A mountaintop space observatory that is certified dark.

An annual celebration of the region's successful elk reintroduction program.

North Carolina's finest examples of Native American pictographs have survived for 5,000 years.

These eerie outliers of the lightning bug family glow a mysterious blue color.

An idyllic mineral hot springs facility with a more-than checkered past.

This granite rock face is named for the magnificent reflection that occurs when the sun hits it just right.

Who needs fancy modern water slides when this giant North Carolina rock works just as well?

Practice your Dirty Dancing lifts in the manmade lake where Johnny Castle himself did.

A 315-foot spire jutting out from the Blue Ridge Mountains makes for breathtaking views.

The highest point in North Carolina and the United States east of the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell is named after argumentative explorer Elisha Mitchell.

Gnarled canopies of pink and purple wildflowers arch over the trail to the summit.

Traditional Appalachian dances such as the Georgia Rang Tang and the Shoo-Fly Swing are kept alive at this weekly event.

Classy up your Big Mac with bow-tied servers and chandeliers at the world's fanciest McDonald's.

Every week, a festive public jam session breaks out in downtown Asheville.

John Hendrix predicted the creation of the "Secret City" built as part of the Manhattan Project.

This hotel was used during the Manhattan Project to house official visitors.

The secret city built by the Manhattan Project.

One man has spent decades faithfully constructing this unique brick and cinderblock castle.

Enormous lake at the bottom of a unique cave system.

Veritable museum of 20th century country music history.

Home of an evil witch famous within southern folklore.

In the hometown of the Grand Ole Opry star is a larger-than-life memorial statue made entirely from chicken wire.

The first full-scale tunnel built in America is short but scenic.

This defunct, fortress-like prison has been the setting for several movies.