challenge

You are now leaving WNC. Don’t call us traitors for straying from our beloved natural wonderland. Sometimes you just have to play outside the lines. After all, much of what we love here—lofty peaks, wild rivers, picturesque lakes, and awe-inspiring trails—spills over into Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Summer is the season to grab your gear, whether it be a life jacket, fishing rod, hiking boots, or mountain bike, and head for great escapes just across the border.

We all love our mountain environment, but how well do we take care of it? Here’s a look at where we stand: What WNC is doing right, and how we can improve

Josh Dorfman, aka The Lazy Environmentalist, mounts a casual crusade for sustainability

The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee marks progress by the years

For more than two decades, mill workers across the region played in a league of their own

Busy Hartzog just couldn’t forget her aunt’s circa-1920s playhouse, so she brought it home from South Carolina and restored it with love

Three couples who shifted their careers

38 local artists you need to hear this summer.

Remembering Art Loeb, the man whose love for hiking helped create a beloved footpath

Craig Tarler managed to stoke a faltering, century-old tobacco business with high-quality blends, an organic angle, and a sense of humor

SouthWings goes above and beyond for a revealing perspective on threats to our landscape