The Blue Ridge Craft Trails project, a comprehensive online guide developed by the nonprofit Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, allows visitors to experience artists in their studios, browse galleries, and uncover the history of this diverse region. There are more than 350 curated stops across North Carolina mountains and foothills. From recognizable destinations like Asheville and Blowing Rock to lesser-known towns such as Brasstown and Clyde, there’s something for everyone.
“Craft is in the DNA of this region,” explains Angie Chandler, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Natural Heritage Area. “Nothing connects you to a place–or to new memories–like a face to face meeting with inspired artists and their work.”
Craft art is unique in its function. Unlike paintings or sculptures, craft is a form of making an object that generally has a function. For example, it can be something you can wear, drink from, or use in your home.
The earliest traditions of craft in this area are owed to the Native Americans who originally called the Blue Ridge home: the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The town of Cherokee, NC offers 12 craft trail stops, including the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, the nation’s oldest and foremost Native American crafts cooperative. These artists are deeply influenced by the plants and animals of their natural surroundings.
Plan
Once you’re ready to go, visit the Blue Ridge Craft Trails website. Search for the town you’re visiting and meet the artists in their studios. Shopping for a gift or home decor? Search the entire site by the type of craft, from pottery to furniture. Ready for hands-on experiences? Put the word “instruction” in the search bar to find a list of trail stops offering classes to the public.
The website also offers ready-made itineraries complete with options for lodging and local fun.
No matter what you choose, you’re sure to have a culturally-rich, perfectly tailored experience of North Carolina unlike any you’ve had before. Here are just a few of our favorite events and stops along the Trails.
Visit
Mitchell and Yancey Counties are home to the Toe River Arts Studio Tour, one of the longest-running studio tours in the country. The June 2024 Studio Tour will be held May 31 – June 2, luring guests from across the Southeast and featuring nearly 100 artists.
No matter the time of year, Burnsville (in Yancey County) and Spruce Pine (in Mitchell County) offer great places to spend the night, find local food—and more craft trail stops.
One worth a visit is Hearth Glass and Gallery in Burnsville. Founded in March 2022 by fourth-generation glassworker Keikichi Littleton, it’s the only all-glass gallery in the Toe River region. Harvey Littleton, grandfather to Keikichi, is widely considered the father of the studio glass movement.
Another favorite element of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails is the opportunity to explore nationally-recognized craft schools, such as Brasstown’s John C. Campbell Folk School, opened in 1925. The Penland School of Crafts, open since 1929, is a quick 15 minutes away from Spruce Pine. The Penland Gallery and Visitors Center showcases museum-quality art for purchase.
Finally, perhaps one of the most known stops is the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. It’s well worth a visit for the many craft-making demos on-site, the wide variety of different craft mediums, including clay, wood, fiber, metal, and leather, and the selection of pieces by Frances L. Goodrich. Goodrich started the Southern Highland Craft Guild in 1930.
Stay
Once you’ve mapped out where you want to stop, you can find great spots to call homebase.
An easy drive from Charlotte will land you at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock. Chetola offers a spa, on-site dining, and a quaint lodge. Nearby, on the Crafts Trail, visit High Country Candles, Bolick & Traditions Pottery, Mountain Thread Company and Moses Cone Memorial Park on the Parkway.
Further west, in Highlands, you can visit The Bascom: A Center for Visual Arts. In 2009, The Bascom completed construction of its current campus on a former horse farm. At its 30,000 square foot flagship building, visitors can share in both the art and surrounding nature.
Highlands’ 200 Main offers comfortable (and pet-friendly!) lodging. Or, if you’re looking for a full retreat, you can’t beat Old Edwards Inn and Spa. The charming Main Street offers plenty of options for dining, coffee, local shops, and more. We like Henry Farmhouse Tavern for dinner and Calder’s Coffee for an early morning.
In Cashiers, only 20 minutes away, explore the Mountain Mist Gallery, Zachary-Tolbert House, or make an appointment at Wofford Sculpture Studio.
No matter how you piece together your visit to the Craft Trails – a single stop amidst a longer trip or an itinerary built around all your desired stops with classes, events, and artist visits – your support of the project is a way to feel connected to the deep history of our region, and to support artists who have been sharing in traditions centuries old.
blueridgecrafttrails.com
blueridgeheritage.com
Photos courtesy of Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
