HAYWOOD COUNTY
Home base for Adam and Megan, and where the Smokies start to feel like the Smokies. Cataloochee Ski Area sits at the top of the valley, so winter means a real ski slope minutes from home, not a day trip. A narrow valley floor with mountains standing over it on both sides, an elk herd just over the ridge, and a main street that still feels like a mountain town instead of a resort. Expect cabins, long-range views, and one of the strongest short-term rental markets in the region.
Population ~1,300 | Elevation 3,020 ft