Residents of the Pisgah don't typically trace their roots to Dixie. Instead, it's the mountains that define their cultural heritage. The region is the epicenter of the 300-year-old Appalachian folk arts and crafts tradition. Affluent tourists have also been coming here for over a hundred years to rest and recuperate in the fresh mountain air. The eclectic city of Asheville reflects the mingling of mountain and cosmopolitan culture that gives the Pisgah its distinct flavor. It also makes a great base camp for excursions into the high country.