Since it’s a little off the beaten path, and the winding mountain roads have slowed the sprawl of suburbia, this area of the North Carolina mountains, fondly referred to as The High Country, is a relatively undiscovered gem in the rough. Although the area has been attracting those escaping the summer heat for decades, with its world class lodges, golf & restaurants, this is not a pretentious place. What’s been drawing folks to this area for generations, in addition to the weather and scenery, is a pace and quality of life reminiscent of simpler times.

 If you have fond memories of the lazy pleasures of life—dipping a line in a pristine mountain steam, hiking on a breezy mountain peak, motoring scenic parkways that bombard you with spectacular views, and want to invest in a place that evokes the charms of the past, and will still hold the same appeal for generations to come, come to the North Carolina mountains.

Four Special Seasons

Spring emerges with a wellspring of activity both natural and cultural. The creeks & falls are gushing with life, wildflowers & ramps are burgeoning, and a profusion of native dogwoods, laurels & rhododendrons tint the mountainsides as the outdoors beckons & brings an end to cabin fever. Art festivals featuring local crafts, Blue Grass music, & pig-picking barbecues abound. It’s a great time of year to try white water rafting, rock climbing or for the less adventurous, a day of fishing. Grandfather Trout Farms not only rents equipment, but will clean and smoke your catch for you.

The ranks begin to swell in the glory that is summer in the mountains. For years the cool nights & mild days have been attracting families. Kids will enjoy trips to the Tweetsie Railroad, Mystery Hill, & Emerald Village, where you can try your hand at gem mining. Every year, North Carolina hosts the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in mid-July. Replete with Celtic culture and competitions, this event is the largest annual gathering of Scottish clans in the world.

There is no place or time more magnificent than autumn on the Blue Ridge parkway. Whether you’re hiking, biking or driving, it’s a veritable feast for the eyes. The farm markets are bursting with mouth watering produce, pumpkins, cider & homemade delights. Catch an Appalachian State football game, the team that made history when they knocked off Michigan last year. Tee it up at the many golf courses, ranging from the exclusive Eseeola and Hound Ears Clubs, accessible to lodge guests, to the hilly Sugar Mountain Golf Club, championship Boone and Mountain Glen courses, and the 9-hole Willow Creek.

Start planning a family getaway for the upcoming holidays. What could be cozier than renting a log cabin, curling up in front a fire? Get out to one of the many Christmas tree farms and bring one home or stay & enjoy the Blowing Rock Winterfest and Chetola Festival of Lights. Four of the South’s best ski resorts – Hawksnest, Beech Mountain, Appalachian, & Sugar Mountain — are located in the vicinity and offer all manner of winter recreation. Get some holiday shopping done at Tanger Outlet Mall in Blowing Rock.

Don’t come to retire, come to the North Carolina Mountains to regenerate and stimulate the senses. Reconnect with family & friends in one of the few places left that values the preservation of the natural environment and unique cultures that have thrived there for centuries.