Category: Vacation Rentals

Opening Day for the 2025/2026 Ski Season!

Today at 1 pm on a crisp late fall day Appalachian Ski Mountain opened for the 2025/2026 ski season. The sun shone bright, the slopes were snow covered and the temps were chilly. Perfect for opening day . Below are photos we shot today as the first skiers and snowboarders of the season headed to Boone For information on reservations visit Appskimtn.com

Appalachian Ski Mtn is not the only ski option in Boone. There are two additional ski venues. There’s Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain. Sugar Mountain And Appalachian Ski Mtn are open now. Beech Mtn is currently making snow and should be opening beginning of December.

Be sure to check out our cabins for availability to make it a ski getaway for you and your family!

kradelskabins Leave a comment on Opening Day for the 2025/2026 Ski Season! Vacation Rentals

What is and isn’t open in Boone and Blowing Rock. 

It has been a few weeks since the devastating Hurricane Helene ravaged the Northeast, especially North Carolina and Tennessee. In the Boone area, many businesses and towns have reopened while some areas are still closed off. So which are they?

Grandfather Mountain will be reopening on October 23 at 9 am. From then forward, the park will be open 7 days a week opening at 9 am with the trails closing at 5 pm and the park at 9 pm.

Blowing Rock, where there are many areas to shop and eat, is fully open with the major highways safe and open for travel. For instance, the Oktoberfest celebration is this Saturday the 26th.

The Blueridge Parkway is closed until at least October 31 and then it will be re examined.

Boone is also fully opened with Appalachian State playing its first home football game since the Hurricane this Saturday against Georgia State

William Kradel Leave a comment on What is and isn’t open in Boone and Blowing Rock.  Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, Concerts and Events, Festival, Hiking, Hiking, Outdoor Fun, Tours, Vacation Rentals

Old Barn Winery

If you are looking to spend a very relaxing and enjoyable day in Boone and the surrounding area, look no further than the Old Barn Brewery in nearby West Jefferson. The Old Barn Winery is a family run winery first started in 1960 and has been running now for four generations. It is located at 2152 Beaver Creek School Road, West Jefferson.

The winery is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sundays. Outside of the wonderful wine they have available to try, the Old Barn Winery also has lots of musical performances bands most days. The music variety included jazz, bluegrass, rock, and country. 

For food, they DO allow outside food into the winery. For food they sell, they have a food truck on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays. The food truck includes bbq shrimp cocktails, tuna tacos, chimichurri steak subs, and lobster rolls. No hamburgers or hot dogs.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Old Barn Winery Vacation Rentals

Karaoke and Live Music and Beech Mountain Ski Resort

One very popular way to have some fun during vacation is karaoke. This can be especially true during winter when you are looking to warm up. Fortunately, Beechmountain Ski Resort has karaoke nights!

Every Tuesday from 6pm to 9pm at the Taproom and Grill they have a large selection of music to try your hand at some karaoke! There also is a wide selection of food and beer for dinner.

If you are looking to listen and relax to music, in February they also have some other bands coming to play. February 10th is a live performance from the High Country’s Gents & Liars from 7-10pm. It is free and open to all ages.

February 17 and 18th is a music series by the Painted Man Soul and R&B band. On the 17th it is from 7pm through 10pm and on the 18th from 8pm through 10pm. It also is free and open to all ages.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Karaoke and Live Music and Beech Mountain Ski Resort Vacation Rentals

Banner Elk and Boone Travel Info for October 15 and 16

This weekend, October 15 and 16, at Banner Elk is the very popular Woolly Worm festival. Also this weekend we have the peak time for viewing the autumn colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the area.

Another event running this weekend in the same area is the Valle Fair at Valle Crucis. Both the fair and the Woolly Worm festival open at 9am both days.

All of these events going on at once means this will be a weekend with very high traffic congestion throughout the area. Most of the roads into and in both Banner Elk and Valle Crucis are only two lane roads so there will be heavy delays throughout as the events are very popular.

So make sure to leave much earlier than you’d expect to need to so as to account for the traffic. Also, bring along a lot of patience to get through the traffic. 

William Kradel Leave a comment on Banner Elk and Boone Travel Info for October 15 and 16 Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, Concerts and Events, Festival, Outdoor Fun, Tours, Vacation Rentals

Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain 2022

This October 8 and 9, Saturday and Sunday, Sugar Mountain will be hosting their 32nd annual Oktoberfest! There will be plenty of family friendly Bavarian inspired food, music, and more to enjoy!

The event opens at 10am and runs to 5pm both days. From noon to 4pm the Harbour Towne Fest Band will be playing traditional Bavarian music in the style of an Oom Pah Band. There also will be a special performance by the Avery County Cloggers on Sunday, October 9 at 2pm.

At the Ski Area grounds, there will be many local artisans and craftsman showing their local wares available to purchase. This is a perfect place to buy souvenirs such as woodworks or ironworks!

As it is Oktoberfest, there will of course be plenty of Bavarian cuisine to eat as well! This includes Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, Strudel, soft pretzels, and Spaten beer. If you are looking for more traditional festival food as well, they have that too. Hamburgers, kettle corn, pop, funnel cake, and more! 

There is no admission fee, and the address is at 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive Sugar Mountain, NC 28604.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain 2022 Vacation Rentals