Author: William Kradel

Enjoy Whitewater Rafting at Highmountain Expeditions this Spring

With Spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to be looking forward to activities to do during the season for the family. And a perfect one to fit the season in the Boone area is Whitewater Rafting!

At Banner Elk, not far from Boone, is High Mountain Expeditions, a white water rafting company who have 30 years of experience with guiding adventurers through the area’s rivers.

The most family friendly river rafting is the Watuga River. The fast moving river is dam controlled so the river is consistent throughout the season. The course itself is a 3 to 5 hour trip and a deli buffet lunch is provided. Every raft will have a trained guide so it is enjoyable for those even without any rafting experience.

Wilson Creek is perfect for those who are looking for something a bit faster but still is family friendly. it is a 2.5 mile trip, which drops 85 feet every mile. Some drops are between 5 and 10 feet. The trip itself takes 2 to 6 hours and there is no previous experience required.

These routes and more, such as multi day adventures, can be found at Highmountain Expeditions over in Banner Elk near Boone!

William Kradel 2 Comments on Enjoy Whitewater Rafting at Highmountain Expeditions this Spring Banner Elk, Boone, Outdoor Fun, Whitewater Rafting

Hiking on Grandfather Mountain

One of the most popular excursions in the Boone area is visiting Grandfather Mountain. The mountain has plenty of activities to do from visiting the museum, multiple animal habitats to observe, and of course trails to hike with the mile high swinging bridge as the highlight.

If you are looking for casual trails to hike, Grandfather Mountain does have those too. The Black Rock Trail is a 1 mile trail which offers lots of stunning mountain views and rock formations. It is a mostly shaded trail and only descends a total of 300 feet so is a not very strenuous walk back to the car.

The Woods Walk & Picnic Area is a 1/2 mile trail which is perfect for all ages, including small children. It is a very wide trail with many benches to sit down and rest. There are also signs along the trail which describe the different plants and animals in the park.

The Bridge Trail is another 1/2 mile trail which ascends 300 feet in elevation and has many rock formations on the side to enjoy. The highlight of the trail is walking under the mile high swinging bridge. This trail is slightly more strenuous than the others but not too bad.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Hiking on Grandfather Mountain Blowing Rock, Boone, Hiking, Hiking, Outdoor Fun

Blowing Rock Winterfest 2022 January 27-30

As winter continues here in the Boone area, so do the fun winter activities! At the end of January, from 27-30. Thursday-Sunday. And it is packed full of ways to enjoy it no matter your age!

Some of the scheduled outdoor events include an ice carving demonstration on January 29th where experts show how they carve ice sculptures.

In the afternoon of all 4 days is a WinterHawk Tomahawk throwing competition tournament. It is a free event with both an adult and juniors’ division.

Throughout the entire town there also will be plenty of beautiful ice sculptures made by expert sculptors!

There are also some more indoor activities when you are looking to get out of the cold. On Saturday night between 6:30-8, there will be a concert by four different performers at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium.

Admission to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is free during the event as well. A great place to warm up and learn about the history of the area.

You can find all of this and more at the annual Winterfest!

William Kradel Leave a comment on Blowing Rock Winterfest 2022 January 27-30 Blowing Rock, Boone, Concerts and Events, Festival, Outdoor Fun, Tours, Winter Activities

Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Night, December 30

After a good day of skiing there are very few things more relaxing than sitting down to enjoy good food and drinks. Beech Mountain provides all of this at the Mountain Brewing Co. Tamproom and Grill at the ski resort, which is open to all ages.

And on December 30 they have a special surprise: The Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Night!

The dueling piano musicians entertain guests by taking song requests from the past 50 years in the style of a traditional piano bar. It’s fun for all ages. 

William Kradel Leave a comment on Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Night, December 30 Boone, Outdoor Fun, Skiing, Winter Activities

Ice Skating at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort

While the Boone area is famous for its ski resorts, the resorts have a lot more to offer than just skiing. For instance, at the Sugar Mountain Ski Resort they have an ice skating rink!

Sugar Mountain has a very large 10,000 square foot outdoor skating rink in fact. It is located between the parking lot D and the Tubing Park.

There are plenty of amenities as well located near the skating rink. The Dave Nixon Pro Shop offers skate rentals so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own ice skates. Inside the Sugar Mountain Resort restaurant you can find a nice warm area to relax and have nice cocoa and a meal.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Ice Skating at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort Blowing Rock, Boone, Outdoor Fun, Skiing, Winter Activities

Snowshoe Guided Tours at Sugar Mountain

While in most parts of the South, autumn solely means a slightly cooler weather change, in the Boone area, it also means we are nearing the season for winter activities on the nearby ski mountains!

On many of the ski resorts, they offer more than just skiing, for instance on Sugar Mountain, they offer snowshoe guided tours. Starting on December 1, tours are offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3pm. And on Saturday at 9am and 3pm. There is both an adults and children’s tour for those between the ages of 8-11. The tours are 1 hour.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Snowshoe Guided Tours at Sugar Mountain Boone, Hiking, Outdoor Fun, Skiing, Winter Activities Tags , ,