Balsam Range To Perform At Grandfather Mountain On April 22nd!
The award-winning bluegrass band Balsam Range will appear at the Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum on Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m.
Balsam Range, named after the Haywood County, NC mountains where the members of the group call home, was nominated for the Emerging Artist award by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2010 and 2011 as well as Album of the Year in 2011. They were honored with the IBMA Song of the Year award last year for “Trains I Missed.” This “up close and personal” concert by the Western North Carolina tradition-bearers at Grandfather Mountain is a can’t-miss opportunity.
“We are excited to welcome the members of Balsam Range back to Grandfather Mountain,” said Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation President Penn Dameron. “The group delighted our visitors last September and we hope even more folks will take advantage of this great opportunity in April.”
Advance ticket sales begin Monday, April 9 and end Saturday, April 21 and are available on www.grandfather.com. Adults ages 13 and up are $25 and children ages four to 12 are $15. Children under four are always free. The ticket price includes all day admission to Grandfather Mountain and admission to the concert.
Grandfather Mountain annual pass holders and others who have already purchased admission to the park for the day can buy tickets to the concert online for $7 in advance or at the Nature Museum for $12 the day of the show.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park in the public interest and participate in educational research activities. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.
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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Opening Day At Tweetsie Railroad Is April 13th!
Tweetsie will open for the 2012 Season on April 13th!
- April 13 through May 28, 2012: Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and Memorial Day Monday, May 28, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Note: Tweetsie Railroad is closed Monday-Thursday through May 31. - June 1 through August 19, 2012: Open 7 days a week, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Tweetsie will be open until 9:00 pm on July 4th for the Fireworks Extravaganza, and July 7, 14, 21 & 28 for Cool Summer Nights.
Note: Tweetsie Railroad is closed Monday-Thursday beginning August 20. - August 24 through October 28, 2012: Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day Monday, September 3, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
- We will also open Friday and Saturday nights September 28 through October 27 for the Ghost Train® Halloween Festival. Gates open 7:30 pm.
Tweetsie Railroad will be closed for the winter beginning October 28, 2012.
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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Eighth Annual Easter Egg Hunt At Ski Sugar!
On Sunday, March 18th Sugar Mountain Resort hosts the Eighth Annual Easter Egg Hunt right on the slopes. Dress up in your Easter Best costume and join Sugar Bear and Sweetie Bear on the snow in search of prize-filled eggs. In addition to the sweet treasures, other lucky hunters may strike gold and claim a sparkling trove of great giveaways. And one great hunter will find a season ski pass hidden in the grand prize egg for the 2012-2013 winter.
At the start of the hunt, participating children, who must be 12 years and younger, will load the No. 1 Summit lift promptly at 9 am. All thats required is a valid slope pass and everyone must be on skis or snowboards. Unloading at mid-station, everyone will gather at the start line and then the hunt begins down Lower Flying Mile.
Children are encouraged to wear their ‘Easter Best’ Costumes, and the top three entrants will win prizes. Judges will be looking for color, creativity, and imagination behind the outfits. So put on your bunny suit and bonnet, bring your Easter basket, and join us for another wild hare outdoor adventure at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort.
For more information please call 1-800-SUGAR-MT or visit our website www.skisugar.com/calendar
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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First Annual “Critter Crawl” Set For May 3rd at Grandfather Mountain!
This May, the inaugural “Critter Crawl” kicks off at Grandfather Mountain. The 5K race begins in MacRae Meadows and ends at the top of Grandfather. All proceeds will directly benefit upcoming renovations to the Grandfather Mountain eagle habitats.
The race will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 3. To accommodate runners and race spectators, the park will end ticket sales at 4 p.m. and close at 5 p.m.
Online registration for the “Critter Crawl” begins March 1 with 500 spaces for runners available. The cost per participant is $30 and includes: a “Critter Crawl” t-shirt and a free day-pass for the following weekend. T-shirts will not be guaranteed for participants that register after April 19. Awards will be presented to the top three male and female competitors.
Parking passes, available during registration, are $10 per car. Spectators will be able to park in designated parking lots on Grandfather and MacRae Meadows on a first-come, first-serve basis. Shuttles will transport spectators to the top from each parking area.
For registration information, please visit www.grandfather.com and for more information about the “Critter Crawl” or the eagle habitat renovation project, call 828-733-8715.
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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High Country Host Welcomes New Member: Boone Independent Restaurants!
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.
Our Objectives:
- Market member establishments effectively
- Generate excitement around independent restaurants
- Sustain an effective non-profit organization
- Educate member establishments on responsible business practices
- Make the public aware of the benefits of dining locally
To learn more, visit: http://booneindependentrestaurants.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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High Country Host Welcomes New Member: Grapevine Properties!
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.
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Mark Your Calendars For Blowing Rock Winterfest, 2012!
Join the Village of Blowing Rock as we celebrate the fun side of winter at the 14th Annual Blowing Rock Winterfest! From the Chili Cook-Off to WinterPaws, from the icy Polar Plunge to WinterFeast, there’s something for all age groups at Blowing Rock Winterfest.
- Shop with Blowing Rock Merchants
- Dine in our cozy restaurants!
- Free Hot Chocolate & Hayrides!
- FREE SNOW!
For more, visit: http://www.blowingrockwinterfest.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.
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Sugar Mountain Ski Resort Opens For The Season!
SUGAR MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT, NORTH CAROLINA Sugar Mountain Ski Resort in North Carolina opens tomorrow; Saturday, November 12, 2011 for skiing, snowboarding and ice skating. Snowmaking began Thursday, November 10th and continues. A manmade powder surface covers the Upper and Lower Flying Mile slopes. The Summit #1 Lift will be in operation to the 3/4′s station. Weekend lift/slope ticket prices will be $25 for a full-day session and $20 for a half-day session. For a real time look at the slopes through the live, streaming web cam please log on towww.skisugar.com/sugarlive.
Sugar’s 10,000 square foot outdoor ice rink also opens tomorrow. www.skisugar.com/skating Sessions are one hour and thirty minutes long and run from 10 am until 10 pm on Saturday. Sunday’s sessions will begin at 10 am and end after the 6 pm session. Ice skating tickets are $15 per session and include skate rental.
Sugar Mountain Sports Shop, located in the Base Lodge will open tomorrow for the season. It features the finest in winter apparel and footwear, quality gift items, and souvenirs.
For more information please call 800-SUGAR-MT or view our website www.skisugar.com for the latest slope and weather conditions. Historical opening and closing dates as well as recorded annual natural snowfall measurements can be found at www.skisugar.com/press/stats.
Also, visit www.skithehighcountry.com for more info on snow skiing in The NC High Country!
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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Grandfather Mountain Celebrates A “Beary Scary Halloween”!
Celebrate Halloween with the creatures of the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats Saturday October 29th. Join in the first ever “Beary Scary Halloween” festivities and help the Mountain raise funds for renovations on Grandfather’s eagle habitat.
“We wanted to create a fun event that would give kids a chance to be more involved in the animals’ day and provide us with the opportunity to raise awareness about the improvements that we hope to make to our eagle habitat,” said Christie Tipton, habitat manager.
Halloween activities take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are included with regular admission. Kids in costume will get in at half price.
The day begins at 10 a.m. with Halloween-themed crafts in the Nature Museum. At 10:30 a.m. kids can go trick or treating in the animal habitats, which will be decorated in mummy, werewolf, ghost and graveyard themes.
At 11 a.m. Naturalists will meet by the Mildred the Bear statue in the Nature Museum to lead an interactive program titled “Going Batty for Bats.” Participants will learn all about bats and their importance to the environment.
Prepare to be captivated by ghost stories at 11:30 a.m. in the Nature Museum Auditorium. Local storytellers Maggie Christenbury and Owen Gray will lead scary tales to thrill the whole family.
At 12:30 p.m. kids get a chance to compete in a costume contest and vote on their favorite costume worn by the animal habitat staff. Voting takes place in the Nature Museum lobby.
Immediately following the costume contest, guests have a unique opportunity to participate in the animal enrichments by decorating pumpkins and other treats that will later be given to the animals. An enrichment is anything different that can help to break up the animals’ day such as a scent, a new toy or a treat.
Join the Mountain’s Naturalists in the Nature Museum at 1 p.m. for the “Creepy, Crawly Critters!” program. Participants will learn about creatures of the night, creatures that bite and other spooky animals.
At 2 p.m. the Habitat Staff will begin the animal enrichments. Meet at the deer overlook to watch the animals enjoy their decorated treats.
The last of the day’s programming will take place in front of the fudge shop at 2:45 p.m. An “Owl Encounter” allows guests to meet and learn about the spooky night prowlers that can be found in the High Country.
Throughout the day guests can learn more about the eagle habitat, special programs offered by habitat staff and additional opportunities to get involved on the Mountain. For more information, contact the habitat staff at 828-733-8715.
Grandfather Mountain is a globally recognized nature preserve famous for its 360-degree vistas, native wildlife habitats and Mile High Swinging Bridge. The attraction is located on US Highway 221, two miles north of Linville, NC, and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park in the public interest and participate in educational research activities.
For more information phone 800-468-7325 or plan a trip at www.grandfather.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.
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Grandfather Mountain Predicts Stunning Fall Color!
The first hints of autumn are in the air and Grandfather Mountain is preparing for the vibrant colors that are sure to follow. In an effort to help visitors experience all of the beauty that the High Country has to offer, Grandfather Mountain provides many opportunities for guests to learn more about the amazing transformation that overtakes the forest in fall.
“We are seeing lots of color change already for this early in September. The trees are looking healthy with lots of leaves, so I’m very optimistic that this will be a good season,” said Director of Education Jesse Pope. “The peak viewing time in the higher elevations will likely be around the first two weeks in October.”
Grandfather Mountain has ideal conditions for leaf looking due to a wide range in elevation, which allows visitors to see the changing leaves over a greater number of weeks. On the weekends of October 8-9 and October 15-16 Grandfather’s Interpretive Rangers and Naturalists will offer “The Colors of Grandfather” guided walks at 1 p.m. These hikes will lead guests through woodlands populated by many different species of hardwoods, provide an opportunity to learn more about the phenomenon of leaf change, and answer questions about Grandfather’s unique ecosystem.
Grandfather is a great destination for leaf looking, not only because its high peaks are a good vantage point for looking out across the color on the hillsides below, but because the mountain hosts such a tremendous variety of plant life.
In addition to the planned programming inside the park in October, fresh fall color photos are posted daily throughout the month on the Mountain’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account. These postings include up-to-date reports on leaf looking conditions, helpful tips for visiting the area in fall and the best routes for finding the brightest trees.
Grandfather Mountain is a globally recognized nature preserve famous for its 360-degree vistas, native wildlife habitats and Mile High Swinging Bridge. The attraction is located on US Highway 221, two miles north of Linville, NC, and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park in the public interest and participate in educational research activities. For more information phone 800-468-7325 or plan a trip at www.grandfather.com
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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