which is just 15 minutes from downtown and is serviced by many major airlines. Asheville is located right next to I-26 and just five minutes from I-40. Greyhound buses also service this area.

Touring the mountains requires a car. Keep in mind that distances in the mountains take longer to get to than you might think from looking on a map, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and other mountain roads are long and twisty.

Driving in Asheville is generally easy, and parking is readily available except during major festivals. Downtown Asheville is small enough that you can walk from place to place, and bus service is available to areas outside of downtown. Learn more on the Asheville website.

Many festivals in Asheville focus on music, art, and traditional Appalachian culture, including the following fetes. Check each one's website or ExploreAsheville.com for exact dates and information.

• Bele Chere (July)
• Shindig on the Green (July-Sept.)
• Mountain Dance and Folk Festival (Aug.)
• Craft Fairs of the Southern Highlands (July; Oct.)
• Goombay! (Aug.)

Asheville's official tourism site, ExploreAsheville.com, has information to help with visits.

The Adventure Coupon Book contains coupons for some of Asheville's popular attractions, as well as hotels and restaurants.

• Celebrities Andy McDowell and Harry Anderson live in Asheville.
• Zelda Fitzgerald, artist and wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, died in a fire in a mental hospital in Asheville in 1948.
• Asheville was the home of writer Thomas Wolfe.
• The 1800 census shows that Asheville included 25 free people and 13 slaves.