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Each year, millions of visitors are drawn to Western North Carolina by its spectacular landscapes and vast array of outdoor recreational opportunities, including world-class mountain biking, backpacking and whitewater rafting.

Check out the following links for information about Jackson and Swain Counties:

Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Travel & Tourism Authority

http://www.mountainlovers.com/content_reloInfo.asp (relocation information)

Mountain Area Information Network - Jackson County, North Carolina

http://main.nc.us/jackson

Mountain Area Information Network - Swain County, North Carolina

http://main.nc.us/swain

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Tennessee/North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits astride the Tennessee-North Carolina border amid the majestic southern climax of the Appalachian Highlands. The most visited of our national parks draws more than 9 million adventurers and sightseers each year. And for good reason - the Smokies are within a day's drive of a third of the U.S. population, and very few places in the East are in their league as an outdoor-recreation destination. Worm your way into these rugged, convoluted mountains and you'll find 900 miles of superlative trails, tracts of old-growth forest, views of undulating mountain ridges draped in hazy-blue, "smoky" tendrils of fog, and vivid reminders of the folkways of the Appalachians' early pioneers. Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, a place that supports more than 4,000 species of plants, 130 trees, 65 mammals, 230 birds, and more species of salamanders than are found anywhere else on earth. For more information check out their web site: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/home

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy year-round scenic train journeys across fertile valleys, through tunnels and across river gorges in a spectacular region of eastern America called Smoky Mountains. This section of western North Carolina offers a wide array of ever-changing vegetation and fantastic landscapes. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is truly a spectacular trip with 53 miles of track, two tunnels and 15 bridges. Choose from a variety of excursions ranging from half day to full day round trips: steam or diesel, gourmet dinner trains, mystery theatre dinner trains, raft/train combos, and a wide array of seating options. Exciting special events such as a ride with Thomas The Tank Engine (TM), the Santa Express, and our Fall Leaf Spectacular make the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad a special treat.

Passengers ride comfortable, reconditioned coaches, crown coaches, club cars, dining cars, cabooses, and open cars which are ideal for viewing and picture taking. Scenic excursions take you through a beautiful section of western North Carolina with views of the magnificent Great Smoky Mountains, winding rivers, and lakes.

For more information, check out their web site at http://www.gsmr.com

The Sylva Herald - Local newspaper in Jackson County

http://www.thesylvaherald.com

Below is a map of the counties in Western North Carolina.

Notice where Jackson and Swain Counties are located.