Some things you have to look elsewhere to find. Crowds, for instance. Flashy neon and night life to match. Traffic jams, urban blight, serious crime. Polluted air and tainted water. If that's your preference, better try someplace else.

Not that we're idle, or remote from the mainstream. Far from it! Golf, fish for rainbows or hunt. Go camping, swimming or tubing. Take a hike or picnic. Go horseback riding, or whitewater rafting (at nearby outfits). Play tennis. Enjoy outstanding summer theater, movies, mountain hoe-downs and chamber music. Ride the rapids, prospect for real gems. Absorb some of the country's finest fall scenery on our numerous back-road drives you can take to enjoy the countryside. In winter ski the slopes (at nearby resorts), both downhill and cross-country. Many events and festivals take place on Burnsville's beautiful town square, including the historic Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair that takes place the first Friday & Saturday in August.

One of the wonderful traditions of our county is the pride in craftsmanship that goes back many generations. In addition to fine quilters, basket makers, and other traditional craftspeople, many other artists have settled here, including woodworkers, glassblowers, potters, metalsmiths, weavers, papermakers, painters, photographers, and sculptors, many of whom have national and international reputations. Spring and holiday studio tours offer visitors an open house of the arts.

It's a good life we share. Here we live with a conscientious awareness of the rugged, gentle beauty of our land.

During your trip, be sure to stop by the Chamber of Commerce/Visitor's Center on West Main Street in historic downtown Burnsville. Located on the hill behind the Chamber is the Rush Wray Museum of Yancey County History located within the Historic McElroy House. Stroll around Main Street, alive with many fine shops, galleries and cafes. With charming inns, bed & breakfasts, motels, fine camping, good place to eat and to shop, and activity from vigorous to sedate, there's no better "base camp" for exploration than Yancey County and lovely Burnsville. Excellent connecting highways are your road to adventure in any direction! At your doorstep, or within an hour's drive, are enough rewarding diversions to fill a vacation, or a season... or a lifetime. Our 17,000 folks, and a lot of visitors, like it here. We're pleased to share its bounty with you, too!

Visit CommunityLink for more information about Yancey County!