Blowing Rock has always been a place of fun and relaxation throughout the seasons but especially in summer. Starting this Friday evening, at the Ragged Gardens Inn, the Music on the Lawn event begins.
From 5:30 to 8:30, you can enjoy free outdoor concerts at the Ragged Gardens Inn. A wide range of family friendly music will be featured including classic country, blues, bluegrass and more! There will be drinks and food available to purchase and you can bring your own lawn hair to sit back and relax.
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Whitewater Adventures in Boone
Spring is almost here which means that while the skiing season is almost over, soon to begin is the whitewater rafting season! And fortunately the Boone area has nearby locations for whitewater rafting for those of all ages.
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 areaβs 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 a fun river for those who are looking for something fast! Over its 2.5 mile trip, the creek drops 85 feet every mile. Some drops are between 5 and 10 feet. The trip takes 2 to 6 hours and the best time to experience it is in the spring and early summer.
For those who want a truly epic experience, there is the 2 day Nolichucky Rafting Adventure. All meals are provided for beforehand and include many healthy, fresh choices. Travel through the Nolichucky River Gorge is regarded as one of the highest rated whitewater in North America and is considered very unforgettable.
For more information on some of the other rafting adventures you can check out their website https://highmountainexpeditions.com
Blowing Rock Trout Derby
With spring right around the corner, that also means fishing season is almost upon us! Blowing Rock will have a special fishing derby on Saturday, April 3 to kick it off.
To jumpstart the trout season in April, Blowing Rock will be hosting a catch and release competition in the nearby lakes. The most popular local fishing spots are Price Lake, Bass Lake, Trout Lake, and Middle Fork River. An NC fishing license is required for fishing.
For younger ones and those with disabilities, the small Broyhill Lake in Blowing Rock will be stocked with fish so everyone can enjoy the fishing fun!
COVID Protocols for Beech Mountain Ski Resort.
It is finally getting cold enough for the ski resorts in the Boone area to finally open! With the pandemic ongoing, all of the resorts are taking extra precautions to ensure everyone is safe and can be comfortable enjoying the slopes.
Beech Mountain makes sure to clean and disinfect all high traffic and touch areas such as restrooms, ticketing, and rental areas using CDC and EPA recommended disinfectants for COVID.
Masks are mandated at all areas outside when interacting with staff, riding, in the loading And unloading areas of the ski lift, and in outdoor areas where social distancing isnβt possible. Masks are mandated at all times inside as well.
All outdoor seating and eating areas have additional separation to ensure social distancing between multiple groups
Hand sanitizers are placed throughout the resort in high traffic areas and sensor faucets are used in all restrooms.
A new paperless system Is used for rentals. You can fill out a paperless paper request and pick up the equipment without any contact with others which also speeds up the process
You can only ride chairlifts with people who you rode with to the resort or ride them alone. This will cause a slight increase in chairlift lines
The Autumn Air in Boone and Blowing Rock
Despite approaching the end of October, it is still very much autumn here in the Boone area. The fall leaves on the trees are still very much a wonder to behold. It is a wonderful activity to do while we still need to keep our social distance.
In the Boone and Blowing Rock area, there are plenty of places to view the fall colors on the mountain. In addition to being able to view the mountainside forest from the town of Blowing Rock, on the roads entering and exiting the town there are beautiful overlooks to take pictures from them.
Grandfather Mountain is another wonderful place to view the fall colors. You do need to make an appointment ahead of time to visit due to the pandemic
Beech Mountain, while well known as a ski resort, also has trails to walk to enjoy the scenery throughout October, and guided tours on Wednesday and Fridays. The ski resort itself is scheduled to open November 21.
History of Appalachian Ski Mountain, opening Nov 20
Now that autumn is here, the ski slopes in the Boone area are that much closer to opening. Appalachian Ski Mountain even has a scheduled opening day of November 20. So what makes Appalachian Ski Mountain special?
Appalachian Ski Mountain got its start in 1968 when Grady Moretz and four other partners bought the area at a public auction
Originally, the resort only had a 12,000 foot base lodge and 3 slopes. These slopes only had two rope tows for ascending the mountain. As it became more and more popular, in 1984 it underwent a major renovation which added chairlifts and a 6,000 foot addition to the ski lodge.
By 2010 Appalachian Ski Mountain has twelve slopes, three chairlifts, two conveyer lifts and one handle pull lift. The ski lodge itself now covers 46,000 feet and is very comfortable as well.