Luxury homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains, NC

Blue Ridge Mountains at a glance

There’s a reason the Blue Ridge Mountains are famous, and yes, it has everything to do with the unmistakable beauty of its craggy peaks and rolling hills — and the way the blue haze settles over them. Located in the Appalachian region, the mountain range extends 550 miles from southern Pennsylvania all the way to Georgia, but perhaps the best-known part of the Blue Ridge Mountains is centered around North Carolina.

In the Tar Heel State, Blue Ridge towns include Asheville, Cashiers, Highlands, Boone and Blowing Rock. The largest of these is Asheville, a hip and laid-back city of roughly 100,000. It’s known as an ideal home base for outdoor activities as well as for its vibrant arts scene. Put them together, and it’s no wonder Lonely Planet named Asheville the number-one travel destination in the United States.

Looking for a small-town experience instead? The quaint and cozy towns of Cashiers, Highlands, Boone and Blowing Rock are big on charm, with walkable downtowns, colorful farmers markets and interesting historical and geological sites — watch in wonder as items you drop over the edge of the Blowing Rock fly right back up.