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

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Railroad Heritage this Weekend at Tweetsie

August 27 - 28, 2016 Railroad Heritage 2016 at Tweetsie Railroad A ONCE PER YEAR event for railroad enthusiasts of all ages. Enjoy a very special weekend celebrating the history of Tweetsie Railroad, the ET & WNC Railroad and mountain culture. Traditional dance and craft demonstrations by the Cherokee Tsalagi Program will also be featured on Saturday.

Tweetsie Railroad was North Carolina's first theme park and today still manages to blend fantasy, nature technology into a fun and educational experience for kids of ALL ages. Hop aboard the train and let good ol' number 12 take you on an unforgettable three-mile journey through the scenic mountains. You'll arrive transported back into the days of the Old West.

Even in today's high-tech world, we all still have a need for old-fashioned fun and pretend. Tweetsie Railroad is a unique attraction that allows children and families to explore their imaginations and a whole lot more. Be a cowboy, Indian or an engineer on an historic steam locomotive, Number 12, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The attraction is pen April through October.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Grandfather Mountain 100 Years State Park Celebration this Weekend

August 26 - 27, 2016 Exploring 100 Years of Grandfather Mountain - A State Park Centennial Celebration This two-day celebration offers you several ways to explore Grandfather Mountain. On Friday, the host of Expeditions with Patrick McMillan will present a moving and inspiring lecture about the 5,946-foot mountain, which is home to more than 70 threatened or endangered species.

On Saturday there will be special expeditions on Grandfather Mountain, guided hikes on the Nuwati and Cragway Trails. Naturalists, scientists and environmental educators will be stationed along the way to enliven your hike with spirited presentations. This is a free event.

Grandfather Mountain is the highest mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountain range at an elevation of 5,964 feet. The Mile High Swinging Bridge gives visitors easy access to the breath-taking view from Grandfather Mountain's Linville Peak. Grandfather Mountain is a Nature Lovers' favorite offering Wildlife habitats, Nature Walks and Trails, Nature Programs, and a Nature Museum. The complex natural terrain includes 16 different classifications of natural communities with backcountry trails providing access to all.

Old North State Winery Hosts Wine Pairing Dinner

August 27, 2016 at 6:30 PM - Wine and Dine at Old North State Winery, 308 N Main Street in Mount Airy NC.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Cashiers NC Live Concert Groovin' On The Green

August 26, 2016 Groovin' On The Green This concert features " Rockell Scott " . Live summer music concert with great music in a stunning venue in the beautiful weather. The summer concert series is held on Friday at 6:30 pm at the Village Commons. (Frank Allen Road – Next to the Post Office). FREE event, but tips appreciated.

Find links for lodging, restaurants and attractions on our Cashiers NC Visitor Guide

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.