Asheville

Many people believe that the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful routes in the country and one of the top tourist destinations in North Carolina. This meandering section of pavement, which has been named both a National Parkway and an All-American Road, is especially beautiful in the fall when the hills in the area change color to hues of orange, yellow, and red.

In the spring, when the dogwoods and Carolina rhododendrons are in bloom, the parkway is also quite lovely. From Virginia's Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway travels 469 miles (755 km).

The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, the Western North Carolina Nature Center, and the breathtaking 434-acre North Carolina Arboretum are a few of Asheville's must-see attractions. For the outdoorsy tourist, the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains provide a variety of outdoor excursions. Another wonderful location to visit is the Biltmore Estate, which George Vanderbilt constructed in 1895 as a hideaway after purchasing the area. Frederick Law Olmsted, a family friend, was inspired to build a landscaping masterpiece, complete with formal gardens and a naturalist forest, as a result of Vanderbilt's love of the North Carolina mountains.

• Location: North Carolina