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.

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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.

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.

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Start and end your holiday gift shopping in one day! The Fall Boone Handmade Market will be held at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on December 4, 2011 from 1-5 p.m. This event is presented by the Arts Management Organization (AMO), an active Appalachian student club and is sponsored by Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. Over ninety emerging and established artists of the High Country will be selling their locally homemade goods at this indoor arts market.

These local artists will be selling everything handmade from delicious sweet treats to jewelry, sculpture, pottery, various arts and crafts and more. This is a great opportunity to support your community, buy locally and add unique handmade gifts to your holiday shopping list! All vendors accept cash and checks and some of the vendors are able to able to accept credit cards. This event not only supports the High Country’s local art scene, but acts as the club’s main fundraiser to support similar art events that the club hosts on campus and around town.

VENDOR LIST

(as of November 10, 2011)

· A Little Art Here, A Little Art There (Sara Zagar)

· æTanner Photography (Ashley Tanner)

· after emily (Nikki Burris)

· Angelique Designs (Angi Covington)

· Apotheosis Herbal (Sara Leverett)

· Appalachian Mountain Knits (Merima Friedman)

· Aquarian Gems (Francine Barr)

· arudegirl (Susan Westphal)

· Bee Kind Family Farm (Jaime Cool)

· Bentley Originals (Teresa Bentley)

· Blue Ridge Botanicals (Lindsay Dicker)

· Bluebird Knits (Jill Maynard)

· Brookdell (Constance Dellinger-Brooks)

· By Meleah (Meleah Printz)

· Caffaknitted Designs (Katie Boyette)

· Caravan Botanicals (Jaimee Smith)

· Cathey Purvey (Cathey Purvey)

· Catwalk Pottery (Loretta Link)

· Celtic Dolphin Studios (Darla Sargeant)

· Cloister Honey (Sarah Young)

· Creations b y Sheila (Sheila Eckard)

· Critter Crafts – Spay-Neuter Committee Watauga Humane Society (Amy Carson)

· Dandy Dots (Catharine Milner)

· DogsKin Studio (John Peters)

· Elkland Art Center (Lexie Danner)

· Fatlighter Woodworks & MillerMark Pens (Gary Michael Barker)

· Fig and Honey/Hoopla Hoops (Anna Johnson)

· Finders Keepers (Brittne L. Cope)

· Fireflies (Jordan Stokes)

· FireWorx Pottery (Mark Murrey)

· Full Harbor and Fallow Fleet (Austin Saylor)

· Glendora’s Box (Glenda Stewart)

· Ineke’s Textural Expressions (Ineke Thomas)

· Jacob Ford Ceramics (Jacob Ford)

· JL Merrill Metalworks (Julie Louise Merrill)

· KAL Asymmetry Glassworks and Knitworks (Kelly Loughlin)

· Lauragami (Laura Miller)

· Layne Quilts A Little (Mareva Layne McDaniel)

· Leather & Copper (Chelsea Brendle)

· lovely Crafts (Doreen Cox)

· Luna Fae Designs (Brenda Jackson)

· Meg Parker (Meg Parker)

· Mountain Knit Wit and Candles (Mary Ferrell)

· National Art Education Association Student Chapter (Elizabeth Lauer)

· One+Tutu (Pamela D Allen)

· Outcasts & Exiles (Thomas Andrew Edmonds)

· Owl Handmade (Lindsey Sutphin)

· Payton-Alexis (Payton Brown)

· Pika Mountain (Torrey Tye)

· Poco Piu Mosso (Lindsay Scarborough)

· RagBags (Pam Washer)

· ReflectSpirit: Healing Art for Sustainable Wellness (Maloo Murrey)

· Salt Designs (Leanne Salt)

· Salvage Garden (Rebekah Epling)

· Shed Studios (Jonathan Smith)

· Sign Language (Sherry Markovitch)

· Silver & Stones (Judy Goodwin)

· Simple Bright Moon (Abby White)

· Southern Charms Jewelry (Laura Beth Surber)

· Tea and Leaf (William Mitro)

· The Quilting Biddys (BR Hoffman & Barb Elyea)

· Thompson Pottery (Brandon Thompson)

· Traveling Troubadour (Cody Maddox)

· Tyler Deal Artwork (Tyler Deal)

· Wild Creation (Anna Casebere)

· Windwalker Mountain Handcrafts (Dana Cox)

· Yellowfin Jewelry (Marta Toran)

· Alexandra Bradley

· Amber C. Brown

· Amber M. Dillingham

· Beck Long

· Courtney Evers

· Don Haywood

· Elizabeth Skinner

· Emily Meisner

· Emily Vanderlinden

· Gail Pillars

· Janes Richard Foley

· Joseph Duffer

· Justin Leitner

· Kathryn Copley

· Kelley Wolcott & Marty McCormick

· Laura Arbogast

· Lauren Bennett

· Marybeth R. Whalen

· Meagan O’Connor

· Megan Goble

· Samantha Jeanne McCalip

· Shelly Crandall

· Tiffany Christian

AMO’s Mission

The Arts Management Organization seeks to promote professionalism and networking within arts fields by increasing the awareness of the arts on Appalachian State University’s campus and in the community. This organization is open to Appalachian State University students and community members inspired by the arts and other expressive forms. Members seek to enrich the knowledge and appreciation of the arts for all who are involved.  The objectives of AMO are: to create an environment in which to learn and shareprofessional practices; to enhance the lives of artists and students by promoting all forms of art within Appalachian State University and surrounding community by providing opportunities; to provide educational opportunities for participating students; and to create lasting partnerships with other campus organizations.

About the Turchin Center

The Turchin Center is located at 423 West King St., in Boone, NC. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, and Noon – 8 p.m., Friday. The Turchin 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 or the upcoming exhibition program, please call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Howie Neufeld, Ph.D.
Professor of Plant Physiology
Appalachian State University

This has been an interesting week in the mountains. Beginning on Friday, the temperatures dropped, and the winds picked up.

Jesse Pope, chief naturalist up on Grandfather Mountain, reports that on Saturday winds reached 60 mph with gusts up to 74 mph.

Luckily, for most trees, they were still holding on to their leaves quite tightly, so even though some were blown off, most are still there, and if we don’t get more wind storms like that one, they should turn color quite nicely in the next two weeks.

READ THE ENTIRE REPORT

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

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Blue Bear Mountain:

“The Way Camping Should Be!”

Blue Bear Mountain is a brand new facility! We offer private, remote, rustic, leave-no-trace Tent and RV camping on 150 acres of pristine, natural land.

The number of camp sites is limited to protect the land and so you can have plenty of room to play and to enjoy the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Come get away from it all at Blue Bear Mountain!

General Amenities

Everyone at Blue Bear Mountain has access to:

• Private Bath Houses with Showers
• Fresh Natural Spring Water
• Trout Fishing
• Miles of Trails

Tent Sites

Some of our back-country tent sites are very remote and require a hike. Equipment delivery is available upon request!

All tent campsites are equipped with:

• Rock Fire Ring
• Picnic Tables
• Level Tent Spots
• Park Grill
• Log Benches

RV Sites

• 50A and 30A Power Hookup
• Easy Site Access
• On-Site Dump Station

Extra Items for Sale

These are some of the things that can be purchased and delivered to your camp site:

• Firewood
• Charcoal
• Lighter Fluid
• And more… just ask, if we don’t have it, we’ll get it for you!

For more information, visit: http://bluebearmountain.com

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

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High Mountain Expeditions offers a variety of outdoor activities including whitewater rafting, hiking, and caving. At High Mountain Expeditions there is an activity for every member of your group or family!

The High Country of Western North Carolina is one of the most biologically and geographically diverse regions in North America. Carved by some of the world’s oldest rivers, the Blue Ridge Mountains provides the perfect backdrop for some of the East Coast’s best hiking, caving, mountain biking, kayaking and whitewater rafting.

Please browse their web site to see a detailed list and descriptions of all the outdoor activities we offer. They can help you plan the perfect outdoor experience, so contact by email or call and speak to one of their reservation specialists today!

The team at High Mountain Expeditions invites you to join us in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains on one of their many outdoor adventures.

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

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Each year, for over 50 years, guests come from all over the world and the United States to visit Mystery Hill. They are all compelled to come for various reasons; “My mother came here as a child,” “I remember coming here with my Grandfather,” “I drove by this place and just had to come and see what the mystery really was,” “I just can’t get this place out of my mind.”

No matter what the reason, they come back time and time again, bringing relatives and friends to experience the mystery of our “crooked house.” People do remember the remarkable defiance of gravity, where you can see a ball roll uphill, and where folks are pulled from an upright position to an uncanny standing angle of nearly 45°.

This strange phenomenon has been amusing and puzzling visitors to Mystery Hill for generations. Since there is a variety of things to see and do, no one leaves disappointed. Mystery is a family oriented “edutainment” center that offers fun for children ages 2 to 102. We welcome you to join us at any time of the year.

For more, visit http://mysteryhill-nc.com

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

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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.

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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.

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Summer Craft Enrichment classes are now enrolling, and the 2011 summer series offers something for everyone. Are you already in the High Country for the summer, and ready to get out and make new connections? Classes in pottery, fiber spinning, and stain glass start in the next few weeks.

Are you a High Country weekend visitor? Beginning in June, you can take Saturday classes in stain glass, glass fusing, or sewing. There are also pottery day and evening classes in June and July, and evening classes in jewelry, quilting, drawing, and painting. There is even a four day mosaics class in August… really, there is a class to fit every schedule!

Whether you are an advanced student or someone who wants to get started on a new hobby, these lively and creative classes are energizing. You will learn alongside fellow artists-at-heart, and have time to explore your creative self while you see where an idea leads. Small classes provide individual attention from faculty who are dedicated professionals, both as teachers and craft artists.

Interested? You can read more about all our summer classes at www.craftenrichment.com!

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

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Academically gifted students still have time to sign up for a week of summer fun, but don’t delay because some sessions are nearly full! For students currently in grades 3-5, there are five weeks of day camp, with themes such as The Life Aquatic, a Broadstone Sampler, and Blue Ridge Base Camp. Most day camp sessions include one overnight at camp, for campers ready for a taste of residential camp life.

There are also three, one-week sessions of residential camp for students currently in grades 4-6. Five nights at camp allows plenty of time for all the adventure and enrichment classes, as well as evening skits, swim parties, and group games.There are also a few openings left for older campers in grades 4-9, who can register for two-week sessions.

The Summer Enrichment Programs for Academically Gifted Youth provides current 4th through 9th grade students an opportunity to explore a blend of enrichment classes and adventure programs that are designed to encourage and foster intellectual, social and physical growth.

All registration information and qualification forms are available at www.campbroadstone.com

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

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Tweetsie Railroad is proud to operate two vintage steam locomotives: the #12 “Tweetsie” and the #190 “Yukon Queen”. When you visit Tweetsie Railroad during the operating season, the train will be pulled by one of these historic engines.

Locomotive #12 is the last surviving narrow-gauge steam locomotive of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (ET&WNC), which ran train service from Johnson City TN to Boone NC from 1919 to 1940. When the Tweetsie Railroad theme park opened in 1957, this was our sole locomotive.

In 1960, Tweetsie Railroad acquired another steam locomotive, the #190 “Yukon Queen” from Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon Railway.

Both locomotives are coal-fired narrow-gauge engines, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. #12 was completed in 1917, and #190 in 1943. Before entering service at Tweetsie Railroad, the locomotives were put into operating condition by veteran engineer Frank Coffey, who trained new generations in Tweetsie’s on-site steam train repair shop.

For more info, visit: http://www.tweetsie.com!

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

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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.

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MAKOTO’S Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar is Celebrating 30 Years! 

Makoto’s has been serving the High Country since 1981 with traditional Japanese food and quality customer service.  Come out and enjoy a fantastic dining experience.

Watch as expert chefs perform their tableside culinary magic. Filet Mignon, Scallops, Shrimp and Ribeye Steaks prepared in their own incomparable way.

The service at Makoto’s is quite unique. You are served by both a chef and a waiter. Your food is cooked right at your table and served in an enjoyable Japanese tradition.

Makoto’s offers a rare combination of exceptional food prepared by expert (and entertaining) chefs in a relaxing atmosphere, all at reasonable prices. Enjoy the experience of Makoto’s.

For more, visit www.makotos-boone.com!

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.

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North Carolina ranks second in the nation in live Christmas tree production. Here in the North Carolina High Country it is truly an electrifying time of the year! There are thousands of acres of Christmas trees. Sure there’s holly and mistletoe but a Christmas tree is a must have during the holiday season! Christmas trees bring happiness and cheer to the faces of children throughout the nation. Maybe its time to start your family tradition, after all, the holiday season is quickly approaching!

The Watauga County Christmas Tree Association helps promote and educate the public about Christmas trees and their local growers. They also work closely with the Choose & Cut tree farmers to ensure top-quality products and a wonderful experience for their customers. Christmas tree farms send their trees throughout the Carolinas for purchase each year and also have individual sales through their Choose & Cut programs!

There are twenty-nine Choose & Cut farms in Watauga County. Each Choose & Cut Christmas tree farm is a little different. All twenty-nine Choose & Cut farms provide Fraser Fir Christmas trees and a select few provide Canaan Fir and White Pine Fir Christmas trees. If you are planning to decorate with garland or wreaths this holiday you can find these items and even a few Christmas shops at some Watauga County Choose & Cut farms. Some farms have put the idea of family first into your Christmas tree hunt experience by having animals, hayrides, sled and pony rides! For more information, or if you have any questions about the Watauga County Christmas Tree Association, please contact them at 828-264-3061

READ THE ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE!

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

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From their website:

We are a small, family-owned artisan bakery where high quality baked goods and great service come together to create a special experience for you, our customer.  We offer everything from fresh baked breads, steaming cappuccinos, delicious cinnamon rolls, and decadent chocolate tortes.

The best part is that everything is made right here in our bakery using the best ingredients and methods. Nothing that we serve is shipped in frozen from thousands of miles away like in most “supermarket” bakeries.   Nothing is taken out of a box, put in the oven for 10 minutes, and then labeled “fresh baked”. This is the real thing. We promise – and we promise that you will be able to taste the difference.

Check out: http://www.stickboybread.com

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

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Professional Blogger and Social Media Expert in The High Country to hold second round of Social Media Workshops for area businesses!

Sarah Pinnix, founder of HighCountryMomSquad.com, WiiMommies.com and RealLifeBlog.net is gearing up for a second round of “Talk of the Town” Social Media Workshops…to be held once again at The Broyhill Inn & Conference Center on the campus of Appalachian State University.

The new series begins on Tuesday, March 2nd and will be held on the first Tuesday of every month moving forward.

The first round was a huge success and consisted of 6 sessions where local area businesses could come to the workshop and learn 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!”

Julie Hayes from the NC Christmas Tree Association also adds, “The Talk of the Town workshops showed us what Social Media is, gave helpful hints, and provided resources to get us started.”

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.”

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 nearly 5,500 Facebook fans. 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://talkofthetownworkshop.com

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

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Our 20 Lane Snow Tubing Park has four different areas to snow tube; lanes are 400 – 1000 feet long.

Our 2 conveyor lifts take our snow tubers back to the top for more rides.

Hawksnest has 100% snow making and lighting on all lanes to provide the best possible conditions and fun for the whole family.

Snow tubing is a great outdoor activity for large groups of family, friends, students or church groups. Hawksnest has four different areas of snow tubing with different rollers and pitch. No experience or special skills are required. Please check out our list of “Things to Keep in Mind” which will give you ideas on clothing and weather related precautions. Reservations for groups are required for group discounts.

Also, don’t forget to enjoy our Coffee Bar, Carolina BBQ and Pizza before, during and after your tubing sessions!

Sessions are 1 hour and 45 minutes. Children must be 3 years old to snow tube. Holidays are December 21st to January 1st, January 17 & 18 & February 14 & 15. A liability waiver must be signed for each adult 18 and over.

For more, visit http://www.skihawk.com!

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

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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.

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Don’t just take our word for it. Hear what others are saying about the benefits of joining The High Country Host…

“High Country Host does an excellent job of attracting visitors to our area through its marketing. Just as importantly, they do a great job of helping our visitors find lodging, shops, places to eat, and things to do to make their visit a success. Happy customers come back and they also tell their friends to come. All types of businesses need to be part of HCH’s marketing and service efforts.”
-Harris Prevost
Grandfather Mountain

“High Country Host’s ongoing efforts to attract visitors to our area has been remarkable. Through the creation and distribution of a resourceful guidebook, to the development of and continued achievements in the High Country Host website, to co-op advertising and joint marketing opportunities, Chetola enjoys the continued benefits of our marketing partnership with High Country Host.”
-Kent Tarbutton, Proprietor
Marcia Field, Marketing Director
Chetola Mountain Resort

“We are thoroughly satisfied members of High Country Host. Your organization far outshines any other similar service in Boone in promoting our bed & breakfast to visitors. As far as we’re concerned, we cannot afford NOT to be members! Thank you and your excellent staff for serving us since 1997.”
The Baird House
-Tom & Deede Hinson

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

Stay Connected!