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…

Burke County, NC 2020 was a crazy year for everybody, including our pets. Our four-legged friends found their lives turned upside down when their owners suddenly didn’t leave the house to go to work, drastically altering life as they knew it. Now that workers are returning to the office, our…

Burke County, NC Burke County is the perfect destination for all sorts of water lovers, whether you are a thrill junkie, want a relaxing float or are looking to experience the water without getting wet. One of the pinnacles of the Burke County countryside is Lake James. The 6,812-acre lake…

The Old Nick Williams Farm and Distillery, located in the Piedmont of NC, was first established in 1768 and was once known as one of the most revered whiskey distilleries in the United States.  The Eighteenth Amendment in 1919 and subsequent prohibition forced the distillery to temporarily close.  In 2015,…

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.

Burke County, NC Spring is here and the adventures are waiting for you in Burke County! Enjoy spending time outdoors after a long winter of being cooped up inside by following streams, ridgelines or lakeshores to get to the perfect destination. Experience hiking in the cool weather, where the leaves…

Burke County, NC The Catawba River is named for the Catawba Native American Tribe which translates to “the people of the river.”  This area was their home for more than 12,000 years prior to European exploration.  Now the Catawba River Valley is home to more than 2 million people who…

Carolina Craft Passport Trail Post Interaction with others who share your enthusiasm for discovering new places and trying new things is a big part of getting out and supporting craft producers across the region.  But needlessly interacting with somebody isn’t cool, like having to hand your phone to somebody to…

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…