Heritage Tourism in the Carolina Blue Ridge
Heritage tourism programs create a sense of place rooted in the local landscape, architecture, people, artifacts, traditions and stories that make a particular place unique. Cultural tourism programs celebrate the same kinds of experiences, though with less emphasis on place. Thus viewing the work of a great master artist in his home and studio is a heritage tourism experience, while viewing those very same pieces of art in a traveling exhibition is a cultural tourism experience. The content is the same while the context is different.Heritage tourism in the Carolina Blue Ridge include several “Heritage Trails”
The Craft Heritage Trails winds through back roads and scenic byways in 21 mountain counties along the Blue Ridge Parkway and showcase artisan studios, undiscovered shops and galleries on 8 separate trails in 74 communities.
The Blue Ridge Music Trails provides visitors with the opportunity to meet local musicians, visit venues that showcase Blue Ridge Mountain folk music and traditional dance, and participate in many of the musical performances, venues, gatherings and festivals offered throughout the year within 44 Virginia and North Carolina counties and towns.
The Cherokee Heritage Trail consists of three major auto loops and highlights sites of ancient towns, important places in Cherokee myths and legends, and museums that display Cherokee artifacts. The Trail provides the opportunity for visitors to meet with Cherokee artists, who share their story-telling, music, arts, and crafts in over 15 North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia communities.
The Farms, Gardens and Countryside Trails of the Blue Ridge consists of seven auto loop trails that traverse 87 Western North Carolina communities rich with horticultural and agricultural heritage sites.
These trails link rural communities with one another, the Blue Ridge Parkway and other scenic highways and roads.
