Experience the Arts
Literary Trails of the North Carolina Mountains
From the Blue Ridge Mountains and the homegrown music rising out of them, to the breathtaking vistas and sacred places commanded by generations of Cherokee, to the literary landscapes drawn from Tarheel fact, fiction and legend—there’s no place like North Carolina for authentic cultural experiences! Performing artists tell our state’s stories in song, dance and theatrical productions. Notable North Carolinians, from John Coltrane to Doc Watson, James Taylor to Billy Taylor, Nnenna Freelon to Shirley Caesar, Thelonious Monk to Earl Scruggs, have gone from being citizens of our state to being citizens of the world. Craft artisans carry on centuries-old traditions—or push them in dramatic new directions that have given our state a national reputation for contemporary craft. Museums and galleries combine arts and educational experiences for the entire family in exciting new ways that allow you to explore your own creativity. Authentic cultural experiences await you in North Carolina!