A FREE Daily Visitor Guide for the North Carolina Mountains and 50+ NC Mountain Cities: February 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Mountain Spirits: Beer Tasting Tonight at Asheville's Hops and Vines

February 28, 5-7 PM at Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC - FREE Stout Tasting: Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout, Southern Tier Chocolate Stout and Pisgah Vortex Imperial Coffee Stout.

March 1, 3 - 6 PM FREE Wine Tasting: delicious sustainably farmed California Wines. Join Augusta with Fine Wine Distributing as she pours Manifesto!

Manifesto Sauvignon Blanc, 2012- Super floral nose full of lime blossom, ruby red grapefruit, tropical tangerine, honeydew melon and a hint of cut herbs. Big, complex flavors of key lime, and orange Creamsicle, with a bright, lingering finish of tangerine and hints of pineapple.

$11.99

Manifesto Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011- Bright, floral nose of cassis, dark red cherry, and rose petals. Secondary aromas of chocolatey rhubarb with hints of saddle leather and mint. Silky, medium bodied flavors of ripe red cherry, plum and cassis with end notes of rhubarb, red meats, and Baker’s chocolate.

$11.99

Manifesto Zinfandel, 2011- Showcases a high-toned nose of currants, red raspberry, wild strawberry, and Asian spice with a touch of dusty earth. Medium bodied flavors of red raspberry and currant follow through with hints of baking spice, citrus and garrigue. Finishes long and lean.

$11.99

10% off ALL featured bottles of wines on Saturday.

Find links for more Beer and Wine Tastings on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Mountain Spirits: Live Music at The Classic WIneSeller

February 28, 7 PM - Jay Brown, a one-man-band, performs American Roots, Blues and his own original music. Enjoy small plate fare from 5 PM to 9 PM. $10 minimum food, drink or retail purchase per person for non-ticket evenings.

March 1, 7 PM - a concert by Jacob Johnson with acoustic guitar and vocals.

The Classic WineSeller is located at 20 Church Street in downtwon Waynesville NC. Get a link for the WineSeller and other local restaurants and entertainment on the Waynesville NC Visitor Guide.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Wednesdays at PARI

February 26 Wednesdays at PARI From 2 - 3 PM The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute offers an unparalleled opportunity for people of all ages to experience the wonders of scientific research first hand. PARI volunteers share the history and future of the site. They emphasize the opportunities to explore the universe available through PARI to all ages. Reservations recommended. Admission: $5 suggested donation.

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) offers an unparalleled opportunity for people of all ages to experience the wonders of scientific research first hand. Each year, thousands of visitors come to PARI to experience science at PARI. Daily visitors take self-guided tours. PARI works with groups to arrange especially tailored visits to the PARI campus. PARI is a Member of the NC Grassroots Science Museum Collaborative and a nonprofit organization.

Get local information on the Brevard NC Visitor Guide.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Mountain Spirits: Swan Creek Vineyards Host Wine and Cheese Festival

March 1 - 2 Event: Vineyards of Swan Creek Wine and Cheese Festival Join the Vineyards of Swan Creek as each vineyard pairs one of their wines with a unique, local cheese from the Ashe County Cheese Factory. The Vineyards of Swan Creek include Raffaldini Vineyards, Dobbins Creek Vineyard, Shadow Springs Vineyard, and Laural Gray Vineyard.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Mountain Spirits: The Purple Onion "Wines Down Under" Wine Tasting

February 25, 6:30 PM at the Purple Onion, 16 Main Street, downtwon Saluda NC - Wines Down Under Wine Tasting with Bill O'friel from Tryon Distributing

The Tasting features wines from Australia. The grape vines grown "Down Under" enjoy an abundance of sunshine which produce lush, bold, exotic fruit forward wines. The warmer climate regions of Australia, like Barossa Valley are known for powerful, ripe reds, mainly Shiraz, Grenache, and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.

The tasting will include a sampling of all of these, a Riesling and an unoaked chardonnay as well as some delectable dishes chosen to pair with them by Chefs Jeremy and Chambli. The price for the tasting will be $45 and includes a taste of seven wines and a selection of small plates chosen to pair well with the wines. Seating is limited so make reservations by calling the Purple Onion at 828-749-1179.

The Blue Ridge Parkway at 469 miles long is the nation's longest scenic rural parkway. Now 70 years old it is administered by the National Park Service and host to approximately 20 million visits annually. It connects the Shenandoah Valley National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. Along the route are opportunities for lodging, dining, camping, hiking and simply enjoying breathtaking views from easily accessible overlooks and picnic areas. For additional information visit :The Blueridge Parkway Association

The River Arts District is open year around with the opportunity to meet artists in their studios. Schedules are available online. This unique area along the French Broad River is home to more than 165 artists with working studios located in 18 turn-of-the-century industrial buildings. The artists of the River Arts District welcome you into their studios to talk with them, see their latest artwork, watch demonstrations, and experience for yourself the magic hidden inside the time-worn factories and warehouses along the French Broad River.

Chimney Rock Park is named for a 500 million-year-old giant granite monolith overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge. Visitors are awed by the breathtaking view that spreads 1200 vertical feet beneath them and 75 miles across the Carolinas. The now state owned park encompasses 1,000 acres offers the best of the mountains in one place with spectacular 75-mile views, hiking trails for all ages, a 404-foot waterfall, a variety of special events and much more. Chimney Rock NC

The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has provided funding for almost 1500 state and nationally designated byway projects in 48 states. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways based on one or more archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities.

Tsali Recreation Area is an outdoors lover's paradise. Probably the most popular features of Tsali Recreation Area are the 39 miles of trails suited for mountain bikers and horse-back riders, as well as hikers. The 4-loop system offers a variety of landscapes. You can climb 1-foot wide rugged paths or travel flat, well-beaten roads. The four trails--Right, Left, Mouse Branch, and Thompson Loops--meander through mixed pine and hardwoods on a peninsula stretching into Fontana Lake. Near Bryson City NC and Robbinsville NC.