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Destinations off the beaten path

Why History Buffs Are Flocking to Kings Mountain This Fall!

Ditch the history books and grab your tricorn hat! Kings Mountain is bringing the American Revolution back to life with Liberty Mountain. Expect thrilling live theater, booming black-powder demos, and Loyalist reenactments. Come hungry for local bites and stay for the drama from September 19 to October 11!

Rides, Peaches, and Music: Inside Patrick County’s Packed Fall Lineup!

Visit Patrick County, Virginia, for a September packed with mountain festivals, agricultural traditions, and homegrown treats! Pack your bags for camping at Front Porch Fest 17, gospel harmonies, and fair rides. Loosen your belt for fresh Woolwine peaches and artisan bakery goods from local sunset markets today!

Cats, Knives, And Chaos: The Crazy New Addition Coming To The Ren Fest This Fall!

Head to Huntersville, North Carolina, for the 33rd Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival! Pack your bags for jousting tournaments, trained cat and rat stunt shows, and falconry displays. Loosen your belt for giant turkey legs, artisan treats, and medieval feats across eight weekends from October 3 through November 22 today!

Grammy Winners and Natural Wood Acoustics: Inside WNC’s Premier Blues Festival!

Head to downtown Black Mountain, North Carolina, for the 2026 Black Mountain Blues Experience! Pack your bags for intimate 200-seat indoor shows, rich natural wood acoustics, and world-class Grammy nominees. Loosen your belt for local craft brewery pints and mountain dining between front-row blues sets from September 25–27 today!

The 43rd annual Woolly Worm Festival may have been canceled this year due to COVID-19, but you can’t keep a good worm down. Previously scheduled for Oct. 17-18, the festival sees approximately 20,000 attendees visit Banner Elk in Avery County to witness a big prediction from the smallest of prognosticators. …

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Outdoor adventures are just as FUN in the colder winter temperatures of Stokes County. Locals say, “Winter is the best time for a relaxing, brisk hike to vistas of clear views for miles.” Take in the fresh, mountain air of the piedmont region at Hanging Rock State Park, helping to…

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Christmas is a time for family and friends – and in Granville County, it’s also a time for maintaining the well-being of those around you while celebrating the season. The following provides a list of festivities taking place during the Holidays. Dec. 3 – Oxford Virtual Tree Lighting – Downtown Oxford…

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Does the cold weather and daylight savings have you catching cabin fever? Well, what better cure for cabin fever then visiting a cabin in the mountains? A change of scenery and being outside in the mountain air is important for your mental and physical health.  Stay in one of Burke…

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The Yadkin Valley’s newest vineyard showcases wine, mountain views and sunsets on 70 acres bordering the Fisher River. Melissa Hayes and husband, Christian Krobisch, opened Serre Vineyards in September. The Charlotte couple fell in love with NC wine while touring vineyards statewide, spurring them to start their own.  The centerpiece…

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Are you ready for the “12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN DAVIDSON”? YES, Christmas in Davidson is happening this year but it will be different. Now you have 12 days to enjoy this magical event! The elves have been hard at work creating new ways for you and your family to…

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In the midst of a global pandemic, Eden’s historic downtown, now called Uptown Eden, has flourished. Starting in 2019 with entrepreneurs opening new stores and solidified with Carpino Investments purchasing and renovating historic buildings, Uptown Eden is coming alive.  Julie Stanton opened Southern Julep, an apparel, jewelry accessories and gift…

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Looking to fill the stockings on your holiday gift list? Stuff them with nearly two dozen wineries, breweries and cideries. The Cheers! Trail Passport is a guide to 23 tasting rooms along this unique trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Hendersonville, North Carolina. The trail features 11 breweries, six…

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Conventions, Conferences, Culinary Creations, Creative Craft Beverages, & Chill. The city of Gastonia is the perfect urban trail head. In the heart of Gaston county, any direction you venture, you will find something new to discover & enjoy. As diverse as your destinations are in Gastonia, the choices for your…

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Carolina Craft Passport Trail Post This is the time of year that we usually look forward to or dread spending time with our families. This year is going to be just slightly different. But that does not mean that it has to be bad. You can still get out and…

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Our 2020 Wheels Through Time Raffle Bike is this beautiful 1939 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead hand-built by the team in the Wheels Through Time restoration shop. This year’s masterpiece is powered by an all original 1939 61c.i. OHV Knucklehead engine mated to a genuine H-D 4-speed transmission, making it one of smoothest…

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There is something about a treehouse that brings out the child in everyone. Maybe it’s the sense of adventure it invokes. Maybe it’s the imperfect lines of the structure mixed with quirky wall hangings. Or maybe it’s the offer of a place to dream. Whatever the reason, the family treehouse…

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Stokes County, NC As we all know, at this time, getting outside is the number one thing to do! Personally, hiking is one of my favorites, so; I caught up with one of my girlfriends who was up for the challenge. Aly & I met up at Hanging Rock State…

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Winter may be a great time to stay inside and cuddle under some blankets in the warmth, but what happens when that dreaded cabin fever starts to creep up on you? Hiking can be exactly what you need to get your blood pumping and your sense of adventure peaking. Come…

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For Jeremy and Krystle Stamps, The Wisdom Table is an education opportunity. Located on Main Street in downtown Elkin, the expansive bottle shop and bar serve as a classroom where North Carolina’s growing wine scene is the subject of choice. Opened in July 2020, The Wisdom Table came out of…

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Hendersonville invites brides-to-be to plan their Blue Ridge Mountain weddings at the Say I Do to Hendersonville Bridal Show on Saturday, Nov. 14. The show, which was rescheduled from the spring due to COVID restrictions, brings together wedding venues, vendors and planners at Blue Ridge Community College for a one-stop…

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Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail I  hope you had a chance to read part one of our story on theRidgeline Craft Beverage Trail. This is a two-day journey; and this month we highlight day two. If you missed day one, go to trailpost.craftpassport.app to catch up.  Cavendish Brewing Company On day…

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Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail The Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail features six of Gaston and Cleveland County’s breweries, distilleries and wineries. Each has its own unique feel and culture, which was our favorite part of this trail. It’s a great representation of what makes Gaston and Cleveland Counties so special.  Starting…

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Fall means apple season in Hendersonville, North Carolina. This Blue Ridge Mountain town leads the state in apple production and consistently ranks among the top producers in the nation.  During a time when families are searching for safe, socially distanced, outdoor activities, U-pick apple orchards check all the boxes. Apple…

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Stokes County, NC Now is the perfect time to plan a leaf peeping drive, with the windows down enjoying a kaleidoscopic show of vibrant auburn, yellow and red coloring in Stokes County, NC. Take the less traveled path on rural roadways where the only traffic jam you may encounter is…

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Grey Blackwell was raised on a farm.  Even as he worked in corporate America as a graphic artist, the love of the land never left him.  His approach though, is a bit unique.  Grey now owns and runs one of the most popular Halloween haunted attractions in the state. Working…

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Carolina Craft Passport Trail Post Located on the majestic Roaring River in Traphill, North Carolina, Roaring River Vineyards provides spectacular wines in a beautiful atmosphere. The Tasting Room offers both wine and beer to please a variety of palates. Have a glass, share a bottle, or enjoy a tasting to…

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With everyone in North Carolina looking to get outdoors, we’d recommend looking to Granville County and four unique spaces in Creedmoor and Butner. Lake Rogers  The largest and most spectacular park in Creedmoor is located at Lake Rogers. Located on Highway 56, Lake Rogers is a shallow lake covering 175…

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Some artwork exists for centuries. Yet some pieces are temporary. The Gallery at Flat Rock pairs lasting creations with fleeting ones for its fifth annual “Art in Bloom” exhibit, Sept. 26-27. Located just south of downtown Hendersonville, the gallery is known for its finely curated art and craft. The exhibit…

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Maybe you’ve found a new love for outdoor adventure and the thrill of the hike this summer, while finding a way to pass the time and enjoy fresh mountain air. Step it up a notch and push yourself to go further with a local hiking challenge, asking participants to Conquer…

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Sept 1, 2020Join us on the Ridgeline Trolley for the Fall Color Tour, hosted by Burke Country Tourism. Board the Trolley in Morganton, NC and enjoy the sights as you travel up scenic Highway 181 to Linville, NC. The Tour includes a box lunch that will be eaten at a…

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Bryson City is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s an adventurers playground with some surprisingly luxurious options for relaxing at the end of the day. Home to the Great Smoky Mountain railway, there’s more than one way to immerse yourself in the scenic landscape that envelopes this charming…

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On Gaston County’s eastern edge, along the Catawba River, lies a 1,300-acre playground. The nonprofit U.S. National Whitewater Center has one goal: to encourage people to get outdoors. The centerpiece is the largest manmade whitewater course in the world, where paddling novices as young as 8 years old navigate class…

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Henderson County’s Crest of the Blue Ridge wine region is now home to six wine producers following the openings this summer of Marked Tree Vineyard and Stone Ashe Vineyard. Marked Tree sits at an elevation of 2,300 in a picturesque setting along the Eastern Continental Divide. A unique tasting room…

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“Shake it like a Polaroid Picture”, post it on Social Media to claim bragging rights for finding some of the most photographed locations often seen when scrolling past or following local hashtags on Instagram. There’s a certain challenge in searching out and recreating the view of most popular selfie opportunities…

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Let The Camping Begin! Camping is always an adventure but seriously camping in a vineyard has got to be an all-time winner!  Being among the grapevines, on the mountainside, and in the rolling hills is just breathtaking! On September 12th Round Peak Vineyards will be hosting an all-time favorite The…

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Carolina Craft Passport Trail Post Dedicated to bringing you damn good beer. Dry Falls Brewing Co. started out as a dream between father and son while sitting in a brewery on a family vacation. Romanticizing the idea while drinking a flight of twenty-four different brews, Jeff and Evan found their…

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Planned Getaways or Adventures ala-carte, Burke County North Carolina is your destination to distance yourself from ordinary weekends. Summer is the time to get outside and discover the foothills, the mountains, and the waterways in Burke County. We have put together itineraries of things we suggest doing during your visit….

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In North Carolina, 7,000-acre Doughton Park is the setting of another historical mountain cabin and farmstead, as well as thirty miles of pleasant walking trails, some involving stream crossings. The historic Bluffs Restaurant, also located at Doughton Park, has undergone restoration and is scheduled to reopen in 2020 after 10…

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Sometimes side streets make for the best discoveries on a road trip. Wilmington is a charming escape. The port city blends history with the vibrant energy of a college town.  The beautiful Cape Fear river is flanked by homes with porches that make you want to sit on them and…

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If you want your own Swiss Amy Knife of Campers visit the Sylvansport Website and pick out your new GO™! If you would like to see one in action follow Where2GO.app for locations and events we will have our Sylvansport GO™ on display. Mention Code JAY 2247 for your Go…

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Let The Camping Begin! It is never the wrong time to hit the road and go exploring. We packed up the Sylvan Sport GO™and hit the road. To where you ask? This time we headed to Grandfather Campground in Banner Elk. One of my many favorites.  With 32 Acres of…

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Watch a potter turn a hunk of clay into an elaborate vase, see jewelers transform metal and stone into elegant accents, or learn how a painter uses tiny brushstrokes to create a multicolor masterpiece. These experiences and more await along the Blue Ridge Craft Trails of Henderson County. Three distinct…

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Planned Getaways or Adventures ala-carte, Burke County North Carolina is your destination to distance yourself from ordinary weekends. Up in the Air Thermal Valley is a family owned and operated business whose mission is to facilitate people to feel the exhilarating effects of free flying through our discovery of tandem…

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Go Gaston. Get Online. Gaston County Travel & Tourism has raised the bar on destination website design. Visitors to GoGastonNC.org will find a digital how-to guide for pre-planning their trip and maximizing their stay in Gaston County. New and upgraded features include: an interactive trip planner, suggested itineraries, continually-updated event…

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Make a splash into cool mountain waters of the Dan River, dip your feet in a refreshing waterfall as it rushes by your skin flowing to the ground at Hanging Rock State Park. Stokes County, North Carolina is the perfect Mountain Getaway, surrounded by rural landscapes, remote locations and vacation…

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Carolina Craft Passport Trail Post Dedicated to bringing you damn good beer. Triskelion Brewing Company is dedicated to bringing you damn good beer. That’s it. That’s their goal. They like to do other stuff too… but primarily… at the taphouse, the main objective is simply to produce the best beer…

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Weekly Destinations to Enjoy