Rapid River Magazine, october 2006

R A P I D R I V E R A R T S
COVER
Small waterfall in the Great Smokie Mountains, photo by Richard Ondrovic
www.ondrovic.com
The Haunted Factor:
Explore autumn's colorful attractions
by Byron Belzak
People who know Western North
Carolina (WNC), whether resident
or tourist, love to talk about and
visit the region’s many natural and
man-made attractions.
Lush mountains, the oldest
in the world some say, and magnificent
forests are a wonderful backdrop for the
WNC traveler.
Some believe there’s no better time to
travel in the region than during the fall
when the leaves are changing colors.
Youngsters and the young at heart seek
and relish the delights of Halloween and
numerous fall festivals in many of the
mountain cities and towns.
With gas prices falling faster than
autumn leaves, the mountains are certain
to have a bumper crop of those expert in
rubber necking countless postcard perfect
scenes and experiencing the wonders of the
mountains. Doing so is a favorite pastime
for all ages.
MAJOR AND COLORFUL
ATTRACTIONS
Without question, the fall is a beautiful
time to explore the Appalachian Trail,
Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway, Carl
Sandburg’s House and Goat Farm, and
the Cherokee Indian Reservation with its
Oconaluftee Indian Village. Many people
also put Chimney Rock Park, Cradle of
Forestry, downtown Asheville, and the
soon-to-reopen Ghost Town in Maggie
Valley high on their list of mountain places
to go and things to do.
For discovering natural beauty, stellar
sights can be found at Grandfather
Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, Joyce Kilmer Memorial
Forest of old growth trees, Linville
Caverns, and Mount Mitchell with its highest
mountain peak in the eastern United
States.
For quiet strolls or easy bike rides, the
North Carolina Arboretum just outside of
Asheville is becoming increasingly popular
with individuals and groups. Its bonsai collection
is world class as is its new bonsai
exhibition garden.
THE MYSTIQUE OF
TRANSYLVANIA
But since this is the season of the witch,
it’s tough for other counties in Western
North Carolina to compete with the inherent
spookiness that is associated with the
old-world name of Transylvania, the legendary
home of Frankenstein. The locals
of Transylvania County in North Carolina,
located southwest of Asheville-Buncombe
County, are only too happy to accommodate
tourists in search of a little fun and
light-hearted scares, especially around
Halloween.
This year is the 2nd Annual Flight of the
Vampire Bat 5K, a fundraiser foot race that
starts in downtown Brevard, the county
seat of Transylvania, at midnight followed
the next day with an all-day October Fest.
Costumes are encouraged and judged.
While it certainly lives up to its
self-anointed nickname, “Land of the
Waterfall,” Transylvania is also known for
its spectacular woods. It is said that more
than a third of the entire county is made
up of the Pisgah National Forest, Dupont
State Forest and Gorges State Park, which
offer hundreds of miles of scenic trails and
country roads.
RAILWAYS, WATERWAYS AND
A ROAD TO NOWHERE
More attractions that may not make
every top WNC attraction lists are certainly
worth considering. This includes Great
Smoky Mountains Railway, Mountain
Farm and Museum, Nantahala National
Forest with its many streams, and Tsali
‘Attractions’ continued on pg. 26
Vol. 10, No. 2 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine— October 2006