Author: mbullock4315

As winter melts into spring, the High Country comes alive with lush greens and vibrant colors. Spring showers provide our lakes and streams with peak conditions for waterfalls, rafting, and kayaking. Trout season begins in April and if you’re lucky enough to find a secret spot along the riverbanks, you could spend the whole day taking in the therapeutic powers of being in nature.

If you’re thinking of scheduling a spring break trip with us, we’ve got some great suggestions on how to spend your days.

Farmers Markets
Looking to buy some local produce or native flowers? The High Country is home to several local farmers markets and produce stands.

Watauga County Farmers Market:
591 Horn in the West Drive, Boone
Open Saturdays in April – November from 8-1PM

Blowing Rock Fresh Market
Park Avenue, Blowing Rock
Open Thursdays May 19 – Sep 29 from 3-6PM

Avery County Farmers Market
Old Banner Elk School, Banner Elk
Open Thursdays in May – October from 4-7PM

Beech Mountain Farmers Market
Beech Mountain Public Parking Lot
Open on the 1st Friday of every month in June – October from 2-6PM

Kid-Friendly Activities
Looking for some fun activities to keep the kiddos (or the young at heart) entertained? We’ve got some great options that range from fun to super fun!

Memorial Park in Downtown Blowing Rock
High Gravity Adventures
Sky Valley Zip Tours
Tweetsie Railroad (now open for the season with 3 new rides)
Rocky Knob Park
Valle Crucis Park
WIlderness Run Alpine Coaster and Adventure Course

Rainy Day Activities:
Mystery Hill
Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine
Watauga Rec Center Pool (open to the public for a nominal fee)
Children’s Playhouse (great for younger kids)

Water Adventures
Spring is a great time of year to explore waterfalls, kayak, or fish.

Price Lake Boat Rentals
Wahoo’s Adventures
River and Earth Adventures
The Speckled Trout Outfitters
Linville Falls
Crabtree Falls
Glen Burney Falls

Outdoor Music and Festivals
For music lovers, the High Country is home to several festivals – or you can usually find live music on the weekends at several popular venues.

MerleFest
Wilkesboro
April 27 – 30 (tickets required)

High Country Jazz Festival
Boone and Blowing Rock
June 9 – 11

Boonerang Music and Arts Festival
Boone
June 15 – 17

Popular Best-Bets For Weekend Music:
Grandfather Winery
Banner Elk Winery
Linville Falls Winery
Appalachian Mountain Brewery
Booneshine Brewing

Just looking to relax and soak in mother nature? One of the best ways we’ve found to truly enjoy the beauty of spring in the High Country is a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Find a spot to pull off to enjoy a picnic, explore small towns and general stores, learn about the history of the Appalachian Mountains, or simply catch a snooze in a sunny spot on our grounds. Whether you choose a week of adventure or a week of relaxation, we hope you enjoy your stay with us in our slice of heaven.

This year has been designated the ‘Year of the Trail’ by NC Legislature and the winter months can be some of the best months for hiking. Since the foliage is not in bloom yet, you can be promised some breathtaking views, and generally the trails are less crowded, giving you more time to soak in much needed peace and solitude. Plus, the High Country has seen some fairly mild temperatures lately, perfect for a day out exploring a trail.

Here are 5 of our favorite local trails that don’t skimp on the views or sunsets. Some even include waterfalls and all are very kid friendly.

Green Knob Loop: This is 2.3 mile moderate loop trail in Blowing Rock.

Rough Ridge: This is a very popular moderate 4.7 mile out-and-back trail in Linville.

Linville Falls: This is a quick and easy 0.9 mile out-and-back trail in Linville.

Hebron Falls via Boone Fork: This is an easy 3.5 mile out-and-back trail in Boone.

Glen Burney: This is a 2.3 mile moderate out-and-back trail in downtown Blowing Rock.

Bonus: if you prefer easy, flat trails, check out Bass Lake (0.9 miles), Trout Lake (1 mile), or Price Lake (2.3 miles), all located within an easy 10 minute drive from Swiss Mountain Village.

Let us know which one is your favorite!

The vibrant colors of the autumn leaves have come and gone, and a magical time in the High Country is about to begin: the holiday season. Wintertime charm and old fashioned Christmas spirit will soon fill our small towns, and snow will eventually blanket the ground. Twinkling lights will fill our homes and line the streets, and merry sounds can be heard allover.

Holiday celebrations and winter activities are magical in the High Country, and we’ve rounded up all of our favorites to share with you!

Choose and Cut Tree Farms
Appalachian Christmas Mountain Farms | Boone, NC

C&J Christmas Tree Farm | Boone, NC

Circle C Tree Farm | Boone, NC

Appalachian Evergreens | Blowing Rock, NC

Frosty’s Choose & Cut | West Jefferson, NC

Red Barn Tree Farm | Linville, NC

Shop Local
Beech Mountain Holiday Market | November 26 | 10AM – 4PM

West Jefferson Christmas Crawl | December 2 | 5PM – 7PM

Blowing Rock Holiday Stroll | December 9 | 4PM – 8PM

Parades and Holiday Fun
Blowing Rock Lighting of the Town | November 25 | 12PM – 6:30PM

Blowing Rock Christmas Parade | November 26 | 10AM – 12PM

Chetola Festival of Lights | Daily beginning November 27

Boone Christmas Parade | December 10 | 2PM

Banner Elk Small Town Christmas | December 2 – 4

Beech Mountain Christmas Parade | December 22 | 4PM

West Jefferson’s Annual Hometown Christmas | November 25 | 5PM – 7PM

‘Snow’ Much Fun
Appalachian Ski Mountain

Sugar Mountain

Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain Sled Hill

Hawksnest

Tweetsie Christmas
Beginning November 25, Tweetsie Railroad transforms into a winter wonderland.  Offering holiday activities the whole family will love, including kid-friendly rides, a Christmas variety show, meeting Santa in his gingerbread house, and a 20-minute nighttime train ride winding through 1 million Christmas lights. Be sure to purchase your tickets soon!

Swiss Mountain Village’s Ways To Spread Holiday Cheer
In the season of giving, here are some favorite ideas from our staff on ways to spread some holiday cheer:

• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or food bank
• Buy lunch for emergency workers and first responders
• Set out gifts for your postal and sanitation workers
• Donate nonperishable food or gently worn clothing to a charity drive
• Pay it forward and buy coffee for the person behind you in line
• Leave an extra large tip at your favorite local restaurant

Wishing you all a magical holiday season!

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

Anne of Green Gables

There is something special about the changing of each season here in the High Country, but fall has to be the most beautiful. The Blue Ridge Mountains have been repeatedly named one of the greatest locations for fall scenery. We may be biased, but we agree! If you are headed here for some leaf peeping, we encourage you to take in all the High Country has to offer in the fall.

Fall Color
The 2022 Fall Foliage Prediction Map predicts the High Country will see color changes earlier this year, with the best colors peaking around October 7-14. We recommend taking a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to get some great pictures at some of the overlooks.

Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes
Harvest Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Valle Crucis
New River Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Deep Gap
Ashe County Corn Maze in West Jefferson
Norway’s Corn Maze in Boone
C&J Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Boone

Festivals and Fairs
Brushy Mountain Apple Festival in North Wilkesboro
Oktoberfest in Sugar Mountain
Valle Country Fair in Valle Crucis
Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk

Halloween Fun
Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad
Haunted Harvest & Trail or Treat in Beech Mountain
Beary Scary Halloween at Grandfather Mountain
Blowing Rock Halloween Festival in Blowing Rock
Trunk or Treat at Watauga Rec Center in Boone
Boone Boo! in Boone

Swiss Mountain Village’s Fall Bucket List
For even more fun ways to celebrate fall, here are some favorite ideas from our staff:

• go apple picking
• jump in the leaves
• pick a pumpkin to carve
• toast s’mores over a bonfire
• take a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway
• eat way too much candy
• enjoy hot apple cider

What’s your favorite way to celebrate fall?!

Planning a girls getaway weekend and not sure where to start? Let us help you! Check out our ideas for a perfect weekend, anytime of the year!

STAY
We have some great rooms available for any size group but the best unit is 27. This ground level unit is one of our larger options and features 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen. This unit can comfortably sleep 8. You’ll have plenty of room to spread out but the cozy living room is perfect for those late night gossip sessions! BONUS: this unit just happens to be open all this week, which is perfect for a last minute getaway!

EAT & DRINK
If you don’t want to cook while on vacation, there are some fabulous options in Blowing Rock that are local favorites. For brunch, The Village Café is our best kept secret and a not-to-be-missed spot. Or, grab coffee and a pastry from Camp Coffee. For lunch, Six Pence Pub has a great outdoor seating area and the fish and chips is a local favorite! Just off Main Street is Hellbender Bed and Beverage, another local favorite with cozy outdoor seating. There are plenty of fabulous dinner options in town, including Bistro Roca, Storie Street Grille, and The Speckled Trout. These all have delicious food and fun drinks. Looking to pick up some wine and cheeses for late night? Sunset and Vine has you covered.

RELAX
Just a 5 minute drive from Swiss Mountain Village is the Spa at Chetola. Imagine taking a few hours (or the whole day) to relax and be pampered. The spa has a wide range of services including massage therapies, facials, and nail treatments. Adjoining the spa is their indoor heated pool, jacuzzi, and sauna. Trust us, this is a great place to take in some “me” time.

SHOP
Blowing Rock has some amazing shops and it’s easy to spend the entire day strolling and shopping. Neaco, Common Good, The Spice and Tea Exchange, Monkee’s of Blowing Rock, and Bolick & Traditions Pottery are all local favorites. But trust us, there is something for everyone!

STROLL
There are some great trails and walking paths in and around Blowing Rock. Check out the new water fountain at Broyhill Park, or check out the views of Moses Cone Manor at Bass Lake. Want something more challenging? The Glen Burney Trail is a moderately challenging, 2.3 mile out-and-back trail right off Main Street.

So, text your girlfriends and let them know you have the perfect girls getaway weekend planned in Blowing Rock! We’ll reserve a room for you!

Whether you’re celebrating a father, a grandfather, a brother, a friend, or someone special to you, treat him to a weekend in the High Country. We’ve got a list of ideas to inspire you.

Adventure
Do you have an adventure seeker in the family? Wilderness Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk is a great way to spend some time with dad. Or spend the day white water rafting on the Watauga River. If hiking is more his style, our area is home to some great hiking trails. Rough Ridge is a local favorite for stunning views.

Bites and Brews
If he enjoys craft beers, Appalachian Mountain Brewery or Booneshine Brewing are local favorites with both offering some delicious food. If he’s more of an adventurer when it comes to food, the Gamekeeper serves exotic (and traditional) meats and is a can’t miss. Does he prefer to grill and chill? Take advantage of our picnic and grill area.

Relax
Is your favorite guy a golf lover? Reserve a tee-time at Boone Golf Club or Sugar Mountain Golf Club. Or relax on Price Lake and rent one of their kayaks or stand up paddleboards. And don’t forget, we’ve got a fully stocked trout pond that lends itself to some family-friendly competition.

Come spend Father’s Day weekend with us at Swiss Mountain Village. We’ve got friendly staff willing to answer any questions about favorite local spots, both popular and off-the-beaten-path.