This August, amateur and professional photographers can visit Grandfather Mountain’s classroom in the clouds to hear presentations from top photojournalists and improve their skills. The annual Grandfather Mountain Camera Clinic returns Aug. 17-18, also allowing participants the rare opportunity to photograph the park outside of regular business hours, while providing…

Tobacco Wood Brewing Company I have been watching Tobacco Wood Brewing Company for nearly a year now. Not from a distance, but from my favorite perch in the taproom. The one directly in front of the big screen showing the what is on the 15 taps, all the beers are made…

Beech Mountain, N.C. is a prime destination for outdoor adventure all year long. Our cool summer and fall seasons offer biking, hiking, fishing, roller skating, and dry tubing, while winter in the highest town in eastern America provides the perfect climate for skiing, tubing, snowboarding and ice skating. And you…

Goldsboro, NC, Has The Tour For You. Goldsboro, NC, has got a busy calendar for you this Fall! Visit Goldsboro, Travel, and Tourism for Goldsboro, is running a Fall program of tours throughout September and October with something for everyone on the schedule. Read on to find the tour for…

Each Labor Day weekend for more than 70 years, Hendersonville and Henderson County have celebrated their place as the top apple-producing region in North Carolina. This year will be no exception as the North Carolina Apple Festival takes over downtown Hendersonville for four days, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. Festival-goers…

As summer makes its last hoorah, settle into a Stokes County state of mind to watch as the rural tree line fades into beautiful autumn shades. As temperatures turn cooler, grass of green below your feet will lead to airwaves filled with sounds of good ole time blue grass, folk,…

Granville County is not like where you came from… we are “Uniquely Carolina”™ –  a Carolina that melds the endearing heart of hometown living with (individual) space, and easy accessibility – a rare fusion that allows you to define “experience” and “gathering” on your terms…. and compels you to come…

Join Anchored Soul for our 1st annual “Bon Temps Paddle Battle on Wylie” in Belmont, NC! Whether you’re a concert-goer, fun-seeker, or paddler, we have something for you. To start off the event there are 7, 3.5, & 1-mile paddle races plus a kids race which you can participate in…

Surry County, in the heart of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, has always been a playground for outdoor adventure. Now, there’s a map guiding the way. The Surry County Four Rivers Outdoor Adventure Map – available both in print and online – highlights hiking, paddling, cycling and fishing options in a…

The Beech Mountain Brewing Company Taproom and Grill and the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria will be the venues for the Beech Mountain Throwback Music Weekend, August 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The family-friendly event takes place over three days. Friday and Saturday night performances at the Taproom are $10 each night…

The Beer Lab was an idea created from our R&D (Research & Drinking) Events at our original location, where we would unleash 7 new beers at a time and experiment with exotic ingredients, fruit, and yeast.  Limited by space constraints (storage, seating, taps) it was difficult to bring out new…

Situated atop a knoll outside Morganton with gorgeous views of the South Mountains is Silver Fork Winery. Owners Jennifer Foulides and Ed Wisnieski left corporate America behind in 2013 to move south and create a place to sip, nibble and relax. Silver Fork Winery is just that place. The wines…

If being a better steward of our planet is important to you, here is a reward program that will (m)eat your standards. Tour De Pork is a summer showcase featuring restaurants committed to sourcing ethical meats and who, collectively, utilize all parts of the hog. Each pork part deserves a…

Outdoor adventure abounds in the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Hendersonville, North Carolina. The town’s location — surrounded by hills and valleys covered in old-growth forests with rivers and streams flowing throughout — makes it an ideal destination to escape the indoor confines and reconnect with nature. The French Broad…

Breathtaking views along scenic vistas at 2,579 feet in elevation can be found in the Piedmont of North Carolina along the Sauratown Mountain Range in Stokes County. Outdoor enthusiasts, in for a challenge, can achieve this elevation as they summit Moore’s Knob in Hanging Rock State Park. Hike the 4.3…

Gaston County has a wealth of parks with countless activities for all ages to enjoy that are fun, affordable, and right around the corner.   Gaston County Parks are much more than swings and picnic tables. Fourteen parks on the  Park Hop Scavenger Hunt. Park Hop is a fun and…

This year we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of our first Skull Campout by offering two camping events – one on July 20th and another on September 7th. Come experience the vineyard under the stars! Our annual, signature event features camping in the vineyard, live music, dinner from the Skull…

Summer is packed full of events in Goldsboro, NC, and whether you’re into music, the great outdoors, some alternative spooky ghost stories or just good old fashioned al fresco drinking and dining in the sun, Goldsboro has got your summer sorted. The annual Center Street Jams are back, and every…

Rivermen Brewing Company Our story started out on the creeks and rivers of the southeast. The four original partners of Rivermen Brewing Company met on various paddling trips and adventures, lots of beer was enjoyed and friendships formed. We all share a love of paddling, outdoor adventures and beer. Over…

Some of downtown Hendersonville’s most beloved residents return this spring. Twenty colorful bear statues take their places along Main Street for the annual Bearfootin’ Art Walk & Auction.  The bears start as blank, white forms, and local artists decorate them with creative designs. The bears appear in May and stay…

Oink & Ale is back and will take place Saturday, June 22nd from 6 pm. until 9 pm. along Monroe Street in Historic Downtown Eden. You will be able to enjoy barbecue, ribs, brisket, barbecued chicken, MillerCoors, Natty Greenes,  Pig Pounder Brewery and 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. products…

Not as well known and heavily traveled as the Catawba River, the South Fork River is an under-the-radar destination that you’ll want to keep all to yourself. Paddling the narrow South Fork River Blueway from Spencer Mountain to Cramerton is just the right amount of Class I-II whitewater to get…

Beat the heat this summer, feel the mountain breeze rushes past you on a zip line or mountain bike adventure in the great outdoors of Stokes County, North Carolina. Take to Hanging Rock State Park trails on two wheels along single track, rock ledge berms, fast flows, stream crossings, and…

Surprise that special person in your life with a romantic mountain escape this summer.  The resort town of Banner Elk is home to easy-to-use theater packages that include one night of lodging, a pair of tickets to an Ensemble Stage performance, breakfast and discount dining coupons for the popular Banner…

With summer weather on the horizon, now is the perfect time to plan your escape to the mountains and waterways of Stokes County, NC!

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…

You will be able to enjoy barbecue, ribs, brisket, barbecued chicken, MillerCoors, Pig Pounder Brewery and 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. products along with beverages from other local craft brewers.

The new Surry County Four Rivers Map provides locations for all paddling access points in the county, as well as stream details and parking info for each access point.

The cool mountains of Banner Elk provide an ideal backdrop for the Art on the Green show this Memorial Day weekend.

The inaugural North Carolina Trail Days Festival takes place May 31-June 2 in Elkin and combines the area’s abundance of trails with a fun schedule of events.

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…

Located two hours or less from most of the major population centers in the state, the Dan River Company can arrange trips from 2 hours to 2 days, covering 40 miles of the Dan River. Come and enjoy the beauty of the area, a day in the sun or an adventure on the river. There is no better way to relax than listening to the quiet ripples of water provided by nature, viewing the wildlife and spending time with your friends and family.

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…

Start your summer on a high note in Eastern America’s highest town, Beech Mountain, North Carolina.  This family-friendly destination offers affordable fun for all ages, and June Family Fun Month highlights some of the best of what this quaint resort town has to offer. Many of the businesses in town,…

An amazing two days of local craft beer and live music, camping and new friends. NCBMF will be on May 10th and 11th at Historic Rural Hill, a non-profit historic site and farm located 20 minutes from downtown Charlotte in Huntersville NC. This event is rain-or-shine and will not be…

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.

Yadkin Valley’s top wine festival uncorks its 18th edition with an all-star lineup of wineries and live music in Elkin, NC, on Saturday, May 18. The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival attracts wine aficionados from near and far with tasting booths from two dozen wineries and a full afternoon of music…

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…

Now that engagement season has passed, brides-to-be are planning their dream weddings. The rolling hills of Surry County in the Yadkin Valley wine region create a beautiful setting for such occasions. While many venues throughout Surry County are ideal for weddings, these four places stand out when brides choose to…

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…

Medaloni Cellars rests on twenty-two acres of rolling hills located in North Carolina’s beautiful Yadkin Valley. Located 10 minutes outside of Winston-Salem, Medaloni Cellars is a beautiful addition to the Yadkin Valley wine trail to be toured by wine lovers from all over. Enjoy a romantic sunset with views of…