The water doesn’t get any cleaner than crystal clear mountain streams whose source is a federally protected wilderness area. No development of any kind is allowed in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area near Morganton in Burke County.  Lake James is primarily fed from the Linville River which comes straight out…

Located just west of Charlotte, Gaston County offers families plenty of options for a weekend getaway. With museums, parks, nature trails, and some of the region’s best hiking, mountain biking, and paddling, it’s easy to plan an adventurous day trip or a quick vacation. You’ll also find lots of family-friendly…

The Town of Valdese will kick off their 2019 Family Friday Nights summer concert series on May 24, 2019 at 7pm in the downtown Valdese parking lot. The summer concert series is free for everyone, so bring a lawn chair and get ready to hear some great music! The May…

Whether you’re looking to grow your own vegetables, add an outdoor living space to your backyard or bring color into your landscape, Garden Jubilee is the place to be this Memorial Day weekend. Now in its 26th year, Hendersonville’s premiere lawn-and-garden show returns to Main Street May 25-26. More than…

Enjoy yourself, reward yourself. The Carolina Craft Beverage Trail is a reward program to nudge you to get off the well worn path and experience boutique craft beverage destinations across the State of North Carolina.

As the apple trees begin to bloom, Hendersonville celebrates the spring season and the hope for a bountiful harvest with the second annual Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend, April 25-28. The four-day event showcases local food and drink with nearly 50 happenings at cideries, wineries and tasting rooms throughout the…

The craft beer explosion that started in Asheville and Charlotte has finally made its way across the Catawba River into Gaston County. With an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the area, Gaston is the perfect setting for embracing the brewpub culture, and visitors will find several taprooms where they…

The Hawg in the Holler Music Festival, inspired by Tim Cifers, is kicking off its 5th year celebrating music, family fun and local charity efforts. Featured bands for the day include (in this order): Brooke McBride, Who Shot John, Nantucket. This year we welcome Oxford’s own Carson Blakely, afternoon DJ…

Listen to the natural flow of the Dan River from the back deck of the Green Heron Ale House in Stokes County during #NCBeerMonth. Located in Danbury, the heart of the county, you can experience history, local arts, and many accesses to the Dan River for a leisure float during…

We often take a drive to the unknown and wind up somewhere fantastic. It’s what we do!  This time was a great surprise. Not only did we find an incredible brewery but we found awesome people like the staff at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. and getting to meet and chat…

Coming April 1, 2019 to Morganton's Marquee Theatre: the return of the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights of Burke County. Movie Poster from Original Release             The lights, a natural phenomenon seen for centuries near their namesake mountain, play an integral role in Alien Abduction, a 2014 sci-fi thriller. Five years to the…

This April, get to Goldsboro where the month kicks off with Pig In The Park on April 5-6th in historical Waynesborough Village, where twenty cook teams will face off in a whole hog BBQ contest, making enough delicious food to satisfy over 5,000 festival goers.  Hot on its heels is…

Cool green mountains and crystal-clear lakes surrounding Hendersonville, North Carolina, create an ideal setting for summer youth camps, drawing thousands of boys and girls every summer from across the South. The first camp opened in 1910 and by 1921, the Asheville Citizen-Times dubbed Hendersonville “the center of camps in the…

Days are getting longer and the local calendar is filled with festivals, events, challenges, and fun experiences to put a little SPRING into your Step as you adventure and explore the mountain peaks and river banks of Stokes County, NC! So much to do around the ROCK this Spring, you’ll…

The 27-mile Catawba River Blueway is filled with scenic spots for a paddling adventure. Looking for one of the area’s best float trips? Check out the stretch of the Catawba River starting just below Mountain Island Lake in North Carolina and flowing to the border of South Carolina. You’ll paddle…

You know what an oasis is, right? That’s Goldsboro. A community that is bubbling up from the Coastal Plains of North Carolina, flourishing with art, culinary treasures, parks, planes, pickles, and locally crafted pints. The city of Goldsboro makes a great choice if you are looking for a destination that…

We all want the best experience for our wedding, right?  Finding the best fitting venue is just as important as the dress. Well… Almost!  Here you have it all scheduled for you to enjoy the adventure of choosing your perfect place in style. Are you planning a 2019-2020 wedding?  Well,…

Brides looking to get married in the Blue Ridge Mountains can plan their dream weddings at the Say I Do to Hendersonville Bridal Show on Saturday, March 23. Hendersonville is a popular choice for destination weddings. There are 65 venues in Henderson County to accommodate weddings of all sizes and…

There will be a new place to explore the outdoors in Gaston County. Mountain Island Educational State Forest, the latest of seven educational state forests across North Carolina will showcase the benefits of forest management in action. It will be a wonderful spot to take your dog for a hike…