there are some places up there in the mountains that are like turning back time. My husband and I road the Smoky Mountain Railway one 4th of July a few years back from Dillsboro to Bryson city. It was an eye opener to see multi-generaltional families living in trailers with no glass in the windows next to multi-million dollar homes. Ware county up along the NC/VA border has the highest unemployment rate in the state. 98%.
It is so beautiful up there. It's easy to get lost on a back windy road and end up in Tenn, or Va or even Ga. Rt 209 outside of Ashville over to Hot Springs. Any of the small get off roads along the Blue Ridge Parkway take you to places you never thought existed. We love to toss the cooler in the back. Add a couple sleeping bags and our hammock tents (check out Hennesey Hammocks), grab the dog and hit the road. Being rocked to sleep at night in a mountain breeze is the best nights sleep you will ever have!!