The winding route to Plumtree through far western Avery County on U.S. 19 East is the very definition of a road trip. It’s the kind of byway most people would take only if this out-of-the-way hamlet were the destination itself. But for fans of beer and scenic beauty, a thriving brewery and a cluster of outdoor options are enticing reasons to tour the North Toe River valley’s flower-filled fields.
Gear up and make a dash for West Virginia, where
white-water thrills, world-class climbing and mountain biking, and a hip small-town outpost await in the
New River Gorge
With 50 breweries counting, Western North Carolina's reputation as a craft beer mecca continues to grow, but for how long? Experts and brewers weigh in on the industry's future.