Appalachia is carved with trails,some centuries old and others making a network of more 50 scenic byways.

Cherokee County is surrounded by Nantahala National Forest,cradling the western region in 531,212 acres of lust wilderness.

Experience the Trail of Tears and track the route by vehicle,or pull off the road and overlook the vistas and peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The park,the country's most visited,has attractions for recreation,such as hiking,amping,ranger-guided tours and picnicking.

Motorists,can expect 384 miles of road to explore in the Smokies.Visitation is at its highest from July 1 to Aug. 15 and during the weekends in October.Beat the crowds or join in on an auto tour to find the most popular destinations like Clingmans Dome or Newfound Gap Road.

The Great Smoky Mountains Association,the park's non-profit partner,provids free podcasts of self-guided road tours for download online at.www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit.

Spectacular bursts of color begin to line the horizons form October to early November as leaves start to turn to rusted oranges and pale yellows.The mustsee transformation can be viewed anywhere in the county,and it attracts serious leaf-peerpers along with curious on lookers.

Since 1958,the Western North Carolina Wagon Train has traveled from the Tellico Plains of Tennessee to Andrews. The first wagon blazed in to Murphy in an attempt to create a federally funded highway to link the two states. Every five years,the train travels the original route from Tellico to Murphy.

The tradition carries on today and anyone is welcome to participate in gatjhering day Sunday, June 27,for a parade through Andrews.
For details,visit   www.wncwagontrainnc.com  

www.mountainwineandhomes.com  Murphy North Carolina Your Mountain View Specialist, Jack Shingler Broker, Coldwell Banker High Country Realty               866-835-8500         866-835-8500 or               321-279-1049         321-279-1049 Jack Shingler.

Once again thank you Cherokee Scout. this is from the Peaks & Valleys. www.cherokeescout.com