ProMotional Content SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS ATTRACTIONS The 2016 Grand Tour Come on along as we begin a scenic, historic and culturally rich journey from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia south into western North Carolina, east Tennessee and North Georgia. Nineteen great stops in all. By Joe Tennis From the splendid Shenandoah Cav- erns of Virginia to the rugged Rock City on the Tennessee-Georgia line and venturing to the whitewater rushing beside the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina, great sights await among the Southern Highlands Attractions. This elite group of must-sees mixes legendary landmarks like the Lost Sea and Luray Caverns with the award-winning and ever-changing showplaces of the Barter Theatre and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Traveling to these varied venues means discovering the best of what the mountains have to offer. Go for rides on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Tweetsie Railroad, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway or the Gatlinburg Sky Lift. Study the majesty of the Biltmore, hike the boulders of Grandfather Mountain or just feel the breeze on the Blowing Rock. Venture east to discover North Carolina's Old Salem. And immerse yourself in the culture of the Cherokees at the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you'll find a trio of treasures - Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Oconaluftee Indian Village and the critically acclaimed "Unto These Hills" Outdoor Drama. And do you want waterfalls? Well, check out the Hickory Nut Falls at Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina or Ruby Falls dropping underground in Tennessee. southernhighlands.org 3http://www.southernhighlands.org