Like many locals and visitors, leaf peeping in the mountains of Western North Carolina is one of my favorite autumn activities. In October, you can find me driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking the Mountains to Sea trail in search of a perfect leaf to preserve as a keepsake. Folks tend to flock to the Appalachians in the fall—catching our region’s fall foliage is an annual pilgrimage that’s always worth the trip. In fact, we’ve got the skinny on this year’s peak foliage times on page 32.
Although the Parkway is arguably one of the best ways to spy on the autumn leaves, there are plenty of other places in our region worthy of a visit this season. In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for example, the leaves aren’t the only thing putting on a show this fall. It’s mating season for the park’s elk, which makes this a great time to observe the herd in full force—check out page 68 for some stunning images of the elk from local photographers. Also in the Smokies, there’s change brewing on Clingmans Dome; named after a controversial historical figure, two activists in the EBCI are fighting to change its moniker to its original Cherokee name, Kuwohi. Learn about the movement to rename the mountain in “What’s In A Name” on page 78.
Where there are leaves, there are often mushrooms. Throughout our region, they grow in abundance. We spoke to local experts on safe foraging and growing procedures on page 88. Also in this edition of WNC, you’ll find WNC Weddings tucked within the pages; here, we’ve compiled a variety of events and ideas to help you plan your big day (page 126). All in all, no matter where you are, there are no bad views here in Western North Carolina.
Allison Sherman
Senior Editor