Category: Outdoor Fun

Enjoy Linville Caverns in Banner Elk!

This spring and summer, if you are looking for a unique family day trip, Linville Caverns fit that bill. They are the only show caverns in North Carolina and have been open for tours since the late 1930s.

The Linville Caverns are a limestone cave system which are open from Thursday through Monday each week from 9am – 5pm. Guided tours are offered on site and can’t be pre-booked. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for children 5-12 years old, and those 4 and under are free.

The guided tours include a tour guide giving the geological history of the caverns, as well as how different formations such as stalactites and stalagmites were formed. Also included, is descriptions of all of the life found in the caverns such as tricolored bats and little brown bats.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Enjoy Linville Caverns in Banner Elk! Banner Elk, Boone, Hiking, Hiking, Outdoor Fun, Tours

Fishing in the Boone Area

Its finally Spring! that means it’s time to go fishing! Fortunately, the Boone area has many fishing spots to take advantage of. Here are a few:

Just outside the pristine town of Blowing Rock is Bass Lake. Lined with rhododendron and mountain laurel, the lake offers a 1.7 mile loop which is great for fishing and hiking.

Another fishing spot which is located off the Blue Ridge Parkway is Price Lake. In addition to its plentiful fishing spots, they also offer fishing tackle rentals and sell bait. You can also rent canoes and kayaks to take out onto the lake when you want to take a break.

Also near the Blue Ridge Parkway is Trout Lake. In addition to fishing, Trout Lake has a1 hiking path with plenty of wildlife. The lake is set in a hemlock-dominated cove forest with ancient conifers and thickets of rhododendron which makes it a wonderful place to enjoy a day of fishing.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Fishing in the Boone Area Blowing Rock, Boone, Fishing, Outdoor Fun

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

Live Music with the Soulamanders Jan 21

After a great day of skiing there’s nothing more relaxing than sitting down to enjoy good food, drinks and music. Beech Mountain provides all of this at the Mountain Brewing Co. Taproom and Grill at the ski resort, which is open to all ages. An event scheduled for next week, on January 21, features the musical talents of the Soulamanders!


The Soulamanders are a musical duo, Levi Trent and Derek McKnight. The two musicians grew up in Southwest Virginia and their music is influenced by folk, reggae and Americana genres.

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