We are proud to welcome our newest member, Woof Pack Pet Services! They offer dog training, pet sitting and much more!

Puppy Kindergarten is a class for puppies from 4 months – 1 year in age focusing on socialization, problem puppy behaviors.leash walking and 6 of the basic commands.
Basic Obedience is a class for dogs over 1 year in age focusing on learning 12 basic commands with distraction and proper leash walking.
AKC Programs – Dogs do NOT have to be purebred to participate in either program
AKC STAR Puppy Program is for puppies (up to 1 year) who want to get a head start on their Canine Good Citizen skills and work through puppy problem behaviors. At the end of the 6 weeks your puppy will be tested to be enrolled in the AKC S.T.A.R program
AKC Canine Good Citizen is a class for dogs (over 1 year) who are working towards their 10 skills in the Canine Good Citizen Certification.At the end of the 6 weeks your dog will be evaluated to become an AKC Canine Good Citizen.

For more info, visit: http://www.woof-pack.net

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

For the fourth straight year, Watauga Medical Center has received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from HealthGrades. This distinction ranks Watauga Medical Center among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide based on an analysis of patient satisfaction data for 3,797 U.S. hospitals. In addition to the Overall Patient Experience Award, HealthGrades also named Watauga Medical Center among the top 5% in the U.S. for Overall Pulmonary Services in 2012.

“This is something for the community, the patients and the staff to be very proud of,” said Richard Sparks, President & CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, “Earning positive feedback from our patients is one of the highest honors.”

HealthGrades analyzed HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) hospital survey data obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and identified those hospitals performing in the top 10% in the nation for patient satisfaction, based on survey responses from patients treated at those facilities. Hospitals had to meet bed size, survey-response size, and clinical-quality thresholds in order to be eligible for the award.

When making healthcare decisions, patients consider not only the outcome of a procedure or treatment, but the kind of experience they can expect to have at a hospital. A recent McKinsey & Co. study found that 20% of a patient’s choice is based on a hospital’s clinical reputation and 41% of patients consider patient experience measures to be an important factor in choosing a hospital. This is in sharp contrast to the conventional wisdom that such considerations are much less important.

According to HealthGrades, 80% of patients treated at the nation’s best-performing hospitals would definitely recommend the hospital compared to only 55% of patients who received care from the poorest-performing hospitals.

The more information consumers have about the health care choices available to them, the more confident they can be in selecting the best medical care for themselves and their loved ones. The Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ is a distinction generated by patients for patients.Information on award recipients and the ratings methodology is available, free to the public, at www.healthgrades.com.

“It’s clear that patients are driving higher quality in our nation’s hospitals,” said Dr. Rick May, HealthGrades Vice President of clinical quality programs. “Hospitals like Watauga Medical Center take HCAHPS survey results very seriously and invest time and resources to ensure each patient’s experience is the best possible. This is yet another example of how transparency in health care drives quality.”

When compared to hospitals performing in the bottom 10% for patient satisfaction, HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award recipient hospitals are attributed with the following:

• 45% more patients gave the hospital an overall rating of a 9 or a 10 (10 being the highest possible)
• 34% more patients responded that they always received help from staff quickly
• 24% more patients reported that the staff always explained their medications to them prior to administering them
• 19% more patients felt their pain was always well controlled
• 45% more patients reported that they would definitely recommend the hospital to their family orfriends.

About Watauga Medical Center

Watauga Medical Center, part of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, is fully accredited by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed as a 117-bed regional referral medical complex, offering both primary and secondary acute and specialty care. In addition to the main hospital, the campus of the medical center includes The Cardiology Center of ARHS, The Sleep Center of ARHS and the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, offering both radiation and chemotherapy on an outpatient basis. The Cancer Center is recognized as an approved Community Cancer Care Center by the American College of Surgeon’s Committee on Cancer.

Other units are: The Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center, The Rehabilitation Center, The Wound Care Center,  ARHS Home Health, which provides a full range of home care services, Appalachian Regional Pain Clinic, and a branch of the Northwest Area Health Education Center.tauga Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for certification as a Primary Stroke Center.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

The mission of Boone Independent Restaurants is to unite the independent restaurants in and around Boone, NC to preserve the individuality of the community served by each member establishment; improve quality, service, and social responsibility of each member restaurant; and ensure the longevity of our member establishments.

Coming to visit Appalachian State is a big step in the right direction!  Whether you’re coming for your first visit through the admissions office or coming back for homecoming to that BIG game where you’ll see people you haven’t seen in years; finding a convenient, comfortable place to stay is important…after all this location will be part of the memory of Parent’s Weekend or Graduation!

Remember when you were in college, how great was it to have a home cooked meal and have Mom do your laundry!  Stay at our house…the perfect way to bring the family together and still be close to the FUN at ASU.

For more info, visit: http://www.goapprentals.com/

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

The High Country Host is pleased to welcome new member, Frogurt!

Located on at 668 Blowing Rock Road in Boone,

Frogurt Frozen Yogurt is…

Good for your bones :
An excellent source of calcium: Based on 2 servings (8 fl oz)
A well-balance diet with adequate calcium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Good for your tummy :
Contains probiotics to promote good health and wellness.
Helps maintain general digestive health

Good for you overall — Promotes good health and wellness :
Live Active cultures and probiotics to promote a healthy immune and digestive system
Low Sodium: Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Low Cholesterol: (NonFat / No sugar Added products)

Visit http://www.frogurtusa.com for more information!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

Join us for the Downtown Boone Art Crawl on the first Friday of every month!
Shop, mingle and meet local artists from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at our shops and galleries and stay late for live music, food and drinks at one of our many fine restaurants.

For more info and to download a brochure, visit: http://boone-nc.org/artcrawl2011

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is holding special lectures for two exhibitions that are currently on display through January 2012.

The first lecture on November 3 at 7 p.m. will discuss the artist and the exhibition, Living in the Light: A Retrospective, displaying a compilation of beloved photographer and former chair of the photography program at Appalachian State University, the late John Scarlata’s work.

On November 9, artist Val Lyle will hold a lecture on her current exhibition, Sanctuary, which emphasizes the aspects of life in the Appalachian mountains. Both lectures are free and open to the public. Call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org for more information.

Living in the Light: A Retrospective- John Scarlata

November 3, 2011

7-9 p.m.

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Lecture Hall

*Reception to follow in the galleries

Guest lecturers Jay Phyfer (Professor of photography and digital imaging, Virginia Intermont College), Gil Leebrick (Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Wellington B. Gray Gallery, East Carolina University) and Pac McLaurin (Photography Department, Appalachian State University) joined by close friends of John Scarlata will gather for an in-depth conversation about the artist’s life and his work. Other special guests will include Joe Champagne (Professor of Photography & Digital Imaging Virginia Intermont College), Jackie Leebrick, Ben Garfinkle (Oakland California) and Tom Braswell (Photographer and Interim Gallery Director from Wellington B. Gray Gallery, East Carolina University).   A reception will be held in the galleries immediately following the lecture.

Sanctuary- Val Lyle

November 9, 2011

7-8 p.m.

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Lecture Hall

Join artist, Val Lyle as she discusses her latest work, Sanctuary located in the Mayer Gallery. This exhibition and installation continues the artist’s exploration about what it means to be a human being in Appalachia which is in its eighth incarnation of the exhibition.

Other Upcoming Events at the Turchin Center

First Friday Reception

November 4

Free and Open to the Public

7-9 p.m.

Presented in conjunction with Downtown Boone’s First Friday Art Crawl, the Turchin Center will be open for all visitors to come and celebrate the current exhibitions as well as welcome a new exhibition by painter, Gabriel Lehman celebrating the opening of his solo exhibition My World opening on November 4.  Painter and installation artist, Val Lyle, will also be in the gallery to talk to guests about her exhibition Sanctuary.

Healing Arts: Yoga in theMayer Gallery

Saturdays, October 15, November 5 & 19

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

$10 per participant

Inside Exhibitions

Free guided tours by one of Turchin’s volunteer docents one Saturday a month on the exhibition of their choice.

Visit www.tcva.org for more information.

Fall Workshops

Turchin Center offers a variety of arts workshops for kids, older teens and adults throughout the year. Visit www.tcva.org for more information on how you can register.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

The slopes of the North Carolina High Country are turning vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow this month and area festivals offer great ways to enjoy the season.  The range of elevations in the area make it a premiere location to watch the leaf change and the mix of small towns provides an eclectic offering of autumnal events.

The Boone Heritage Festival October 8 celebrates Appalachian and Daniel Boone heritage with 18th century living history demonstrations, craft vendors, music jam sessions and storytelling.  Located at Hickory Ridge Homestead, the event will feature make-and-take crafts including dipped candles, cornhusk dolls and scarecrows.

The weekend of October 8-9 brings the cry of “yodel lay he ho” to the High Country during the 21st Annual Sugar Mountain Oktoberfest.  The event, at Sugar Mountain Resort, mixes Bavarian and Appalachian culture and is a great experience for the whole family.

The Valle Country Fair, October 15 in Valle Crucis, is an overgrown church bazaar set in the center of one of the most picturesque valleys in North Carolina.

That same weekend is when one of the High Country’s most well-known events takes place.  The 34th Annual Woolly Worm Festival will be held in Banner Elk October 15-16.  Crafts, festival foods and the Woolly Worm caterpillar races predicting the coming winter’s weather make this a must-see event!

The 6th Annual Valle Crucis Punkin Festival will be October 22.  The Punkin Festival benefits local organizations and offers Punkin Sack Races, Punkin Bowling, crafts and music.

The Ghost Train Halloween Festival at Tweetsie Railroad is safe, scary fun for the whole family.  Gates open at 7:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday evening in October.  Visit the Haunted House, Freaky Forest, 3-D Maze and take a journey on the Ghost Train – if you dare!

Many other events occur throughout the month of October including the Todd New River Festival, art crawls in Boone and West Jefferson, Halloween festivals in Blowing Rock and at Grandfather Mountain, special programming at area state parks and natural areas and opportunities to enjoy bluegrass and mountain music at Crouse Park in Sparta.

For ticket information, times and more information on all High Country events please visit the High Country Host website, www.mountainsofnc.com.

North Carolina’s High Country provides the best vacation experience in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The area includes 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway and many popular tourist destinations including Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Linville, Sparta, West Jefferson and Wilkesboro.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is offering workshops for kids, older teens and adults throughout the fall months.

Workshop topics span from exploring various art mediums and mask making for kids to jewelry making and acrylic painting for adults. Enrollment is limited and advance registration is required. Discounts are offered for Turchin Center donors. Call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org to register today!

2011 Fall Workshop & Special Events Schedule
*All workshops are located at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

Art Reproduction Services
September 30, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Instructor: Diane Godwin, Waterfall Studios
Cost: $50; please see details at www.tcva.org for additional fees
Photography sessions will be available by appointment only for your art reproduction needs.  A limited number of 1-hour sessions will be available.

Healing Arts: Yoga in the Mayer Gallery
October 1 & 15; November 5 & 19, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $10, Instructor: Vicki Rodriquez
Registration opens at 10:15 a.m.

Self Discovery Through Art
October 1 & 15, Noon – 2:00pm
For Ages 6-10, Instructor: Tunde Afolayan
Cost:  Donors $40 or $20 each day, Non Donors $50 or $25 each day
This workshop will expose students to the exploration of multiple media for creative expression.

MASK MAKING: Identity Mask
October 1 & 15, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
For ages 11-13, Instructor: Tunde Afolayan
Cost: Donors $40, Non Donors $50
Create a mixed-media mask by combining materials such as construction paper, feathers, fibers, beads and yarns. Participants will partake in the technical process involving facial molding with plaster gauze, painting and a montage of different elements.

Jewelry Workshops
October 3, 10, 17 & 24, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Instructor: Francine Barr
Cost: Donors $160/ Non Donors $180. Individual workshops: $45 for Donors / $50 for Non Donors
This four-week class will teach beginning students the fundamentals of creating wire art jewelry. Visit tcva.org for each week’s schedule.

Exploring Acrylic Painting
October 6, 13, 20 & 27; November 3 & 10, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Instructor: Pat Grant
Cost: Donors $145 /Non Donors $160
Explore perspective, color mixing, how to set up your palette and your home studio, learn to properly transfer an image, how to effectively work from a photo and more! Artists of all skill levels welcome.

Palette of Vision
October 14, 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Instructor: Tunde Afolayan
Cost: Call for more information
Explore various paint applications, brush work and use of a palette knife while focusing on the importance of value, texture and color.

VIVID STROKES: Live Painting Performance
November 18, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Instructor: Tunde Afolayan
Cost: $25
Participants are invited to be a part of a live painting demonstration and interactive discussion with artist Tunde Afolayan. Wine and light refreshments will be served.

About the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts presents exhibition, education and collection programs that support Appalachian State University’s role as a key regional educational, cultural and economic resource.

The Turchin Center is located at 423 West King St., in Boone. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m.,Tues.-Thurs. and Saturday, and Noon-8 p.m., Friday. The Center is closed Sunday and Monday, and observes all university holidays. There is no admission charge, although donations are gratefully accepted.

For additional details about the Turchin Center, becoming a donor, the upcomingexhibitions, to be added to the mailing list or to schedule a tour, please call (828) 262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org. You can also follow the Turchin Center on Facebook and Twitter @TurchinCenter.

Sponsors
The Turchin Center receives critical support from a group of outstanding media sponsors that are dedicated to promoting the arts in our region, including: The Mountain Times, Watauga Democrat, the High Country Press, the Winston-Salem Journal, WNC Magazine, Charter Media, Mountain Television Network, Mix 102.3, Oldies 100.7, WFDD 88.5, WDAV 89.9, WETS 89.5 and WASURocks 90.5FM.

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!

July 15, 2011

K.D. Lang & the Siss Boom Bang!

“…the best singer of her generation” – Tony Bennett

Grammy Award-winner k.d. lang‘s breathtaking voice had the power to strike at our deepest emotions for over 25 years. The smooth sound of country-rock matched with her edgy style captured the country’s attention, and it wasn’t long before her 1988 album Shadowland was in the Top 10 on the Billboard Country album charts. In 1989 she took home her first Grammy: Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Absolute Torch and Twang, and from that point forward she was no stranger to success. With the 1992, platinum-selling Ingenue she had fashioned a sound—if not a genre—all her own: an elegant and impassioned adult contemporary approach.

Her biggest hit, Constant Craving, was a product of that album and awarded lang another Grammy, this time for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. lang has collaborated, in the studio and on stage, with many pop and country greats, including Bonnie Raitt, Elton John and Tony Bennett, with whom she recorded the 2002 Wonderful World duets album. lang released her latest album, Sing it Loud, in April of this year with her band The Siss Boom Bang. This collection of songs includes lead single I Confess and a striking version of the Talking Heads’ Heaven.

Visit AppSummer.org!

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!

This weeking June 17, 18 and 19 marks the beginning of the 60th consecuvtive season of the nation’s oldest Revolutionary War drama, “Horn in the West” it will rune from June 17 through August 13 – opend everyday but Mondays with gates opening at 7:30. First weekend those who live in Watauga County get their tickets for $6 each!

On April the 11th, 2001, Dr. Kermit Hunter passed away in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Hunter wrote the script for “Horn in the West” as well as forty other historical productions. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he wrote “Unto These Hills” as his Master’s Thesis under Dr. Paul Greene.

He had been working on a script titled “Wilderness Road” and when asked to write a script for the Boone area, adapted that one into “Horn in the West.”

Dr. Hunter was an eloquent spokesman for the outdoor drama art form. He was an accomplished musician who attended the Julliard School of Music and often composed the scores for his shows. He was also an accomplished indoor theatre playwright and poet. His voice and support of the uniquely American art form that is outdoor drama will be missed dearly. Over 1.4 million people have seen Horn in the West since it opened in 1952. We now have the privilege of keeping Dr. Hunter’s words alive for generations to come.

Don’t miss this amazing outdoor theatre! An establishment and tradition in The High Country!

To learn more, visit: http://www.horninthewest.com/

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!
 

Vacation Paradise awaits you in Leatherwood Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountain Resort.

Imagine your own private luxury home rental amid thousands of acres of lush Blue Ridge Mountain forests during your North Carolina Mountain Vacation.

Our Blue Ridge Mountain Resort offers premier equine facility with luxury accommodations for your horses and miles of scenic trails that wind through the pristine wilderness.  Once Leatherwood Mountains gets in your soul, you may never want to leave.

HERE YOU’LL FIND…

Mountains like God made them
Peace and quiet
Miles of horseback riding & hiking trails
Hidden homes
Pristine wilderness
A premier equine facility
Many more stars
Friendly folks

AND YOU WON’T FIND:
Traffic, noise, crowds, or pretensions
For an active North Carolina Mountain Vacation, you can hike, take a trail ride, bring your own horse and ride the trails, go fishing, or play volley ball.

For an inactive vacation, you’ll find plenty of quiet and natural beauty.

For civilization, it’s 30 minutes away from Boone, Blowing Rock, and Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Amenities include creeks, lake, swimming pool, stable facilities, restaurant, tennis courts.

For more info, visit: http://www.leatherwoodmountains.com

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!
 

Boone Drug Company, located in historic downtown Boone, NC, was founded by Dr. George Kelly Moose in 1919.

Moose had studied law at Georgetown University, graduated and passed the North Carolina Bar Exam. So what made him go from law to pharmaceuticals?

It is not exactly clear, but one man may have had something to do with it. G.K. (as he was called by friends) met John R. McNairy, who owned a pharmacy in Lenoir.

McNairy was in search of a business partner and somehow convinced Moose to go to pharmacy school at George Washington University. While he was in school, he was a part-time assistant to various pharmacists in the U.S. Department of Commerce. Moose returned to North Carolina with his pharmacy degree and together with McNairy, established the Boone Drug Company in 1919.

Shortly after, G.K. took over full ownership to allow McNairy to return to his own drug store in Lenoir. Moose soon became a prominent distributor of drugs to the area. Boone Drug was your typical pharmacy and soda fountain; a place to greet your neighbors and bring your kids to enjoy vanilla cokes and giant cinnamon sticks.

For 50 years, George set the standards for friendly, honest service and made Boone Drug a place customers looked forward to visiting. Customers adored him for his good sense of humor and dependable service. People walked from miles away to get their medicine from Boone Drug. One man even walked 15 miles from what used to be a small community called Sampson, next to Lenoir, every time he needed medicine.

Moose rented the second story of his building to a group of doctors who formed the Hagaman Clinic. There was J.B. Hagaman Sr., his son, J.B. Hagaman Jr. and their nurse, Miss Mary Krider. There was also a well known dentist named Dr. William Matheson who practiced upstairs from Boone Drug. These doctors offices meant constant traffic through the drug store and great business for Dr. Moose. He would keep his drug store open until each doctor had seen his last patient. This was sometimes very late at night.

Read More About Boone Drug Company!

For even more, visit: http://www.boonedrug.com

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!
 

Sarah Pinnix is a highly sought after blogger, speaker, social media expert and founder of HighCountryMomSquad.com and RealLifeBlog.net. Sarah and her team are gearing up for yet a fourth round of “Talk of the Town” Social Media Marketing Workshops…to be held once again at The Broyhill Inn & Conference Center on the campus of ASU.

The series will kick off with a FREE introductory session on Tuesday, March 15th at 9am. The first three rounds were huge successes where local & area businesses came to the workshops and learned how to effectively use social media to promote their products and services.

Doug Uzelac, General Manager of The Broyhill Inn & Conference Center and host of the workshop series states, “Social Media Marketing is such a fast growing segment and it is the Broyhill Inn’s pleasure to be to be able to host these very informative sessions.  I would greatly recommend folks that have an interest in increasing their social media knowledge to attend.”

Vicki Stevens, Marketing Manager for the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System adds, “The Talk of the Town series provided phenomenal insight to the world of social media and assisted our organization in establishing a new presence with our audience. I highly recommend the series!”

Mast General Store also comments, “The Talk of the Town Series helped us understand the power of social media and how we might use it to start a conversation with our customers. We found the interaction with Sarah, Boomer, and Scott to be informative and refreshing and also enjoyed brainstorming ideas with our fellow classmates. Our Facebook page has grown by leaps and bounds – surpassing all of our expectations, and it is a ready resource to convey timely happenings.”

Barbara Kelley from My Sister’s Kitchen adds, “Attending the social media workshops put on by Talk of the Town has been the most worthwhile professional development time I’ve spent all year. Each session was practical, hands-on, and relevant; Sarah, Scott and Boomer taught me exactly what I needed to know. Before I ever left the Broyhill Inn after each session, I was able to implement what I’d learned — on my own computer for my own website. I can already see a significant up-tick in traffic to my website as a result of utilizing what I’ve learned during these last six months. Thanks so much!”

These workshops cover such hot-button topics as Website Design & Development, Search Engines, Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Analytics and much more.

Success stories abound as attendee, Mast General Store has over 11,000 people on their Facebook page. Also, The NC Christmas Tree Association is experiencing online traffic growth on their site and the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System is setting up multiple Facebook pages, writing social media policies and growing followers on Twitter.

Learn more about Sarah Pinnix and her team of coaches and speakers at the workshop series. Visit: http://www.talkofthetownworkshop.com/speakers-and-coaches

For more information and to register for the upcoming sessions, please visit: http://www.talkofthetownworkshop.com/workshop-dates/

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!
 

Blue Collar Comedian Ron White is coming to Farthing Auditorium on Sunday, Febraury 27th.  The performance will begin at 8pm.  For more information about this event and for tickets please contact the Farthing Auditorium on the AppState Campus. 1-800-841-ARTS

Farthing Auditorium is located in the heart of the Appalachian State University campus.  It is a non-union house dedicated to progressive programming for the students. 

Visit: http://www.farthing.appstate.edu/

King St., between Hardin St. (Dan’l Boone Inn) and Water St. (county courthouse)

(Lineup is at 9am at Horn in the West; parade starts at 1oam).

Note: several municipal parking areas in town provide ample one-hour parking, with metered spaces available on Queen St.

Downtown Boone Development Association Mission Statement

The mission of the association is to improve the Municipal Service District of Boone by encouraging property owners to maintain, improve and beautify downtown; providing more cultural events; promoting “smart commercial development”; encouraging transportation and parking improvements; and encouraging greater involvement of all property owners, professionals, and stakeholders in the district.

Funding for the DBDA comes from two major sources; taxation and private funding. Visit: http://boone-nc.org/

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!

Pepper’s was established in 1975, serving the High Country its first taste of sumptuous, “deli style” sandwiches.

In addition, we were one of the first restaurants in Boone to recycle all of our cardboard, glass, plastic, tin and aluminum. We have also cleaned up our own environment by becoming a 100% smoke-free establishment.

Our goal at Pepper’s is to serve the freshest, highest quality food available. We hope you have a pleasant dining experience here at Pepper’s.

A recent review from TripAdvisor.com:

“My family lives in Boone, and it’s the one place I have to go everytime we visit. The Jean Lawson w/ steak fries, and a Mud Pie at the end is the way to go. For the money, the food service and atmosphere is awesome. The only downside to the place is when you have to sit at one of the central tables, I feel a bit in the way. Othwerwise, it’s one of my favorite places to go hang out and eat!”

For more info, visit: http://www.peppers-restaurant.com

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!

The Broyhill Inn has teamed up with Circle C Tree Farms to provide a deal on a Christmas tree!

As a guest of the Broyhill Inn you can receive a voucher for a Christmas tree from Circle C Tree Farms!

This will only be available for a limited time, restrictions apply. One night and Two night packages available.

For more information, visit http://broyhillinn.com/events/christmastree, or call: 800.951.6048

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!
    

Tourists interested in the North Carolina High Country have a dynamic new resource for visitor info thanks to a redesign and upgrade of High Country Host’s website, www.MountainsofNC.com.

The new site contains information on lodging, attractions, festivals, shopping, restaurants, heritage events and outdoors activities. There is also a blog, calendar of events, a section for specials & deals, High Country maps and a downloadable vacation planner.

“This new site pulls together all the key information visitors need to plan a trip to the High Country,” says Millie Barbee, executive director of High Country Host. “And, it is user-friendly. There are multiple ways to navigate the site to quickly find what you’re looking for.”

This new site was created by Big Boom Design of Asheville, using a Joomla platform. It incorporates the latest in website technology, including advanced search engine optimization.

“Our desire was to build a site that’s easy to navigate and brings as much information above the fold and to the surface as possible,” said Boomer Sassmann of Big Boom Design. “It’s a well organized second-generation website that also incorporates social media aspects such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.”

The look and feel of the website will change quarterly to match the four distinct seasons that draw visitors to the High Country.

“If this were a traditionally built  website, we wouldn’t be able to do that,” Sassmann says, “but because of this Joomla content management system, it is easy to change the look without altering the content.”

To view the new site, go online to www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!

Saturday from 2-5pm in Downtown Boone!

The fun begins at 2:00 pm at the Watauga County Library. There will be scary stories, songs and activities for the kids. Then at 3:00 pm we will have a parade to the Jones House, and then Trick or Treating with the Merchants in Downtown Boone until 5:00 pm.

Participating businesses will be designated with balloons and streamers. Maps will also be provided so no candy or treats will go uncollected. Join us for some scary fun and lots of treats in Downtown Boone. Sponsored by the Downtown Boone Development Association.

Visit: http://www.visitboonenc.com

Call 828-262-4532 for details.

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

Stay Connected!
   

The Broyhill Inn & Appalachian Conference Center will be hosting a social media workshop series beginning on September 8, 2009 at 9:00am.

In this economy, businesses small and large are striving to pull ahead of the crowd – to be heard above the cacophony in the marketplace.

Social Media (ie: Blogs, Facebook,You Tube, Twitter, Flikr, etc) are unique platforms to engage your target audience and create the kind of viral buzz that can make or break your business. These days, consumers want to do business with people they know and trust. And we can effectively forge these relationships, without breaking the bank, using Social Media.

The “Talk of the Town” Workshop Series will delve extensively into each mode of social media, and include knowledgeable speakers as well as peer coaching. We will come alongside you as you navigate the world of new media and customize it to suit your needs.

Sarah Pinnix, the Organizer of the “Talk of the Town” Series, is founder of Real Life Media and High Country Mom Squad, as well as co-Founder of WiiMommies.com. Sarah is currently host of the interactive WebTV show “Get Real,” and co-host of the Wii Mommies internet radio show.

To learn more and register now, visit www.talkofthetown.eventbrite.com!

For lodging and other travel information, contact North Carolina High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or visit: www.mountainsofnc.com.

Stay Connected!

The Daniel Boone Native Gardens, located near downtown Boone, N.C., contain an outstanding collection of native Appalachian trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. Hundreds of plant varieties provide a progression of blooms throughout the growing season.

Opened in 1966, the three-acre Daniel Boone Native Gardens were an educational and conservation effort to nurture rare or endangered Appalachian plant species.

A project of the Garden Club of N.C., Inc., these public gardens comprise a bog garden, fern garden, rhododendron grove, rock garden, rock wishing well, vine-covered arbor, pond alongside the historic Squire Boone Cabin, and several grand vistas. Wrought-iron gates at the entrance were made by a descendant of Daniel Boone, who hunted in the area.

For more information, visit: DanielBooneGardens.org!

To request a free High Country vacation guide, call (800) 438-7500 or go online to: www.MountainsofNC.com.

Find us on the following:

Meetings, conferences, weddings, parties, signature events and much more!

Businesses, agencies, and educational professionals interested in goal setting, budget planning, and team building will discover a kind service, relaxed atmosphere, exquisite cuisine, comfortable accommodations and fully equipped conference facilities. The Broyhill Inn’s distinctive environment allows guests to be away from the distractions of the business environment and to focus exclusively on the free flow of ideas and business strategies. Productivity coupled with relaxation is the formula for success.

Have you heard about The Brohill Wind Turbine? Learn More!

Find us on the following:

You’ll find exciting attractions in Boone and all around the High Country. The region is the home of several “firsts”: North Carolina’s original family theme park Tweetsie Railroad, the state’s very first golf course, Linville Golf Club, the state’s oldest travel attraction The Blowing Rock, the state’s only public caverns Linville Caverns, the nation’s oldest Revolutionary War drama Horn in the West, and the world’s first privately-owned biosphere reserve Grandfather Mountain.

Click HERE For More!

Visit MountainsOfNC.com!

Join Us On Facebook!

Follow Us On Twitter!