Avery County, North Carolina What makes you happy? Maybe it’s wandering along a mountain path, breathing in clean, fresh air, and letting warm sunshine and cool breezes comfort your body and soul. Maybe it’s reveling in magnificent long-range views, across mountain ranges far below your mile-high perch, or savoring the…

The paved trail that marks the beginning of the hike to Waterrock Knob looks harmless enough… but you’ll be glad for an opportunity to stop and take in the views when you realize it’s a steep climb (412 feet) to the summit. Located at Milepost 451.2, Waterrock Knob is the…

Avery County, North Carolina Dream of a treasure hunt, to be done at your leisure from the comfort of your own car, which leads past timeless works of art, on quiet mountain backroads.  The Avery County Quilt Trail is such a dream, brought to life and headquartered at the Beech…

Local artists are putting Mocksville on the map one paint stroke at a time! Mocksville is just west of the Yadkin River, a day trip to see the massive “Running of the Horses” Mural.  While the horses running reflects the past, the Day and Night themes are reflected with the…

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. …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…