The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, adjacent to park headquarters, is an essential stop for anyone in the Asheville area. Interactive exhibits emphasize the natural history, cultural history, and recreational opportunities in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge region. The center’s 22 foot map of the entire Parkway and a free, award-winning high definition movie make this place an integral part of a Parkway visit. This jointly staffed visitor center is open year round and features Parkway information, and Blue Ridge National Heritage Area regional information, promoting, preserving, and celebrating the region’s living traditions of crafts, music agriculture, and Cherokee heritage.