Tucked between the rolling foothills and the soaring Blue Ridge Mountains, Wilkes County, North Carolina, invites you to experience life with a little more flavor and a whole lot more soul. Whether tapping your toes at the birthplace of MerleFest, sipping craft cider overlooking apple orchards, or hiking trails that wind through storybook forests, you’re not just visiting – you’re stepping into a Wilkes State of Mind.