Avery County, NC Banner Elk’s summertime Art on the Greene shows return this year after the coronavirus pandemic forced cancelation last summer. The fine art shows take place on the grounds of the Historic Banner Elk School the following weekends: July 3-4, Aug. 7-8 and Sept. 4-5. Booth space will…

Avery County, NC Exciting outdoor adventures – both new and old – await this summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Banner Elk, North Carolina. This high-elevation resort town is surrounded by thrilling experiences. The newest adrenaline rush comes with downhill speeds reaching up to 27 miles per hour. Wilderness…

Snow tubing ranks among the easiest — and most fun — winter sports because it requires little preparation, equipment and skill. Just hop on a tube and whoosh down the hill. The Banner Elk area is an ideal tubing spot with four of the top places to snow tube in…

There’s good news for skiers and snowboarders heading to Banner Elk this winter. Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Resort are participating in the national Ski Well, Be Well initiative to promote COVID-safe skiing. Both resorts follow protocols set forth by the National Ski Areas Association. Those include a face…

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 October 17th Round Peak Vineyards will be hosting an all-time favorite The…

Let The Camping Begin! Red Gates RV park and campground is located on a gently rolling meadowland with a 2-acre lake surrounded by a beautiful wooded area. It is only 5.5 miles away from historic downtown Hendersonville. Red Gates is a peaceful atmosphere for all campers. Bring your friends and…

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

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…

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

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…

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…

Today’s visitors on the parkway are welcome to share much of the same glorious scenery known only to native mountaineers born to it and men of wealth who bought into it. But in addition, as I travel over this route it strikes me that the parkway and its northern link…

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

A new decade brings new experiences for guests to enjoy at Grandfather Mountain in 2020. With a mission to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain, the nonprofit nature park and its staff are readying for an eventful year….

The turn in the temperature signals a new season on Grandfather Mountain — and the return of a bargain allowing unlimited access to the park for six months. The Secret Season Pass allows holders unlimited, six-month access to the park November 2019 through April 2020. An individual Secret Season Pass…

An invigorating winter getaway awaits in the mile-high elevations surrounding Banner Elk. This town in the North Carolina mountains offers the chance to get outdoors with hiking and exploring at Grandfather Mountain, as well as snowtubing at nearby ski resorts. One of the biggest winter attractions in the area is…

There are sunrises, and then there are Grandfather Mountain sunrises. And then there are Grandfather Mountain New Year’s Day sunrises. Ring in an epic New Year on Wednesday, Jan. 1, for the first sunrise of 2020 — atop Grandfather Mountain. This special event will allow guests the rare opportunity to…

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…

With 2019 underway, Grandfather Mountain’s calendar of events is in peak condition. With a mission to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain, the nonprofit nature park and its staff are readying for a fun and eventful year. “2019…