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HAYWOOD COUNTY-- Located in the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains, Haywood is one of the geographically largest counties in North Carolina and proudly lays claim Cold Mountain within its borders. Our county seat is Waynesville, the most populated town west of Asheville. Waynesville is a town of mountain traditions, good food, great mountain crafts, lots of shopping. It annually hosts Folkmoot USA, the only folk festival which showcases musicians and dancers from all over the globe.
Although Folkmoot brings thousands of visitors to the county every July, our abundance of natural attractions, the pristine beauty of the countryside and cool mountain breezes make this an ideal vacation spot for all those seeking to get away from the heat of summer all over the United States and Canada.
Within our boundaries visitors participate in numerous activities. They enjoy scenic drives, hiking trails, and waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway. They visit Cataloochee Valley's 19th century settlement in the eastern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and go white water rafting, mountain biking, mountain hiking and gem mining. (In fact, the largest blue sapphire, "The Star of the Carolinas", weighing in at 1445 carats, was found at Old Pressley Sapphire Mine right in Haywood County.)
Those driving along our state designated "scenic byways" see hundreds of varieties of wild flowers, lush forests, and can hear the song of numerous birds. Many follow our extensive antique trail to find all kinds of bargains. Of course we have a variety of festivals for our guests to attend and enjoy throughout the year, and lots of historical sites and museums to see.
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