Last Chance to Visit Grandfather Vineyard!

As the first winery and vineyard in Watauga County, Grandfather Vineyard has made the headlines! 

Owned by Steve and Sally Tatum, Grandfather Winery has been around since 2003 and has become a much appreciated part of the High Country. With 16 different wines to taste and enjoy, Grandfather Winery can be a great evening activity. You are welcome to book an appointment for a group visit, or come upon your own idea. Are you looking for a venue to host a wedding? Grandfather Winery might be the perfect place with the romantic setting, picturesque views, and calm sounds of the Watauga River. Their season ends October 31st, so make sure to book now!

For tickets and information, visit http://www.grandfathervineyard.com/!

Fall Festivals This Season!!!!

Join in the fun at Honey Bear Campground!!

Every year, Honey Bear Campground hosts it's fall festival. The campground offers spots to pitch tents, park an RV, and enjoy the season!

Hop on the hayride throughout the campground as it takes you over to the pumpkin patch! Pick the perfect pumpkin to take back to your site, join in carving activities, and get ready to sit down and watch a movie on the lawn. Stroll through the spider maze, and check out the local vendors. At night, take the big kids to the Haunted Hillbilly Hunting event, but be prepared to be scared! 

For more information, visit http://www.honeybearcampground.com/catalog/ and plan your trip!

Check Out the Valle Country Fair!!

An annual festival that hosts 10,000 visitors, the Valle Country Fair is the event to attend!! It feels like autumn here with freshly pressed apple cider, hot out-of-the-kettle apple butter, live music and crafts from all over the high country! 

The festival only happens one day out of the year, so make sure to visit! October 19th, the third Saturday of the month, from 9am-4pm near the Valle Crucis elementary school! For more information, visit http://www.vallecountryfair.org/index.html!

Woolly Worm Festival is Baaaackkk!!!

Ready for action? It's back!!!! The 36th Annual Woolly Worm Festival!!! Believe it or not, last year over 20,000 people traveled to Banner Elk, NC to watch these furry creatures race up the Woolly Worm Wall.

Woolly Worm Judging Can Be Hard!

Worm trainers nurse their pets year round in preparation for the event. The fastest woolly worm can win their owner up to $1000! But how did this all start? Back in the 70's, Jim Morton photographed the little worms for his magazine, as they're known to predict the winter weather. After he did, he realized there was no event held to officially recognize which worm would be the predictor for the season, and then, the Woolly Worm Festival came to life!

Don't worry, there are many things to do at the festival. 140 vendors from all over the area setup booths with arts and crafts native to the High Country. Come on down to Banner Elk October 19th and 20st, or snatch a cabin for the weekend, and watch these critters crawl! For more information on times and even how to race a woolly worm, visit the website www.woollyworm.com!

One of the Most Beautiful Times of the Year

With the open mountain ranges, the clear air, harvest sunsets, no one can resist the High Country during the changing of the leaves. The colorful season usually starts in October and only lasts but a few weeks. When the cool fronts mosey in, the leaves all start to paint themselves in deep reds, oranges, and golds. Long range views from the parkway and cabins give for a Norman Rockwell vision of autumn, something truly beautiful that makes it worth the while.

The High Country has been featured in literature all over the world for this surreal time of year, and many majestic events and festivals take part in making it as beautiful as possible. So make your plans now, as it's still warm enough for hiking, outdoor activities, and the parkway and Grandfather Mountain are open!

Ski Season Is Here!

It's the High Country's time to shine! The season for winter sports is here, and looks to be a good one!

Known to be the best place for skiing and snowboarding in North Carolina, we have three wonderful resorts that are on the ball winter-long. If you're staying up in the Boone/Blowing Rock area, check out App Ski Mountain! You'll find ice skating, group lessons, awesome terrain parks and all you need for the family trip!

If you're staying in the Seven Devils/Sugar Mountain area, you know where to go! Sugar Mountain Resort has 20 slopes to choose from, along with a full resort at the top of the mountain. Book Sugar Top Condo and we'll guarantee you'll love your stay! If you're looking for some other fun winter activities, check out Hawks Nest Resort and give a go at some tubing! Located in Seven Devils, a great opportunity for the family.

Finally, the well-known Beech Mountain Resort will be open all season. Featuring local artists in the ski lodge, a huge skating rink and many events, you won't be disappointed.

So make sure to book your stay and get out on the slopes!

People You Know! Vol. 5

Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson

March 3, 1923 - May 29, 2012

     Singer, songwriter, guitarist, legend of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel... Doc Watson is an image in the High Country, and will always be a part of it.

     Born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, Doc was a native to the area. As he lost his vision at a young age, he was driven to keep going, to become something. After some hard labor work on his father's farm, Doc was able to obtain his first guitar, a Martin D-18. Over time and experimentation with other instruments, Ralph Rinzler suggested Watson stick to the guitar and banjo, where he would probably have a better chance at higher success. 

     Famous for his use of flatpicking and fingerpicking styles, Watson became one of bluegrass's most endured artists, and stayed at the top through 8 Grammys among handful of other awards.

     Doc passed this past May, and the whole community felt it. He'll forever be part of the High Country, and there are many tributes to him around town.

Doc Watson sculpture, on the corner of King and Depot Streets in Boone. The plaque on the bench reads "Just one of the People".

Watch Woolly Worms Wiggle!

So what's Banner Elk's biggest event of the year? The Woolly Worm Festival. Believe it or not, thousands of people drive in from all over the east coast to watch these furry creatures race up the Woolly Worm Wall, as participants train these worms year-round for the event. The Saturday winner will receive a $1000 cash prize, and the Sunday winner, $500.

Don't worry, there are many things to do at the festival. 140 vendors from all over the area setup booths with arts and crafts native to the High Country. Come on down to Banner Elk October 20th and 21st, or snatch a cabin for the weekend, and watch these critters crawl! For more information on times and even how to race a woolly worm, visit the website www.woollyworm.com

People You Know! Vol. 4

So we know the High Country is filled with a past and present of musicians, actors, and religious figures, but we'll also find the beginnings of the non-profit organization, Wine to Water. Doc Hendley, graduate of NC State University, moved to Boone, and made his dream of helping people around the world come true.


While bartending his way through college, Hendley had a life-changing idea. He would hold wine-tasting fundraisers in the area and apply the donations to helping people around the world get access to clean water.  Now, he sells bottles of wine all over the US, as each bottle also donates half it's cost to the organization. Over the past 9 years, Wine to Water has successfully helped 25,000 people gain access to clean water in Sudan, India, Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Peru, and Kenya. Hendley built the organization from the ground up, has made his headquarters in downtown Boone, and resides here with his wife and two children.

To show the respect Doc Hendley has been given, one can see that he was included in the Top 10 Finalists for CNN's Hero of the Year (among others such as Colin Powell and Ted Turner). We're lucky to have him.

Tweetsie’s Ghost Train Halloween Festival, a 'Spooktacular' Ride!

It's that time of the year! Enjoy the spooky month of October, as it's nearing Halloween. Tweetsie Railroad will be hosting it's traditional Ghost Train Halloween Festival every Friday and Saturday until October 27th. Riding through the Blue Ridge Mountains, the train will provide a frightening fun time!

Once the sun goes down, Casey Bones and his creepy crew emerge and guide you around the haunted the area. Riders will have chills and thrills as the train ventures through the forest and 3-D Maze, and the train ends with the opportunity to walk through Tweetsie's Haunted House, composed of 13 rooms that house ghosts and ghouls. 

Not everything is for adult scary fun, Tweetsie also has trick-or-treating for kids, the Creepy Carnival amusement rides, and a black light show at night.

Halloween at the Railroad really is a great time to get in the fall holiday spirit, and has been attracting people for years.

People You Know! Vol. 3

On July 14, 1952, evangelist Billy Graham and wife Ruth Bell Graham had a son, Franklin Graham. Born in Asheville, Graham grew up rebelling against his father's work, as it wasn't until the age of 22 that he became a Christian. Though graduating from Appalachian State, Graham has moved around all of North Carolina. He has become a very popular evangelist in the church, but with a bit of a new age difference following him around. Still practicing and travelling around the world, Graham has preached to more than 3 million people, just since 1989. Graham is now the president and CEO of evangelist group Samaritan's Purse, and is active in the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Franklin Graham now resides in Boone, North Carolina, who would've thought! Close to his father, if you've seen the Billy Graham Museum recently, you'll definitely know who Franklin is.

Kidfest at Grandfather Mountain

Looking for something fun to do now that its fall? Grandfather Mountain will be hosting the 9th annual Kidfest on Saturday, September 8th starting at 9:00 am. Not just for kids, the event is a fun-filled day for families to learn more about the nature and culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With guided hikes, storytelling, face painting, crafts and games, all ages can enjoy the event in the beautiful setting of Grandfather Mountain.

Getting up close to hawks, owls, and other animals from the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute at Lees-McRae College, everyone will be able to learn the importance of wildlife in the area and what we can do to protect the local habitat.

The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainably in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth’s resources.  For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.

Labor Day Weekend, Fly a Kite!

Coming up Labor Day Weekend? Looking for something fun? Make a trip to Beech Mountain and experience the Mile-High Kite Festival. Children of all ages are able to fly a kite 1 mile above sea level, and watch demonstrations from kite clubs all around the area. Face-painting and crafts, the event is fun for all ages, as the kite clubs will also hold a workshop focused on the building of kites.

The first 200 kids will be given kites to fly but participants are encouraged to bring their own. You'll also be able to buy ones in all colors and shapes from local vendors. Join them on Beech Mountain Sunday, September 2th between 9:00am - 4:00pm in the meadows on the top of Beech next to the Brick Over Pizzeria. For fun after the festival, check out the street dance from 7:00pm - 9:00pm, full of music and fun!

For more information, contact the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (800)-468-5506.

09/01/07. A Day in Appalachian's History

As Boone has become a bit of a college town, you'll feel the pride of ASU in the Appalachian Mountaineers Football team. For the past few decades, the team was a joke to the NCAA, always a warm-up opponent. Though, in 2007, the Mountaineers took a leap, which is now considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of American sports. 

September 1, 2007, Appalachian was scheduled to play the No. 5 ranked Michigan Wolverines. The game was played in Ann Arbor, MI, and was expected to be, once again, a warm-up game for the Big Ten team. Down the first quarter, most fans believed the expected would happen, but the game took a turn. By the fourth, with 1:37 left to go, Michigan up 32-31, things started to become tense. Quarterback Armanti Edwards led them on a 69-yard drive, without a timeout, that ended in a 24-yard field goal that gave the Mountaineers a 34–32 lead with 27 seconds left.Though Michigan tried for field goal with 6 seconds left, safety player Corey Lynch blocked the kick, leaving the Appalachian Mountaineers with a win. 

Because of this game, ASU has grown drastically, and is now a more prestigious public university in North Carolina.

5th Annual High Country Beer Fest

It's that time of the year! More than 50 breweries will be gathering at the Broyhill Center in Boone on Saturday, September 1st. Named one of the top 10 summer beer festivals by RoadTripsForBeer, the High Country Beer Fest really is an event to attend.

The event won't only have over 100 different beer tastings, it  also runs seminars on cheese pairing, pizza pairing, and chocolate pairing. There will be food tastings from local restaurants, and two different bands will be playing. You'll even receive a beer tasting glass to take home!

Tickets for the festival are $35, $10 for designated drivers. ID's will be checked at the door, as no one under 21 will be allowed through the gates (children 12 years or under may join their parents). Join them from 3 pm to 7 pm, and find directions on their website: High Country Beer Fest

First Friday's in the High Country

As most towns have First Friday activities, we do it a little bit differently up here. Each First Friday in Downtown Boone you'll find a popular Art Crawl. Advocates have been promoting a thriving arts community for years and care deeply about investing the area’s future; public art is an excellent avenue to emphasize our civic pride and unique culture. Event hours are typically from 5pm to 2am with galleries and shops open until 7:30pm, restaurants and bars open until 10pm or 2am and two late-night galleries, open on Art Crawl nights only, from 7pm to 12am. Also, check out Art Crawl Presents… a music event featuring one of our great local bands, from 10pm to 2am, at a new downtown location each month. Art Crawl: Food, Music, Shopping, Art & Spirits. Find yourself at the Jones House, and enjoy some music native to the High Country!

Next one is August 3rd, definitely worth the time!

Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain, one of the High Country's biggest attractions, is still in it's peak season. A paved road leads to one of mountain's several peaks (Linville Peak), and there visitors will find a museum, the famous "mile-high swinging bridge", and views of up to 100 miles (160 km) - on a clear day, it is possible to see the city skyline of Charlotte. The view also overlooks the Grandfather Mountain Golf and Country Club, which lies at the base of Grandfather Mountain. It has two 18-hole golf courses, one championship and one executive, each designed by Ellis Maples. The championship course is consistently ranked as the finest mountain course in the Carolinas.

Until 2008, Grandfather Mountain was privately owned and operated as a nature preserve and tourist attraction. It was and still is best known for its mile-high swinging bridge, the highest in America, built in 1952 by Hugh Morton. The bridge links two of the mountain's rocky peaks, and is known as the "swinging" bridge due to its tendency to sway in high winds. Morton inherited the mountain from his grandfather and developed the tourist attractions. He died on June 1, 2006 at the age of 85. After Morton's death, he donated all of his photographs, including many of Grandfather Mountain, Mildred the Bear, and many other aspects of life on the Mountain to Chapel Hill.

Grandfather Mountain really is a site to see. Make your way up there before it turns cold!

Linn Cove Viaduct

The Blue Ridge Parkway leads to many exciting outdoor adventures in the Appalachian region, and we're lucky enough to host one of the most interesting parts of it, the Linn Cove Viaduct.

As the Parkway was being constructed, there was a 7.5 mile section left to be completed. Because this distance between Blowing Rock and Linville included building around Grandfather Mountain, extra time had to be taken to come up with a plan that wouldn't hurt environment. The usual construction of mountain roads would leave Grandfather susceptible to rock slides, so a new bridge structure would need to be built. In 1979 construction started, as the bridge would take 153 segments, each weighing 50 tons.

After building for three years, the bridge was completed. It cost $9.8 million in total, but has won 12 national design awards and is the most popular section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

To find the viaduct, head onto the parkway towards milepost 304.6. Also, there are trails underneath the viaduct that should how truly amazing the structure is.

People You Know! Vol. 2

So we've heard the tunes of Widespread Panic and Michael Houser, but there are many more interesting people around the area... one of them being Robby Benson. Okay, so the name might not light a spark, but his accomplishments will.

Actor and director Robby Benson isn't a native to the High Country, but taught at Appalachian State for a long while. Though credited for many movies such as Ice Castles and Ode to Billy Joe, Benson will never be able to shake this family favorite... he was the voice for the Beast in Beauty and the Beast! As he's spoken about what all the film taught him, Benson began to mature and moved onto bigger projects which include directing and writing.

Now, Benson is still in the business and his most recent works were actually voices in other Disney movies (maybe he just found his niche!) Coming back to the High Country every once in awhile, teaching at Appalachian was definitely a memorable experience.

Raft, Hike, Bike, Golf, Fish!

Always time for more outdoor activities! There's never a lack of things to do around here, and the summer recreation season is booming. For a couple suggestions, try these places... they're some of our favorites!

Grandfather Mountain's 57th Highland Games Are Almost Here!

It's time again! Grandfather Mountain will the hosting the 57th Highland Games event on July 12-15th. A climax in the season, the Highland Games are traditionally a gathering of the Scottish Clans. Every year there is traditional Gaelic dancing, piping, drumming, athletics and music over the three days. Promised to get your spirits going, the non-profit festival helps students from Avery County High School further their educations at colleges and universities across the country.

Upon driving to the event, you'll be able to hear bagpipes and music up the mountain. Celtic rock artists and traditional musicians from across the country come to the GMHG every year, and this time we'll see performances from Saor Patrol, Ed Miller, and Uncle Hamish & the Hooligans among many others. Music for all ages, it really is an experience to be had.

While rocking out, learn about traditional Gaelic events such as sheep herding, attend a fiddling workshop, compete in the Grizzly Bike Race, have fun at the Clan Tug-of-War, or just sit back and watch the Highland Wrestling Competition.

Even if you don't have any Scottish in your ancestry, how many times can you experience all of this?! You'll definitely be able to find us there!

Check it out and buy your tickets soon, they go quickly!