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The Smoky Mountain Soul Sweepstakes

Visit North Carolina is having a sweepstakes…

Breathtaking scenery. Outdoor adventure. Cultural treasures. Authentic handcrafted arts. North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains are all of this and more, offering a family vacation value unlike any other. When you experience the mountains of Western NC, you take a vacation that truly touches your soul.

Now, you can win a great getaway to the North Carolina Smoky Mountains, and sample the adventures and attractions that make this region so special. The winner receives a week-long class at the John C. Campbell Folk School, lodging and meals included. Then, bring the family back for a four-day adventure, including three nights of lodging, four tickets for the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, 2 Go Blue Ridge cards, and your choice of Cherokee cultural experiences. You’ll also receive a $500 travel voucher to help get you here!

Enter to win today! The sweepstakes ends July 31, 2010.

via The “Smoky Mountain Soul” Sweepstakes.

July 7th, 2010 | Leave a comment

Haywood County Land Going To Parkway

Another tract of off Parkway land is being protected through the efforts of the Conservation Trust of North Carolina and a local family…

WAYNESVILLE — by Nanci Bompey • June 30, 2010

The Blue Ridge Parkway figures heavily into Joe Arrington’s 69 years.

“We lived on the property (bordering the parkway) until I was about 12 years old, and I remember very early on in my life my mother and father telling me that they were going to build a highway on the mountain behind us,” the Haywood County native said. “It seemed impossible, but they did it.”

For someone who spent their entire life enjoying the mountains along the Parkway to decide to protect and share their beloved home lands with the rest of us speaks of the hospitality inherent in these folks.

Read more at: Haywood County family protects Blue Ridge Parkway views | citizen-times.com | Asheville Citizen-Times.

June 30th, 2010 | One comment

Summer Festivals Near Asheville

ASHEVILLE, N.C., June 8 /PRNewswire/ — Summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains brings many wonderful music, art and food festivals – and much of the fun is free! Here are 10 Summer Festivals this year in the Asheville area, as selected by www.RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide:

June 25-August 8: Brevard Music Center Festival features 400 of the most talented students in the world, joining Brevard’s artist faculty to present more than 80 concerts in a beautiful setting.

July 3, 10, 17, 31 August 14, 21, 28, September 4: Shindig on the Green attracts musicians and dancers from Western North Carolina on Saturday nights to share the region’s Southern Appalachian mountain culture in downtown Asheville.

July 8-11: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is considered to be the grandfather of Scottish Games in the United States.20

July 22-August 1: Folkmoot USA is North Carolina's Official International Festival, a two-week celebration of the world’s cultural heritage through folk music and dance.

July 23-25: Bele Chere is the largest free outdoor street festival in the Southeast, held in downtown Asheville.

August 6-7: Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair is the oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue Ridge with 250+ craftfolk showing their work in downtown Burnsville.

August 7-8: Village Art & Craft Fair in Biltmore Village hosts 125 artists from 20 states representing the full spectrum of craft media – jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional art and more.

August 14-15: Sourwood Festival fills the streets of downtown Black Mountain with great music, lots of fun, and plenty of great mountain cookin’.

August 27-29: Goombay is an African-Caribbean style festival in downtown Asheville with entertainment including steel drums, African-America dancers, local gospel groups, and contemporary rhythm bands, plus crafts and great food.

September 3-6: NC Apple Festival in downtown Hendersonville features more than 150 vendors with continuous entertainment. The King Apple Parade, always held on Labor Day, culminates the Main Street activities.

For more information on these and dozens of other summer events and festivals, go to www.romanticasheville.com.

via Summer Festivals Near Asheville Not To Miss — ASHEVILLE, N.C., June 8 /PRNewswire/ –.

June 20th, 2010 | One comment

Another Blue Ridge Mountains Tract Protected

Another big chunk of North Carolina mountain property was recently protected from development.

An 8,000-acre tract that is the largest privately-owned wilderness in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains has been placed under contract to conservation groups for $33 million, they said today.

The Hendersonville-based Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and the Conservation Fund, a national group, said they bought the Transylvania County property from Champion Cattle and Tree Farms. Champion is part of a corporation owned by the family of former U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, R-N.C.

It is always good to see a former public servant giving back to the country he served. The property was sold at a 40-50% discount to the assessed value.

Situated on top of the Blue Ridge escarpment and covering much of the headwater drainage of the East Fork of the French Broad River, the tract will protect a diverse ecological niche.

Read more at: Big Blue Ridge Mountains tract protected – CharlotteObserver.com.

June 18th, 2010 | One comment
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