To stand at a scenic lookout and gaze over the misty ridges and sunlit vales is to peer into a dreamy otherworld, a fairy tale land. As a casual visitor it is sometimes difficult to remember that people live here, too. Dotting the valleys and hollows of these ancient hills are small towns and villages, some which trace their history back to before European colonists arrived here. Traditionally the waves of prosperity that have swept the country have touched only lightly here, and in many remote places the mountain folk live very much like their ancestors, i.e. making a living however they can. But maybe you can.
Tourism is the number one industry of the North Carolina Mountains.
The folksy culture, the native crafts, and the opportunity to escape the oppressive heat of the rest of the state drew the first tourists. The tourist potential of the Blue Ridge Mountains is still amazingly open, and continuously being developed. The combination of inexpensive land, talented local artisans preserving folk crafts, and superb skiing and outdoor sports soon produced a thriving resort industry here. Some of the most beautiful miles of the Appalachian Trail , the winding series of trails that spans the mountains from Maine to Georgia, are here in North Carolina, as is the famous Blue Ridge Parkway , a highway built for no less noble purpose than to provide a place for people to drive and look at the pretty scenery. Agriculture still plays a role here.