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Archive for the ‘Things To Do’ Category

The Broyhill Inn presents: An Evening of Art, Wine & Culinary Pairings Mike Helsabeck and Chef Bill Morris!

Friday, September 11th
6:00 – 8:30 pm

See beautiful original artwork which will be available for purchase, enjoy signature Helsabeck wines as well as wines from Weathervane
Winery and complete the evening with delicious culinary creations
by the Broyhill Inn’s Executive Chef Morris CCC.
($25.00 for the evening)

RSVP The Broyhill Inn at:
Phone: 828-262-2204
Email: info@broyhillinn.com

Course 1 – Harvest Moon White Wine:
Grilled Shitake mushroom with toasted tomatoes and parmesan bruschetta

Course 2 – Summer Covey Pinot Grigio:
Poached Boneless Chicken Thigh with garlic mashed potato

Course 3 – Fall Harvest Merlot:
Deep Fried Raviaoli stuffed with beef atop marinara

Course 4 – Cirrus Red Red Wine:
Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Crostini

Course 5 – Winter Snows Red Wine:
Almond Butter and Concord Grape Bread Pudding

For more information, please visit: www.BroyhillInn.com!

Learn more about Mike Helsabeck by visiting: www.MikeHelsabeck.com!

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

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Mountain bikers and mountain boarders can enjoy a holiday weekend of competition this Sept. 5-6 at Beech Mountain Resort.

The resort is hosting a combined mountain bike/mountain board event that encompasses the final leg of the Triple Crown Downhill Bike Competition and the inaugural High Ground Mountain Board Competition. The mountain board contest has a $1,000 cash purse, one of the largest purses for mountain boarders in the Southeast.

In the Triple Crown biking competition, there will be races in separate divisions for professionals, amateurs and beginners, with all riders competing on the same course. The course descends the full elevation of the ski slope at Beech Mountain and includes four sections in the woods, one section that navigates boulders and three opportunities for sprints.

Entry fee for mountain bikers is $55 per person, with helmets mandatory for all racers.

“The Triple Crown series has been successful. We’re averaging about 100 competitors per event and expect to have that many or more for the finale,” said Ryan Costin, director of operations at Beech Mountain Resort. “It’s been a nice re-introduction of mountain biking at Beech Mountain.”

The High Ground Mountain Board Competition showcases the resort’s new board park. The all-wooden park was built by Ground Industries of Greenville, S.C., and Ground Industries is sponsoring this inaugural event in which boarders will showcase their best in a slope style competition and a big air competition. Entry fee is $55 per person.

Spectators can enjoy scenic lift rides, food, craft vendors and music, in addition to watching the thrilling competition. The resort is also offering overnight camping for a small fee.

“We’re excited to be in the forefront of mountain boarding here in the Southeast,” Costin said. “It should be a good time for participants and a great spectator event. Our goal is to have a fully operational mountain board/mountain bike park open weekends next June though October. It will be a lift-access park, which will hopefully be a big draw for mountain boarders and mountain bikers throughout the region.”

For info, visit www.skibeech.com

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

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BOONE, N.C. – The second annual Daniel Boone Days Music & Culture Festival is set for Sept. 4-5 in Boone.

This newly-minted Labor Day weekend tradition kicks off Friday, Sept. 4, with a symposium on Daniel Boone followed by a wine dinner featuring the wines of Fess Parker, television’s original Daniel Boone. Saturday, Sept. 5, provides a full day of music and activities at the Horn in the West Amphitheater.

Saturday’s festivities run from 1-11 p.m. and include an evening performance by the nationally-known band, Donna the Buffalo. Activities throughout the day include: arts & crafts vendors, storytelling by Orville Hicks, kids activities, an inflatable 15-foot slide, a telling of the adventures of Daniel Boone by author Randell Jones, a Daniel Boone look-alike contest, and the second annual Watauga Arts Council Fiddlers Competition.

As the day slips into evening, live music takes center stage. The lineup features Upright & Breathin’ of Boone, along with Larry Keel & Natural Bridge from Virginia. Headlining will be Donna the Buffalo, making the last stop on their 20th anniversary tour.

Tickets for Saturday’s festivities are $16 in advance, or $20 at the door. A special family ticket is available for just $20 per car between 1-3 p.m.

Meanwhile on Friday, Dr. Edwin Arnold of Appalachian State University will hold a symposium about Daniel Boone. Arnold will enlighten attendees on the true life story of this pioneer and his connections to the region. The symposium is from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break. It will be at Raley Hall on the ASU campus and cost is $3 per person.

Friday evening, back by popular demand, is the Fess Parker Wine Dinner at Gamekeeper Restaurant. Parker has become a noted winemaker at his private vineyard in Los Olivos, Calif., and a selection of his finest vintages will be paired with wild game entrees for the dinner, which will include special guests. There will be two seatings and reservations are required.

For complete information on Daniel Boone Days, call (828) 264-2262 or go online to: www.DanielBooneDays.com.

For lodging and other travel information, contact North Carolina High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or visit: www.mountainsofnc.com.
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August 14th from 5-8pm in beautiful downtown West Jefferson, NC!

Join the throngs of people who flock to historic downtown West Jefferson to visit the shops and galleries for an Open House beginning at 5 p.m. Free music, entertainment and refreshments will be served to “crawlers” and much merriment is guaranteed!

For more information, visit: www.ashechamber.com

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

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Enjoy this video tour of The High Country in NC!!!

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

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Gem mining has played a vital role into shaping the history of the mountains of North Carolina. Today, you too can share in that experience in our clean, safe, family friendly environment. At Foggy Mountain Gem Mine we do all the hard work for you. Simply purchase a bucket filled with gemstone ore from local and non-local mines and sift the material in our covered flume area. Over forty different minerals may be found at our mine, and gemstone quality ore is guaranteed in every bucket. Emeralds, sapphires, rubies, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet, amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, topaz, and many others are waiting to be discovered! We supply all of the necessary equipment and provide assistance throughout the entire process to ensure that you find all of your precious stones. Fun for kids of all ages! We are handicap accessible and provide assistance to those with special needs.

For more information, visit: FoggyMountainGems.com!

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

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

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Source: VirtualBlueRidge.com

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, NC – The 54th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans kicks off Thursday July 9. This event, which runs through Sunday, July 12, brings the color of hundreds of tartan plaids and the clamor of half a dozen bagpipe bands to the North Carolina Highlands.

Because of the spectacular mountain setting that is so reminiscent of Scotland; The Grandfather Games are considered America’s grandest Games. The deep blue peaks of 6,000-foot Grandfather Mountain tower above a grassy green meadow lined with 167 red, blue, yellow and green striped tents. The color is augmented by thousands of Scots luxuriously costumed in tartan plaids, and the energy is amplified by the sounds of bagpipes and kettle drums echoing across the moor.

The Highland Games will begin in the afternoon of Thursday July 9. Events that day will include opening ceremonies, a piping concert, sheep herding exhibition, the running of “The Bear”. Many people choose to bring a picnic dinner or buy concessions at the Meadows to enjoy during the evening events.

The official opening ceremonies begin at dusk with a torchlight ceremony where representatives of each of the 92 clans announce their families’ participation in the gathering. This “raising of the clans” proclaims that they have once again come together to celebrate their heritage.
Prior to the torchlight ceremony, over 900 runners will participate in a 5-mile footrace called “The Bear”. The course climbs 1,568 feet in elevation from the town of Linville to the summit of Grandfather Mountain.

Returning this year on Friday, July 10 is “The Grizzly” bike ride, a challenging route with 7,000 feet of climbing completed over 65 miles. The ride begins at Grandfather Mountain with cyclists traveling throughout Avery County, including a two mile dirt road up the backside of Beech Mountain.

Completing the trio of extreme physical challenges is the 42nd running of the Grandfather Mountain Marathon on Saturday, July 11. A special prize will be awarded to athletes who complete all three grueling events.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are filled with competition. There will be events in heavy-weight Scottish athletics, highland dancing, bagpipe band parades, piping, drumming and harp competitions. Also enjoy sheep herding demonstrations by Scottish border collies and concerts featuring a wide variety of Celtic music.

At the center of the weekend’s activities are the athletic competitions. The nation’s top Scottish athletes clash in traditional heavyweight events such as “Turning the Caber” and “Tossing the Sheaf.” The first requires an athlete to flip a telephone-pole-sized tree trunk end-over-end. The second event challenges athletes to loft a 16-pound sack of hay over a cross bar more than 20 feet above the ground. Other ancient tests of strength awaiting the brawny professionals are highland wrestling, putting the stone, the hammer throw and various weight throws.
On Friday night, the Celtic Jam highlights traditional and contemporary Celtic music at MacRae Meadows. Music continues on Saturday night as the Celtic Rock Concert serves up encore performances from some of the higher energy bands.

Among the performers at this year’s Celtic Jam and Celtic Rock Concert is a percussion group named Albannach who delivers a heart-pounding tribal rhythm that makes people get up and dance. Other Celtic groups include The Killdares, Mother Grove, Barleyjuice, Coyote Run, Teribus, Clandestine and Scythian. A variety of these musicians will also be performing in the Celtic Groves each day.

More traditional Appalachian and Celtic folk musicians will be appearing at the Games. The playlist includes Alex Beaton, Ed Miller, Jim Malcolm, Colin Grant Adams, Blessed Blend, R.G. Absher & Celtic Connection and George Hamilton IV.

More evening activities include a concert of Scottish folk music and dance called a Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), held both Friday and Saturday nights at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk. A Friday night Scottish Country Dance Gala will be held at Lees-McRae College and a piping concert is on the schedule for Saturday night at the Broyhill Inn in Boone. Also at the Broyhill on Saturday night is a concert by Alex Beaton and Friends.

One of the most popular attractions at the Games is the traditional Scottish bazaar which is set up adjacent to the parade grounds at MacRae Meadows. The bazaar is a gathering of Merchants to sell Gaelic and tartan gift items .Concessionaires will be set up to sell Scottish meat pies and give visitors a taste of the highlands. There is also a tent set up to help guests trace their Scottish roots and learn more about their heritage. The bazaar is open throughout the weekend.
Adult tickets are $15 Thursday, $20 Friday, $30 Saturday and $15 Sunday and cover all activities in the meadows, which on Friday and Saturday last from early morning to midnight. Tickets are $5 dollars each day for children ages 5-12 with children under five free. Tickets are available at the field on the day of the event.

Parking is available on site at the Games field Thursday and Friday on a first-come, first-serve basis with overflow parking at shuttle lots in Linville, but public parking is not available at the field on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttle service is provided between MacRae Meadows and satellite parking areas in Linville, Newland and Boone. Shuttle fees vary depending on the distance between the lots and MacRae Meadows.

Tickets to the off-mountain evening events vary by event. For more information call 828-733-1333 or visit online at www.gmhg.org.

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

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Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc. is a leader in experiential education. We develop, deliver, train, facilitate exciting team building events and retreats.

Using new and innovate tools, such as ropes courses (challenge course) we offer programs that help individuals and organizations develop leadership abilities, communication processes, and teamwork skills.

Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc. is much more than our average team building company. We can offer our clients a range of services including, but not limited to, outdoor adventures, team building retreats, environmental programs, Earth Education, outdoor living skills, challenge course (ropes course).

Along with offering programming we construct a variety of fun and exciting learning activities.

To Learn More, Visit: www.brlc.org

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

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The weather forecast for The High Country this weekend is fantastic! Come on up!

For all kinds of weather and through every season, Footsloggers offers the finest in apparel, equipment and footwear for every outdoor setting; be it backpacking, camping, climbing, water sports or winter activities. From natural fiber and organic cotton to the latest in technical fabrics, Footsloggers can help you travel and arrive in comfort and style….whatever or wherever your destination.

Footsloggers prides themselves in employing individuals who specialize in the different activities that the outdoors has to offer. This interest in the outdoors led to the name “Footsloggers”, found in Roget’s Thesaurus under the verb “walk”, a World War II term which means to “march” or “tramp” through mud. The title was was given to us by our good friend Paul Daimler who now resides in Connecticut and as our name suggests, footwear is where outfitting begins. Walking around town or around the world, our casual wear will fit your every step. For those who walk the walk, our boot department is the long and the short of it. Whether you are hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway, backpacking the Appalachian Trail or negotiating a mountain stream, you can walk miles in our shoes.

For more, visit: Footsloggers.com!

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

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