Milepost 382: Folk Art Center & Southern Highland Craft Guild. Part craft shop, part museum, and part visitors center, this stop displays and sells the best works of mountain artists, including pottery, jewelry, and quilts. Daily demonstrations show such time-honored skills as weaving, wood carving, dollmaking, and other activities; (828) 298-7928 or www.craftguild.org.
Milepost 408.6: Pisgah Inn. South of Asheville, the Pisgah Inn sits on a ridgetop overlooking the Pisgah National Forest. Their restaurant offers a picture window look at the Blue Ridge, a perfect complement to the mountain trout dinner ($12.99). Room rates start at $83.50; (828) 235-8228 or www.pisgahinn.com.