Two area highways

to be featured in

National Geographic Traveler Magazine

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Two scenic highways in the High Country will be featured in a major tourism map in the April issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

A route dubbed “High Country Backroads Drive” and the Blue Ridge Parkway are two featured scenic highways.

The maps will be included in the April issue and will reach more than 865,000 subscribers nationwide.

Sites located along “High Country Backroads drive” include: Grandfather Mountain, Daniel Boone Native Gardens, Mast General Store, Ashe County Cheese Factory, Ashe County Arts Council, Ashe County Frescoes, Appalachian State University, Tweetsie Railroad and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.

The Blue Ridge Parkway drive features: Northwest Trading Post, Museum of North Carolina Minerals, Folk Art Center, Mount Pisgah, Orchard at Altapass and Chetola Resort.

Despite rising gas prices, Host officials expect a positive tourist season this summer.

“While gas prices may affect travel plans, I don't think visitors will be
staying home, just vacationing closer to home,” Kathy Tester, assistant director of the North Carolina High Country Host, said. “We are very excited to have National Geographic Traveler recognize the High Country as a top destination.”

Although the mountains are considered to be a “drive market,” so far visitors appear to be immune to gas price fluctuations according to Mac Forehand, director of the Boone Convention and Visitors Bureau and High Country Host board member.

“The first two months of the year have been very strong,” Forehand said.

The National Geographic map was produced in collaboration with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the N.C. Commerce Department’s Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

High Country Host is a membership-based tourism marketing organization created to represent local businesses in the northwest mountains of North Carolina.

For more information on these scenic drives and area attractions, contact the High Country Host at (828) 264-1299 and visit www.highcountryhost.com or www.highcountrybackroads.com.