school...

shop apprenticeships

design internships

week long workshops

the framing shop

tools and supplies

rules and lodging

recreation

accomplishments & experiences

Q&A

2006 Workshop Schedule:

February 26th- March 4th

June 4th-10th

November 5th-11th

Recreational and cultural activities near us in western North Carolina are many and varied. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just to the north of us. We are surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest. The Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests and the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest with its old growth are nearby. The area is a mecca for hikers, campers, and backpackers. Three major trails intersect near here, the Appalachian Trail, the Bartram Trail and the Mountains to Sea Trail, and there are many, many other trails. The Smokies are a habitat for rare salamanders. Wildlife such as snakes, bobcats, black bears, deer, and wild turkeys can sometimes be seen.

The Blue Ridge Parkway winds through the North Carolina mountains, providing opportunities for viewing spectacular fall colors and spring and summer flowers. Numerous scenic overlooks are also starting points for hiking trails. The real-life Cold Mountain can be seen and hiked to from the parkway. Bicycle riding is encouraged on the parkway and other opportunities for both road and mountain biking can be found everywhere in the area. The scenic Cullasaja gorge is a short drive from Franklin and the Foothills Parkway offers views of the Great Smoky Mountains from the west. Among the area's other scenic attractions are waterfalls, some near major roads and some a hike back into the forest. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers a 53 mile scenic ride over 25 bridges and through 2 tunnels and the Nantahala Gorge.

Outfitters run whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking trips out of the nearby Nantahala Gorge. TVA lakes such as Fontana provide opportunities for canoeing, sea kayaking, boating and fishing. Because Lake Fontana is the southern border of the Smokies, kayaking, canoeing, boating and fishing can be combined with camping and hiking. Our rivers and streams offer some of the best fly fishing for trout and small-mouthed bass in the southeast.

Gem mining is a major activity here in the Cowee Valley. It was a center for commercial gem mining at the turn of the 20th century and, while commercial mining was phased out long ago, there are still many mines open for screen-your-own mining. The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum, near downtown Franklin, presents the chronological and natural history of gem mining in western North Carolina.

Other recreational activities such as horseback riding, skiing, golf, swimming, tubing, water skiing, and dirt biking are nearby.

The area is rich in cultural offerings as well. Asheville has many art galleries as well as the Asheville Art Museum. The Southern Highland Craft Guild shows its members' work in the area year ’round and presents a major show in Asheville each fall. The Mountain Heritage Center is at Western Carolina University in Culhowee celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of the region. The Cherokee present their historical pageant Unto These Hills during the summer. Cade's Cove, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, provides a sampling of the area's cultural history. The Biltmore House and Gardens are near Asheville. The John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown offers arts and crafts classes, concerts and dancing. The Scottish Tartans Museum is in Franklin.