FT 2.61 :S72, Glass Z^u Book^Sng iMm^ > .Jk. ^L'^-^ry *-Sirt&-*S'«*Jti awf j Til "if i mts-^ --^l|^ f'J 4L. J 1- '• ?•'■ -4 ^ LAND OF THE SKY A PICTURESQUE COUNTRY ON THE SOUTHERN RAILWAT. ^^MIE-^M^^i^S.^ "A good land, a landjot brooks ot water, ot fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land ot oil, olive and honey ; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it." (Deut. viii. 7, 8, 9. ) HE LAND OF THE SKY" is that portion or \\ cstern North Carolina lying between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Iron, Smoky and Unaka ranges ot eastern Tennessee. It is a superb elevated plateau, the lowest point of which is more than 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. It is protected in winter from chilling winds by the surrounding mountains. Geographicallv it is situated in the most favored portion of the temperate zone. Topographically it is mountainous and is largely covered with forests in which the long leaf, or turpentine, pine pre- dominates. It is traversed by splendid rivers and dotted with beautiful lakes. Its scenery is unrivalled, even by the more famous localities of the far West, and its accessibility is such that it can be reached either from the North, the East, the South, or the Middle West in a few hours, whereas the scenic glories of the West require several days in which to reach them. The Southern Railway bisects North Carolina with its main line, from which many branches radiate to the chief cities of the State. Entering from the north, five miles below Danville, Va., the main stem runs southwesterly and passes into South Carolina just north of Blacksburg. A line from Norfolk runs through Dan- ville, while another branch extends from Goldsboro (with connections from Wil- mington and Morehead City), to Raleigh, Durham, Universitv, Haw River and Burlington, and intersects the main line at Greensboro. At Durham this line is joined by the branch from Keysville, through Chase City, Clarksville Junction and Oxford. At Greensboro a branch, beginning on the west at Wilkesboro and pass- ing through Winston-Salem (from which a branch runs to Mockville), also intersects the main line. From High Point on the main line a branch runs to Asheboro, and at Salisbury tha: portion of the line running west to Asheville, Knoxville and Chat- tanooga leaves the main stem. On the last-named division are many of the prominent points of " The Land of the Sky," among them Statesville (from which a branch runs to Tailorsville), New- ton, Hickory, Connelly Springs, Morganton, Marion, Old Fort, Round Knob, Black Mountain, Biltmore , Asheville, Alexander, Marshall, Hot Springs, N. C, and Newport, and Morristown, Tenn. From Asheville a line runs through a magnifi- cent mountain region to Murphy, N. C, passing through Turnpike, Wavnesville, Dillsboro, Bryson, Nantahala and Andrews. A branch of the Southern Railwav also runs from Asheville southeast to Columbia, S. C, crossing the main line at Spartanburg, and passing through Sk\land, Fletchers, Arden, Hendersonville, F'lat Rock, Saluda, Tvron and Landrum. The direct line to the resorts of Florida and eastern (icorgia is from Charlotte, via Columbia, S. C, Savannah, Ga., and Jacksonville. K R ^,'5 Ct;Cq ;^ SALISBURY 7/7e GrAfrYMfA>C/f(?^fj^fl3S/ To d NAT'URAL PARADI5E.. 1 HE northern traveler, en route to Asheville, the T natural centre ot this scenic and climatic paradise, leaves the main line ot the Southern Railway at Salis- burv, N. C. Here he gets his first glimpse of this wonderful country. From Salisbury to the summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains (which must be passed before this en- chanting region is entered), the scenery is on a scale of ever-increas- ing grandeur. Vista after vista appears before the enraptured eyes of the traveler, each more enchanting than its predecessor, until, as the train plunges into the abyssmal darkness of the Swannanoa tunnel at the summit of the Blue Ridge, the curtain is, as it were, abruptly drawn down on the eastern out-look, only to rise again in a few minutes on what is virtually the second act of this most mag- nificent natural spectacle. The view, as the train emerges from the blackness of the tunnel, is strikingly beautiful. Nearby stands Black Mountain, one of the giants of this land of peaks and crags; in the far distance loom the lofty mountains of eastern Tennessee, indis- tinct in the haze and of but slightly deeper tint than the marvellously blue sky that spreads its canopy over all; and between lie the fertile fields, the broad plains, the rolling hills, and the dense forests of this superb region. Clear Streams ana Sparklivg Cascades Abound in the Land of the Skv fro in ^Jie^ ^W^ST cl^TZa 50UTH OLUMBIA is the junction point for "The Land of Cthe Skv" from eastern Georgia and Florida, direft lines running thither from Charleston, S. C, Savannah and Brunswick, Ga. , and Jacksonville, Fla. Another branch runs from I Augusta, Ga., passing'through Aiken. Passengers from the Gulf States and the Southwest can reach "The Land of the Sky" by way of Mobile, Ala., Atlanta, Ga., and Spartanburg, S. C, transferring to the Asheville Division at the last-namedj point. From [[Mobile another route runs via Birmingham and Chattanooga, making connections for Atlanta at Birmingham, Ala. From Greenville, Miss., a branch runs direct to Atlanta, passing through West Point, Miss., and Birmingham and Anniston, Ala. Chattanooga, Tenn., is the principal junction point for travelers from the Middle West and Southwest. Direct routes run to Chat- tanooga as follows ; From Memphis, passing through Corinth, Tus- cumbia, and Decatur; from New Orleans and Birmingham, by way of Attalla. The route from the North, Cincinnati, O., Lexington, Ky. , and Louisville, is via jellico or Harriman junction and Knoxville. Passengers from St. Louis and points north and west of that city have a choice of two routes and can travel south to Corinth and east to Chattanooga, or east to Louisville and Lexington, Ky., and thence south. The line from Chattanooga also runs via Knoxville, connecting with the Asheville branch at Morristown. o The Lofty and Fantastic Figine of Chimney Rock 5CENIC GLORIES or T-HE, Ls\TMJD ^or= ^/?e 5 KY UCH has been written concerning the superb scen- Mery of this unrivalled section; much more might still be written, and its glories would even then be far in advance ot the most glowing description. From the moment the traveler enters this region until duty else- where forces him to leave it, naught that is unpleasing meets his eye. With a soil of unsurpassed fertility its verdure is of the deep- est and most beautiful hue; its rolling hills enchantingly hem in its placid lakes, its broad rivers and its rippling streams, while its strikingly picturesque and lofty mountains — famed alike for their number and their size — form the background for innumerable scenes ot natural beauty and grandeur. Any one ot its massive peaks, placed elsewhere, would be an object of striking beauty. Here, surrounded by scores ot others equally grand, its majesty is com- parative, though none the less pleasing, and the ensemble is one ot unparalleled loveliness. From the Blue Ridge to the mountains of eastern Tennessee there are many chains and ranges of superb proportions, their summits outlined and accentuated by numerous towering peaks. Their primeval forests cover their rugged sides and make dark and umbrageous the deep ravines and narrow valleys that lie between their precipitous flanks. Pines ot manv kinds car- pet the ground with their discarded foliage, and during spring, sum- mer, and early autumn the spreading leaty branches ot other trees form luxuriant canopies of living green. From out these rock-strewn declivities and leat-canopied slopes spring crystal streams which gather volume and force as they speed, and, finally uniting in their descent to the more level districts at the base ot the mountains, torm the broad and beautiful rivers for which this charming land is noted. Tfye CLIMATE, OF TflE. The "glorious climate" of other localities is often descanted upon hv writers portraying the attractions ot favorite resorts. That ot western North Carolina really deserves this appellation more truly than many much-higher-vaunted localities. The biting edge of the northern winter is neither felt nor feared, and scorching sub-tropical heat never invades the boundaries. Winter is here crisp, cool, bracing, delightful ; and summer a period of comfortable warmth, pleasant and agreeable to the invalid and full of attractive- ness to the healthy and vigorous. The claims made for the climate of this region are strong, but they do not lack for the best and strongest corroboration. The official government records of the climate of western North Carolina, which are unimpeachable evidence, give the following averages: Spring, 53.49° F. ; summer, 70.72° F. ; autumn, 53.48° F.; winter, mean for the whole ^K. aHSHLc /iMHH^B*'^. iSRl ' >V year of 54. I 5° F. , and a mean relative humidity of but 65 per cent. .S'. liking Landscapes., Ever Pt- event- ing New and Attractive Faces ^ a TJje. FA5CINAT10IVL SCENERY. HE charm of this land is real and apparent, its T delights are an actualitv. The visitor who does not "enthuse" over its scenic glories has yet to visit it. Perhaps the most notable and complete surrender to the fascination of its physical charms is its choice by Geo. W. Vanderbilt, Esq., as a site for his estate, "Biltmore," within two miles of the citv of Asheville, and nearly the exact cen- tre of this scenic wonderland. "Biltmore," which rightly claims to be the finest residential property in America, comprises fully a hundred thousand acres that have been beautified and rendered park- like under the personal supervision o\ Frederick Law Olmstead, the eminent landscape artist. Mr. Vanderbilt' s residence — which is said to have cost more than $3,000,000 — occupies the most com- manding site in this splendid domain, and is considered the master- piece of its designer, the late Richard M. Hunt, America's most famous architect. The edifice is magnificent in its proportions, admirably placed, and is surrounded by broad lawns and lux- uriant gardens. The pre- serves, forests, and imm.e- diate grounds are traversed by many miles of perfect roads, which wind in and out over the splendid ex- panse of this unequalled estate. Biltmoi c, I lie Fines/ Riside7ilial Properly in A merica m Keniliiorth Inn^ Ashei'ille, Charmingly Situated in a Splendid Pri'vate Park ^5HEVILLL 7/7? CITY and JTs nOT'E.L^ f- SHE\'ILLE, the central city of this favored region, I 1^ is a place of considerable importance, has more than / % fourteen thousand inhabitants, and presents an air ot ± ^ municipal prosperity much in advance ot cities con- siderably larger in size. Jt possesses several large and fine hotels, an opera house, an auditorium for conventions, an art gallery, a public library, and manv handsome public buildings and institutions. Its trolley service is excellent, and lines reach all the outlying suburbs. The larger hotels are the Battery Park and the Kenilworth Inn, which accom- modate 600 guests each. The former is located in the center of the city and is surrounded bv beautifully kept and park-like grounds. The hotel is modern in style, and is maintained in a manner that stamps it as one of the foremost hotels among American health resorts. The Kenilworth Inn is located about two miles from the city proper, at the entrance to "Biltmore," the magnificent residential property of George W. V^anderbilt, Esq. Kenilworth Inn is charmingly sit- uated in a park of great beautv, and the views from its piazzas and upper windows are superb. The hotel is splendidly equipped, and is managed in a manner that would do credit to metropolitan hostelries. Another attraftive hotel is the Manor — of English quaintness — lo- cated in Albemarle Park, a traft of thirty-four acres, which is on the trolley line about twenty-live minutes ride from Asheville Station. Besides these three, which are open the year round, Asheville boasts of a number of others, smaller, but still excellent in all respefts. Among these are the Viftoria Inn, Swannanoa, Berkeley, Glen Rock, Oaks, Rock Lodge and Winyah Sanitarium. There are a number of moderate-priced boarding houses, caring for from ten to fifty guests, with home comforts and surroundings. Cottages can be rented bv the month or season. [mwrgj^^ J c ».. ./r5HE.VILLE 77Z 5UMME:P^ i^'y/^ AKEN in its entirety — both as regards its surround- Tings and its facilities — Asheville more nearly than any other city in America meets all the requirements of a natural sanitarium and health resort. For tem- perature and climate it is unrivalled. In summer the heat is never excessive or uncomfortable ; in winter the cool air is invigorating, without a touch of chill. Mildness charac- terizes the atmosphere of this capital of health at all sea- sons ot the year, and Asheville has come to be known as the finest ' ' all-the-y ear-round resort in the United States. Its season is alwavs, its hotels never close, and the visitor is made welcome whenever he arrives, whether it be with the opening leaves of spring, the perfumed flowers of summer, the falling leaves of the dying year, or in the depths of the winter. At all times he will find Asheville a pleasant spot, full of life, of colo and of enjoyment, rich with possibilities for health or recreation. At no time is out-ot-door life in this region impossible, but always attractive. Situated some 2,000 feet above the sea level, the Asheville plateau possesses an atmosphere at once dry and bracing. Its climate being perennially mild, there is never danger for the most delicate constitution, nor discomfort for the more hardv. The Battery Park Asheville' $ most st) iking Architectural Orname7il "Hills, valleys, rivers and forests abound, and so diversify this intramontane expanse as to make it im- measurably lovely to the eye and restful to the spirit. In scenery it is superb, in temperature delightful, and in climate matchless." KJ D I T«LG and D RJ V I >LG about yi 5 H EV I L L E HE drives round about Asheville are unexcelled anv- T where for the lovely views they afford. Horseback riding is in great favor, but bicycling is indulged in only by the more vigorous on account ot the hills. Automobiling is increasing in tavor. Out-of-door life, especially with tourists, is the rule, and there are mountains near enough to be considered for a day's excursion which \vill tax the endurance and skill of all save the professional Alpine climber. During the spring and early summer these mountain sides are radiant with the bloom of the laurel, the rhododendron and the azalea, and for miles along the edge of the Swannanoa its banks are one solid mass of these exquisite flowers. Along the frequented portions of tourist-travel in this region are well-kept highways and boulevards that invite the enthusiastic rider or driver. In addition to these the mountain trails supply many more attractive routes for equestri- ans, their pine-carpeted paths being ideal footways for saddle horses, while their locations and surroundings are of the most picturesque nature. To visit western North Carolina and not ride over its less-trequented roads and its mountain trails on horseback is to miss the most characteristic features of its charming scenery. Asheville'' s Higlnvays and Boulevai ds In vile the Enthusiastic Ride) and Driver. MOUR.TAIN: TRAILS about ./r>S«E,VILLE. OR those who wish to get awav from the roads tre- Fquented bv the majority ot tourists and to penetrate farther into the mountains than is usually done by the horse-back riders, there are a number of picturesque points in the mountains which can be reached by a one or two davs' tramp from Asheville. One ot the most delightful starting points for the tramping tourist is Mountain Meadows. This place is six miles from Asheville, and from it many trails extend in various directions deep into the Craggy range, reaching an altitude within a few miles of Mountain Meadows Inn of 5,000 feet and upwards. A good trail leads to Bull Gap, five miles distant, and from Bull Gap eastward towards Craggy a new trail is now building. This trail is now completed to Rocky Knob, an altitude of 5,000 feet. The Mitchell trail (reaching to the top of Mt. Mitchell, an alti- tude of 67 I I feet) has been changed during the past year. This mountain was formerly reached by a route up the north fork of the Swannanoa River, but since Asheville has acquired the north fork of the Swannanoa as a water-shed, all the old roads and trails through the property have been closed Mt. Mitchell is now reached bv a good trail from Montreat over Gravbeard Mountain. One of the points least frequented and little known is Richland Knob. This mountain lies twelve miles northeast of Asheville in the Craggy Range, at an altitude of 5300 feet. Of the points nearer Asheville, Gouch's Peak, six miles to the north; Elk Moun- tain, seven miles to the north; and Deaver's View, six miles to the west, offer easily accessible points with good trails and fine views. For those who wish to go even farther from the beaten track, the Great Smokies and the Unakas on the Murphv branch of the Southern Railway offer what are practically unexplored mountain tops, with but {^\N well-defined trails and with plenty of places that will tax even the most hardy and self-reliant mountain chmber. not SPRJKG5 o7i^^f^7M besf known OT SPRINGS, second in size among the resorts of Hthis region, lies northwest of Asheville, and near to the Tennessee State line. Its importance as a health resort has been known and valued for more than a hundred vears. Settled in 1771, it antedates every other Southern water-cure locality, and the curative benefits ot its thermal springs have been utilized since 1790. These springs are wonderfully remedial in cases of gout, rheumatism and kindred mala- dies, and many remarkable cures have been recorded and authenti- cated. For the entertainment of the tourist and the invalid. Hot Springs offers every modern comfort. The largest hotel, the Moun- tain Park — open the year round — is capable of accommodating more than five hundred guests, and is exceptionally popular among tourists, it is unexcelled, either in its appointments or its management, by anv hotel in the South. Its location is superb, being attractively placed in a private park of more than four thousand acres, which is artistically laid out and traversed by well-kept roads. On the grounds belonging to the hotel is the Wana Luna golf course, one of the most beautiful in America. In addition to the Mountain Park, Hot Springs has several other excellent hotels, among them being Edge Cliff Cottage and Bonny Brow. There are also a number of boarding houses where good accommodations can be secured at moderate cost. Afouiitani lark half I. HLTa)E.R.501vLVILLL. \^ I C I T^ IT^ Y. F the traveler is seeking the charms of scenery as well I as the benefits of renewed health, he should take the trip to Hendersonville, 2 i miles southeast of Ashe- ville. Hendersonville is in the very heart of the mountains, on a gently sloping plateau surrounded by storm-beaten summits towering above her on every side. This plateau is the centre of concentric circles of mountain ranges, each range rising higher and higher as they are more removed from the centre, thus making Hendersonville the objective point from which mav be seen panoramic views of rare beauty. Lying 2253 feet above sea-Ievel and sheltered, as it is, by Jump- OfF Mountain and its out-lying spurs to the west and northwest, it escapes the fierce heat of the lowlands and the frosty favors of the cloudland heights, and enjoys an equableness of temperature and a charm of atmosphere which approximates the acme of climatic conditions. Hendersonville is a town of 2200 population; possessing three large and up-to-date hotels. The Imperial, The Wheeler and the Blue Ridge Inn, each with a capacity of 250 to 300 guests, besides many boarding houses that meet both the exigencies of moderate means and of affluence. Here passen- gers take the Transylvania R. ^ R., which now runs to Lake Toxaway, for the b e a u t i f u 1 Sapphire Coun- trv. The Land of the Skv is Filled with Scenic Surprises n /ro^^A^ 5 H E.V I L L E. To TDf^ ]VANtAHALA5. SHEVILLE is the natural centre of this region, both A from its many railroad connections and because from it radiate nearly all the direct routes to the points of interest with which this section is replete. The route from Asheville to Wavnesvi'.le and Murphy is per- haps the most spectacular trip in this land of scenic surprises. The railway penetrates the very heart of the mountains, through a deep, rocky gorge, and by the side of a rushing mountain stream, where precipitous peaks tower high above the roadbed on either side, where the sunlight scarce can enter, and where the enclosing cliffs seem ever to be disputing the passage of the train. There are kaleidoscopic changes of scene at everv twist and turn ot the track: now fleeting glimpses of distant mountains through rifts and vallevs, and again the closing in of the chasm until its vertical or over-hanging walls seem almost to touch the side of the cars. Beneath and ever in sight runs the flashing and foam-flecked river injits swift descent to the fertile fields below. Pictnt esqne River hanks Attractive Riven, Forests, and Mountains Fill Every Field of Vie^v 5APPniFJL COURTIOt NE ot the most enjoyable trips from Ashcville O throughout all this vast area of hill and dale, field and forest, is the tour of the "Sapphire Country," as the district around Lakes Toxawav, Fairfield and Sapphire has come to be called. These deep and clear bodies of fresh water are completely surrounded by forests and mountains. The great natural beauty ot the landscape has not as yet been marred by the hand of man, his onlv encroachment upon the s\'lvan solitude having been the erection of splendid hotels on attractive sites, and the construction of excellent carriage roads upon which to reach them. In physical contour and characteristics this region has been frequently compared to the English Lakes District, to which it is not entirely dissimilar in aspect ; but, while the resemblance is fre- quently striking, the Sapphire Country is, as a whole, vastly grander in every wa\'. Its mountains and cliff-'s are more than twice the height of their English compeers; its cataracts aud torrents larger and more impressive; its lakes bluer, deeper and more picturesquely framed bv the loftv peaks that tower above them; while the rugged natural beauty of the surrounding hills, mountains and crags still bears the impress of their primeval birth and is as yet entirely free from the softening touches of civilization. The lover of mountain- climbing can here find the maximum of enjoyment and the mini- mum of danger. In the foreground of this magnificent natural pano- rama stands Toxaway, one of the finest view-points in this scenic paradise. From its easily-attained summit more than one hundred peaks are visible, among them being Mount Mitchell, Mount Pisgah, Old Whitesides, Rabun, and a host of others. „ The massive wall of Old Whitesides towers — but two miles away — more than i,8oo feet into the air, the onlv mountain cliff of such noble proportions to be found in America east of the Rockv Moun- tains. From the sum- mit of Toxawav the spectator' s eve can take in the whole of the ,^*«.^_,, ,.,m^m,i^r'i!mmt__\Wi ■^^i»*ifpip» alls J'o.rauay I mi at Lake 'J'oxawu\ 5APPniRX COURTR-Y. beautiful Piedmont plateau, and in the distance the rugged and pic- turesque outlines ot the Smokv Mountains ot eastern Tennessee loom hazy and indistinct, blending sottlv into the scarceh- less deep blue ot the azure sky. More than iiftv waterfalls and cataracts are to be found in this charming region, one of them being fully 370 feet high, a worthy rival ot some of the noted fills of the Yellowstone Valley. The mountain peaks that fill this picturesque region are interest- ing not merely for their number, which is considerable, but bv rea- son of their height and grandeur. Here one majestic peak after another rears its loftv head on high, each apparently striving to over- top its neighbor. More than eighty of these peaks tower from 5,000 to 6,000 feet above the sea-level, and no fewer than forty- three exceed 6,000 feet, twent\-three ot these latter being taller than Mount Washington, the giant of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Mount Mitchell (6,680 feet), highest of this con- gress of giants, surpasses Mount Washington bv 425 feet, while Mount Guyot (6,636 feet), and Clingman's Dome (6,600 feet) are neither of them much inferior to their taller neighbor, while both greatly exceed in height, shape and sublimity the White Moun- tain champion. Mount Mitchell enjoys the proud distinction ot being the tallest peak in the United States east of the Rocky Moun- tains. Travelers will find the Toxawav Inn at Lake Toxawav, the Sapphire Inn at Lake Sapphire, Fairfield hin at Lake Fairfield, and Mountain Lodge on the summit of Toxaway, excellent modern hotels with the latest and most improved facilities and advantages. V^isitors from the North and East can reach the Sapphire Country via Asheville and Hen- dersonville, N. C; from the South and Southwest via Spar- tanburg, S. C, and Hendersonville and Brevard; from the North and North- west via Knoxville, Asheville, and Brevard. The Transylvania Rail- road has been extended and now runs direct to Lake Toxawav. The Ilomc-Uke Hotel Fiarikhn at Brevard, N. C. A Few of the Sparkling Cascades or the Sapphire Country GB^ARD FATn E R^ MOUN.TAIM REGIOK MONG the notable tours in western North Caro- Alina none is more enjoyable than that to Grandfather Mountain and the Blowing Rock region beyond Lenoir. It is reached by train from Asheville to Hickory, and thence to Lenoir. This little town has a population of about 2,000, and is very attractive. It is built upon an elevated table and between two ranges of moun- tains, and the horizon line is broken at all points by the graceful summits of the surrounding peaks. From Lenoir to Cranberry — near the Tennessee State hne — a distance of fifty-six miles, extends a magnificent mountain boulevard that is equalled only by the splendid roads of the European Alps. The drive over this superb scenic highway is one not to be missed, and is an experience that lingers long and pleasantly in the memory. Vistas of forest-clad summits, of rocky crests and of distant mountain ranges flit r:omentarilv by, fleeting visions of lovely valleys and glimpses of crystal streams, which rapidly succeed one another, while dizzy heights and deep-shadowed gorges appear frequently on either hand. In almost every view there stands forth the grim outlines of Grandfather Mountain — so called from the fancied resemblance of its profile to that of an aged man — the prime motif of these striking landscapes, never unin- teresting, ever presenting a new face to the spectator, and appearing all the more lofty and imposing because of its nearness to the beholder. To the south and west may be frequently seen Mount Mitchell, Hawk's Bill and King's Mountain. At Blowing Rock, where the traveler should stop and leisurely enjoy the magnificent views, are three excellent hotels — the Wau- tauga, the Blowing Rock and the Green Park. From Blowing Grandfather Movnlam^-Crim and Gray in its Solitary Giaudrm L I TSL V I L L £ P._E.G I O isL. Rock to Linville and on to Cranberry, the scenery tones down some- what in ruggedness and grandeur, but loses not one whit ot its picturesque natural beauty. The twenty miles' drive from Blowing Rock to Linville is over a road that has few superiors in America. For miles it traverses the forest primeval, and from one point furnishes a wide-spread view of matchless grandeur and from another a glimpse of some sweet, quiet vallev, with, perchance, the modest home of some mountaineer and its little clearing far below. Nine and a half miles beyond Blowing Rock the traveler comes to the eastern boundary of the great park of I 6,000 acres owned by the Linville Improvement Company, and the fiist view is had of the beautiful Linville River from a point 1,500 feet above it. Nestling in the heart of the vallev is the charming Esceola Inn and its surrounding cottages. The Inn is of modern architecture, and has all the conveniences found in the best resort hotels. From the Esceola Inn the main road continues to Cranberry, and from this point the railroad may be taken to grand old Roan Mountain, in Tennessee, or on to Knoxville. Near Cranberry, in Mitchell Count\-, and at an altitude of 3,750 feet above sea-level, is the Pineola Inn, a charming colonial hotel, newly built and modernly furnished. It is within driving distance of Linville, Blowing Rock, Cranberry (its post-ofhce address), and within a short distance of Grandfather Mountain (altitude 5,985 feet), and the beautiful falls of the Linville River. Esceola Inn, Linville, N. C, and tls Piciuresgjie Su rroun dings RE50BJr5 LAT ROCK, one of the most charming ot the lesser F resorts ot western North Carolina, three miles hevond Hendersonville, is a spot where many prominent people from southern cities spend the summer months. Its resemblance to English rural scenery is striking, and it has often been described as a little corner of England tucked down in this North Carolina paradise. Here is located Heidelberg House — open the year round — which accommodates about one hundred people. Tryon, fortv-three miles from Asheville, and twenty-seven from Spartanburg, is 1,500 feet above the sea-level. The scenery here- abouts is beautiful beyond description. The mountains are covered to their verv tops with verdure, and whether in spring, summer or autumn, the ever-changing picture is one of matchless beauty, charm- ing and delightful to the eye. Here are located two charming and home-like hotels. Oak Hall, located in a park within walking dis- tance of the station and on one of the most commanding sites in "The Land of the Sky," affords a grand and impressive view of the outlying mountain range and valley below. This hotel, open the year round, is conducted on the New England style, and is one of the most popular hotels in that section. The Mimosa Inn, located at Lynn, several miles from Trvon, is a new hotel with all modern improvements; has accommodations for one hundred people and is easily reached bv comfortable conveyances from Tryon. These, with a number of moderate-priced boarding houses, offer excellent accommodations. Pacolet River is famed for its waterfalls and cas- cades, and for those of its tributary streams. Horseshoe Falls, on Spring Mountain, plunge down the mountain side a distance of more than 350 feet. A good road leads to the top of Rocky Spur, a peak 4,000 feet high, 4 trip that can he made between breakfast and din- ner; and the sightseer will find a comfortable hotel, the Skvuka, near the top of Tryon Mountain, passing en route under the celebrated Horseshoe Falls. The roads about Tryon are excellent, and a dav's drive in the vicinity is a delightful experience that will not soon be forgotten. Another section that attracts many visitors because of its grand scenery is that about Hickorv Nut Gap and Chimney Gap. It is almost due east fromi Asheville, and may be reached from that city bv mountain conveyance. The trip will amply repay the tourist, for the rugged, dizzy heights and the deep, sombre gorges are fasci- natingly grand and beautifully sublime. There is a hotel at Chimney Gap which is well kept and furnishes excellent accommodations. There are many other places in the "Land of the Skv" besides those mentioned which the traveler can readily find, and in which he can rest or climb or ride amid most charming scenes. It is well to note that while many of the resorts in this famous region are among the finest and most fashionable in America, there are to be had in most places modest accommodations and more moderate prices, either at smaller and less pretentious hotels, or in excellent boarding houses. Of these latter, numbers may be found in all the localities named or referred to. (^ A ILXAL .SPOBJ'.SMAXvS p>i Rja d I ^ el . ^^~ ESTERN North Carolina is tlie true sportsman's W paradise. Here lie can "rough it" to heart's con- tent, and rough it without inconvenience or dis- comfort, tor out-door lite in this favored region offers continuous pleasure and entails no hardships. Camp- ing is here an ideal life, enjovahle bevond measure, and presenting none ot the difficulties present in less accessible regions. Small game is plentiful, and a tall vacation spent among these sylvan glades will prove an outing never to be forgotten, and to be re- peated as often as opportunity afl-'ords. Fishing is a sport that may here be enjoyed to the uttermost. The rivers that rise in this mountain are notable for their number, their volume and their beautv. They are splendidly stocked with fish, among which the native black bass predominates. California or rainbow trout have been placed in the larger rivers, and many are already of a size comparable with the famous fish of the salmon rivers of the State of Maine and the Province of Quebec. All of the streams of this region — both large and small — are periodically stocked with trout, providing the finest of sport for the enthusiastic wielder ot rod and reel. The equals of western North Carolina's trout streams are far to seek and difficult to find. In number and size thev are remarkable, comprising such rivers as the Hiwassee, Tennessee, Pigeon, French Broad, Nolechuckv and Wautauga, flowing westward into the Mississippi ; the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin, flowing east- ward to the Atlantic; and the New River, which flows north to the Ohio. There are also hundreds of trib- utary streams, whose haded pools are the li credit a rv lurking- places of the small but gamy mountain trout. d OPPORfTUNITIEvS for rne ekjoymenj O/^ G O L m UT-DOOR life in this charming country presents Omore attractions and fewer disadvantages than at any other American resort. Hence it is but natural that out-door sports, games and recreations of all kinds are generously provided for, and are to he found at all prominent places throughout this section. Among games, golt naturally takes the lead by reason ot its great popularity. No bet- ter golf links are to be found in the country than those at Asheville, and excellent courses have been provided at all the principal re- sorts and at manv ot the minor ones. Among the well-known places that pav marked attention to this popular sport and provide special facilities for its enjoyment are Asheville, Hot Springs and Pinehurst. The Swannanoa Golf Club, at Asheville, is a large and flourishing organization, with a fine club house. The Wana Luna Golf Club is located at Hot Springs, on the grounds of the Mountain Park Hotel. At Pinehurst there are two fine courses, one of i 8 holes and another of 9. Not the least among the attractions of this section is the character and variety ot its vegetation. So varied is this that it is a matter of government record that of the twenty-two kinds of oaks native to the United States, North Carolina can boast of nineteen ; of five spruces she has four; ot eight hickories she has six ; while of eight diiferent kinds ot pine, and seven ot magnolia, she possesses all. Of flowers, terns and grasses no other land ot similar area has so long a list, and ot fruits the varieties are almost end- less. TATE. ^PRITSLGS TENNESSEE MOUN^TAINS. ATE SPRING, situated in the mountains of eastern r I A Tennessee, at the southern base ot Clinch Mountain, I is called the "Carlsbad ot America." To its charming location, at an altitude ot 1,410 tect, it adds attrac- tiveness ot atmosphere and climate and surrounding scenery ot great natural beautv. Tate Spring is unsurpassed any- where for the remedial effect ot its waters, and the yolume is untailing and equal to the greatest demand. The flow is several thousand gallons daily and the temperature ot the water remains constant at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is mildly laxative or powertullv cathartic according to the quantity taken, and is a positive specific for dyspepsia and kindred maladies. Its tonic properties are also re- markable, and in cases ot insomnia and nervous disorders it has worked marvelous cures. Tate Spring Hotel, which has been recently enlarged, is a capacious and handsome structure, attractively placed in beautiful grounds, and is kept open the year round. It has everv modern convenience, including electric lights, steam heat, private baths, etc. Many ot the rooms have open fire-places. There are spacious parlors and verandas, and a large ball room. A fine orches- tra is constantly in attendance. ?s X V. ,. Tate Spring is easy of access, being located one and a halt iTiiles from Bean Station on the K. & B. R'y, which connects with the Southern Railway at Morristown, Tenn. Taie Spiing Ilnifl, Tale Sp)ivg, Tennessee a V I L L yV G E. -O/^ p nME.mjPvv//r. INEHURST is nestled among the pine-clad hills ot P Moore County, at an elevation ot" six hundred and fifty feet above the level of the sea. It is not within the actual boundaries of the "Land of the Sky," but is one of North Carolina's famous resorts. The sand- hill region of the State of North Carolina has been long tamed as a natural sanitarium, an elysium where nature is lavish ot her gifts conductive to that greatest boon to mankind, health.' It is a matter of historv that no case ot consumption ever originateci here. Pinehurst has an attractive casino, four fine hotels, the principal one, the Carolina, being a magnificent structure, one ot the largest and finest in North Carolina. The other three are the Holly Inn, Berkshire Inn and Harvard. There are also a number ot attractive cottages, which mav be rented furnished at small cost tor the season. Special attention is paid to golf at this resort, ''and the links and club house are among the very best in the entire South. The season at Pinehurst is from about December i 5th to April 30th, and the Southern Railway offers special accommodations to and from the East and North to Pinehurst. FR \NK rRESUREY CC, NEW YOR ■'%: