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ashevillevacationfan · 6 years ago

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Cabins Near Asheville NC

Live in the melody of ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Lucy in the sky’ and ‘the Smokey mountain luxury Cabins ,NC. WELCOME TO NC PENNY LANE MOUNTAIN HOLIDAYS

Situated at the mighty Penny Mountains, North Carolina. If you really want to spend a nature infused Vacation ‘Asheville NC Mountain Cabins’ is the place you are looking for. Our Carolina Vacation Rentals is an Ideal place to Visit in springs to be pleasured by and enjoy the wildflowers with fresh color sand. In summers make a reservation to be delighted with the Smokey mountain luxury cabin at Wolf Ridge, and be amused by the cool mountain atmosphere breeze that you can really feel touching your cheeks. All of our Vacation Rentals are enclosed and surrounds with the mountains all around with the calm and composed atmosphere which makes the vacation simply awesome and relaxing too also, one can certainly take pleasure in certain leisure activities like; explore the scenic beauty with white water rafting, horseback riding at sandy trails, majestic mountains, and many more. You can visit various tourists attraction like; hiking on mountain trails, hot springs, mountain biking also check out the Biltmore Estate which is a mansion built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately owned house in the United States, at 178,926 square feet (16,622.8 m2)[2] of floor space (135,280 square feet (12,568 m2) of living area). Still owned by George Vanderbilt's descendants, it stands today as one of the most prominent remaining examples of the Gilded Age. Experience whitewater rafting in the French Broad, the third oldest river in the world, trailing only the Nile River in Africa and the New River in West Virginia . The French Broad winds through Piggish National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This free-flowing river is ideal for families and young teens. In winters, you got to go visit Wolf Ridge Ski Resort provides a top rated Snow Sports School that provides lessons for beginners to intermediate in skiing and snowboarding. Asheville NC Mountain Cabins provide you Rentals which are fully-furnished and loaded with all the necessary amenities and utilities.

‘Hey Jude ’This Vacation rental cabin is a gorgeous three bedroom log home offers peace in the lap of Mother Nature, comfort and personalized attention to every need. Outdoor living with wood burning fireplace with few minutes’ drive from the famed tourist attraction called ‘Scenic Wolf Ski Lodge’ where you can have the pleasure of skiing and long range views/hot tub and pool. You can surely spend an unforgettable Vacation here!! # ‘Lucy in the sky on the Penny Lane ’ It’s a three story a great log cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains with really amazing surroundings. This pet friendly Asheville NC Mountain Cabin provides you with one king size bed, three queen size ones and two bunk room beds, 50’TV,A.C, Open floor equipped kitchen, a Game room with ping pong table & air hockey Inside & outside Jacuzzi hot tub, fire pit with chimney and a BBQ on the deck. In short an awesome vacation time at Lucy in the sky!! # ‘smoky mountain Luxury Cabins’ This particular smoky mountain Luxury Vacation Rentals at Asheville NC Mountain Cabins offers you long range view 4 bedrooms Vacation cabin rentals with a total accommodation of 12 people. Over 3100 sq ft. of living space with all the necessary amenities like; Furnished interiors, BBQ, kiddy playground, game room with pool table, three T.V’s, beautifully equipped kitchen, open floor plan with dining area and a living room with a lovely stone heated gas fireplace and a lovely 5 sitter hot tub which you can especially take pleasure at night because it’s loaded with multi-colored lights.

#: Asheville NC Mountain Cabins Cabins Near Asheville NC Luxury Mountain Vacation Rentals Asheville NC Mountain Cabins #Luxury Mountain Vacation Rentals #Cabins Near Asheville NC

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lammsend · 2 years ago

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Lammsend - Luxury Cabin Rentals Asheville NC | Luxury Cabins in Asheville NC

Lammsend are Romantic cabins in asheville nc and honeymoon cabins with hot tubs near Biltmore House and Asheville in Hot Springs, luxury cabin rentals asheville nc. Experience luxury in the mountains at this incredible Luxury cabin Vacation Rental in NC. Our best mountain cabins in north carolina and book online today! Lammsend guests enjoy discount spa services Luxury cabin in North Carolina. when they book a best cabins in asheville nc with Luxury cabins in asheville nc have amazing accommodations and you will find activities for luxury vacation rentals asheville nc.

#travel #vacationrental #property #asheville #northcarolina #usa #lammsend #cabin

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ripleyvansant · 6 years ago

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01 / BASICS

Full Name: Ripley Daniel Van Sant Nickname: Rip (No one calls him that) Birthday: April 1st Gender: CIS Male Sexual Orientation: Pansexual Astrological Sign: Aries Spoken Languages: English Birthplace: Asheville, NC Relationship status: Singleish? Do I know what’s going on with Cam & Ripley? Nope.

02/ PHYSICAL TRAITS

Hair Color/Style: Brown, long Eye Color: Brown Face Claim: Joe Keery Height: 5′11″ Tattoos: None Piercings: He has his ears pierced but never wears earrings. Unique Attributes: Scars

03 / PERSONALITY TRAITS/TYPES

Positive Traits: Charismatic, Flexible, Independent, Peaceful, Relaxed, Sociable, Youthful Negative Traits: Aimless, Artificial, Casual, Cowardly, Disloyal, Escapist, Narcissistic, Selfish Hobbies/Interests: Looking up conspiracy theories, weird lore, video games, going to parties, pressing wildflowers Insecurities: Regression in his healing Quirks/Eccentricities: Never stops talking about bullshit MBTI Type: ENFP (The Campaigner) Enneagram Type: Type 4 (The Enthusiast) Moral Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Temperament: Sanguine

04 / FAMILY & HOME

Immediate Family: Marshall (Father), Elisabeth (Mother), Leslie (Mother), Pop (Older Brother), Etta (Older Sister), Hedwig (Younger Brother), Kora (Younger Sister) How do they feel about their family?: With the exception of his father, Ripley is close with all of his family members. He loves his mothers with a passion because they’ve always been there for him. All of his siblings were also supportive of him as well, which makes him love every single one of them. As for his father, if Ripley sees the man again, he’s probably going to have a few choice words for the man. Ripley hates his father. The man promised to come back and didn’t come back. He doesn’t think he can forgive him for that. How does their family feel about them?: Ripley’s mothers are both really worried about him. They know he tends to be self destructive and try to curb that as much as they can, but they know they can only do so much. They’ve always been supportive of him and will do anything he needs to help heal more quickly. Ripley’s father does care, except things happened where he couldn’t be near the family anymore and while Ripley doesn’t know this, his father does still care about him. As for his siblings, Kora is annoyed that Ripley is the reason they had to move her freshman year of high school to a new school. However, they all are concerned for him. Pets: The Van Sant’s have a dog named Scoot and feed a two stray cats which they’ve named Buttercup and Westley. Where do they live?: Blowing Rock, NC Description of their home: Ripley’s home is a small cabin in Blowing Rock. There are four bedrooms, meaning Ripley shares his room with Hedwig. The cabin itself is very open, yet still cozy feeling. Description of their bedroom: Ripley’s room at home is covered in posters of his favorite bands and pictures of his families. He has a I Want To Believe poster above his bed that’s very faded and old, but it’s his favorite. He has a bookshelf with a bunch of conspiracy theory books. He’s got a few movies as well that are mostly popular movies, but also a small collection of Land Before Time films because those are his favorite movies.

05 / THIS OR THAT

Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert. Optimist or Pessimist? Pessimist??? Leader or Follower? Follower. Confident or Self-Conscious? Self-Conscious, but also confident. He’s weird. Cautious or Careless? Careless. Passionate or Apathetic? Passionate. Book Smarts or Street Smarts? Book Smart. He skipped 4th Grade. Compliments or Insults? Compliments.

06 / FAVORITES

Favorite Color: Green. Favorite Clothing Style/Outfit: He wears whatever looks good on him. Usually that consists of Converse, paired with a plain colored shirt (usually blue, yellow, or green), jeans, and his bomber jacket. He likes feeling comfortable, but he also likes to look good. It also depends on who he’s with as to what he’s wearing because he has outfits to fit all sorts of groups, including some very goth-like outfits. Favorite Bands/Songs/Type of Music: He’s not picky about his music. As long as it’s got a good beat and doesn’t have terrible lyrics he likes it. Ripley loves supporting artists that specifically write songs about the LGBT+ community. He tries not to support problematic artists as much as possible. Favorite Movies: The Princess Bride, Labyrinth, Land Before Time, Scooby Doo, National Lampoon movies Favorite Books: Everything You Know is Wrong, 100 of the Top Conspiracy Theories, Harry Potter, Alex Rider, Lord of the Rings Favorite Foods/Drinks: He’ll try anything, he’s not picky about what he eats, but he doesn’t eat a lot of red meat and hates the taste of most birds. Water is his favorite thing to drink. Favorite Sports/Sports Teams: Sports were never his thing. Carolina Hurricanes (he doesn’t like hockey, but he’ll watch it if someone else likes it), Asheville Tourists, Appalachian State Mountaineers Favorite Time of Day: Evening. Favorite Weather/Season: Summer. Favorite Animal: Dogs.

#about.#tfctask

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brianachristine · 3 years ago

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Asheville Airbnb in Review: 61 days in NC

When first proposing the idea of a year long Airbnb trip to Anthony, I originally wanted to fulfill this bizarre desire that started a few months into quarantine to move deep into the mountains far away from the city. To add some magic to this idea, since being a hermit who needed to learn how to chop her own wood was a little out of reach for me, something like a space vaguely close to a resort near the Tennessee Smokey mountains was ideal.

I had first heard about this resort on a podcast hosted by a big time entrepreneur. Then again in a magazine Anthony receives from his credit card company as I was clipping photos for my mood board. In case those weren’t enough hints, this particular resort would be a stretch for us on a holiday budget, let alone a 2 month long budget.

I guess I will be chopping my own wood!

While looking along the Airbnb map of who was hosting in that area - it was a no go. The closest place I could find on the Tennessee side was Pigeon Forge, which to a Californian who has spent about 24 hours in Tennessee for a drum corps competition, sounded pretty good.

I called my mom to let her know that we were considering Pigeon Forge. Which is when she reminded me that she in fact had a house in the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina. And going to Pigeon Forge to escape the city was like going to Vegas to escape gambling.

Back to square one.

Mom’s house was booked, sort of, but now we had a whole new state to consider and still get to enjoy the Smokey Mountains.

About a week later a friend told us about Asheville, and although that’s not exactly away from the city it looked like the perfect city in the mountains combo for us. We found one of the most beautiful and secluded cabins in Asheville. It was our most expensive rental yet (about $2800 as I write this), but worth every penny.

Now you are reading this in retrospect and know what happens, but here’s where the plot twist happens for us.

We book our Airbnbs 1 month before we arrive - so for us that was while we were in Texas just ONE week before the insane snow storm. This caused some major dilemmas of the heart.

Do we ditch the cabin of our dreams to flee the insanity that was a disaster of the century? Or do we stick it out in what was our least favorite Airbnb to make sure we can get our reservation at Sam’s cabin?

Well you know how it went.

When we arrived in Asheville it was the end of Winter, and it sure felt like it at 41 degrees as we unpacked the car. The tall windows surrounding the house made us feel a bit like fish and took us about a week to get used to realizing the only people “looking in” were our own reflections.

Just a few weeks in, we got to watch everything bloom. Don’t blink though, it doesn’t last very long. One day a tree would bloom the most gorgeous pink flowers, then one week later would be barren again. The grass grew so tall it grew over our small river leading the the house.

And the animals! Absolutely breath taking in more ways than one! We found turkey vultures in the trees, regular ol’ turkeys wandering the yard, lots of bunnies and birds of all colors. And of course, black bears. We didn’t see too many around our house, although one did leave some paw prints on our car.

One day I was walking alone down this hill to a house that could basically be the house I live in forever - the only thing missing is the lake. I loved walking by this house with the greenhouse and amazing landscaping. And I wasn’t the only one!

As I was taking some photos with my phone assuming this may be the last time I would see this house before we left Asheville, I turned to walk back up the steep hill. From the corner of my eye I saw one of the bears often seen on that road running into the yard I was just photographing. I could feel it’s strong energy from where I was standing and see it’s silhouette moving through the thick trees.

While this did trigger a lot of thoughts and emotions, I realized running was not the best option and the bear wasn’t following me as I trotted up the road. I love animals so I figured this, along with the fact that black bears don’t typically attack people, was how I “got away”. I did learn what to do if approached by a black bear as soon as I got back to the cabin. Plus, I learned black bears occasionally bluff rush people, a strategy sort of like chicken where they run toward you to see who will veer off first. I suppose it really only works when you aren’t actively using your phone 😅

As for getting out of the city, the amazing thing is while we got to experience all of this beautiful nature, we were also 15 minutes from downtown Asheville. So all of our basics amenities were easily available with no wood chopping required. That 15 minutes combined with the narrow roads it took to get to the cabin meant our spot was nearly silent, save for Mother Nature.

As far as things to explore, we did not dance like we did in Texas or like we are now in Florida but we found and made LOTS of art. Anthony painted for the first time. I frequently visited this amazing local art shop, Horse and Hero, with prints of all kinds.

Plus there was a vibe there that Anthony and I both really flowed with. Maybe you could call it a boho, artsy vibe. From the chill and knowledgeable staff at High Climate Tea, to the many crystal stores, sound healing with Billy, Joy’s Airbnb tea experience and the many galleries and glass blowers in the river arts district. It’s a place where to you feel you can endlessly explore.

Surprisingly, there weren’t too many vegan spots BUT there was one, Plant (yes, that’s the full name), that was written somewhere on the internet as one of the best in the WORLD. And I will say, it is a pretty high contender with my other most favorite vegan spot in Vegas. It certainly is the most fancy AND delicious. Very hard to get a reservation at as well.

Of course, we did also get to visit and hike along the Smokey Mountains, it really is an amazing sight.

If we don’t move there permanently, you will probably find Anthony and I there for at least 1 month every spring.

Thanks for hosting us Asheville!

#travel #airbnb #digital nomad #nature #beauty #culture #long term #north carolina #art #asheville

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find-rentals · 5 years ago

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Why You Should Discover For Terrific Cabin Rentals In Boone Nc

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Delighting in your remain in Boone NC can be made the most of by simply renting a cabin. For any factor why you are here, make sure that your stay is relaxing and quiet, wonderful and with privacy. Discover Rentals Inc. gives range of cabins. You pick one that can accommodate you in addition to your fellow employees, either relative or sweetheart for a romantic trip. The cabins, picked amongst the rest, will give you an incredible experience for glamping. You have the high-end and convenience associated with getting your own location, with all the house conveniences that you have actually doubtless become accustomed to while supplying a change of atmosphere that you wouldn't get remaining in an apartment or condo rather. If you don't wish to be outside in a camping tent to feel the experience of nature, then a cabin is a service. You get to experience the warmth and convenience of nature without any need of setting up tent outside. Kids can rapidly be kept track of and safe in the cabin unlike you let them check out on their own outdoors area.

There are numerous things that you can do in our cabin rentals in Boone NC. You can unwind in the countryside. Take pleasure in likewise in your night stargazing and later on having comfortable fire to warm you in your bed. You get to take pleasure in every minute even the weather condition is not good outside since you have other options to go to. These amply geared up cabins stops all your boredom and continuously have some fun .

Have A Romantic Trip In A Cabin

A special time with your fan in a comfy cabin is all worth it, so enjoy it. When you remain in a cabin you will get to enjoy personal privacy and high-end and do not have to bother about others spoiling the weekend. We currently had experience this stay in a hotel in which the room beside you has kids playing around and all those sounds with them. But your stay with your enthusiast in a cabin is completely various. We have a range of cabins to select from in the area around Boone NC, with different views and settings so that you can find the best environment for your romantic weekend away with the one that you love. Family Reunions Cabin Rentals Is there an excellent way of making teenagers overlook their phones and likewise invest their time with cousins than entering into the wood without signal? The broad area cabins or collections of little cabins are perfect for household party and reunions. The size of your household staying in our cabins is not a problem. We have solutions to your requirements. Make most of your time together with your enjoyed ones pleasurable and remarkable. Discover more about us just by calling us now. Outside experience really assist people get to remain together and restore the bonds among household.

Wedding Cabin Rentals

The lovely environment can finish your wedding that takes place when in our life in a memorable fashion. With our help you will undoubtedly find the perfect cabin for your wedding event festivities. Whether you're trying to find the ideal location to remain for you and your brand-new spouse or someplace for some of your visitors to stay for a lovely 'out in nature' wedding event, the cabins we have in Boone NC could be ideal for you. We are devoted in our commitment in offering you the best readily available cabins for your wedding. You can get the details required concerning our cabins through getting in touch with us now. Without delay, you can have the required details of our rustic cabins.

Pet-Friendly Cabin Rentals

Vacationing with your family pets can in some cases an issue due to the fact that somewhere does not let them stay. There are areas where they don't let animals, it's their guideline. Our cabin leasings in Boone NC have a variety of them that let pets to be on the premises of the cabin. Family pets can now join the whole household and need to not be left in your home anymore. We have a listing of pet-friendly cabin rentals, provide us a call right now to find out what family pets are permitted. We are confident that you as well as your four-legged pals will like the locations that we have available, both in regards to the accommodation and also the extraordinary woods, fields, and nature that surrounds them. These are the types of holiday break that the entire household can enjoy, with over night accommodation that will make you all feel like royalty.

Something for Everybody

As you can see we have something for everybody. Our assistance can get something that you preferred. The self-catering cabins we have at Discover Rentals Inc are suitable for brief stays and for longer vacations also. You wanted a vacation to go well that's why you are conserving for it. We know that. In order for you to have the ideal accommodation you spent for, we only dealt with high quality cabin owners that can supply you rustic, and relaxing cabins. These cabins have the required services and are located in the best locations of Boone NC. Whatever vacation you are in now, we can assist you find the best holiday. Just let us know. We don't work as middle guys and you don't have to deal with a "travel supervisor". This exactly what makes us various from other rental organisations. You can instantly reach the cabin owners. The direct connection with the owner will get you finest cash saving deals readily available. Having the deal done is a lot easier and faster too. Clients do not have any concern or troubles closing a deal, simply high score cabins in Boone NC. If you've never ever tried a self-catering vacation in a cabin before, why not have a go for your next journey? We expect that every minute of your remain will be amazing and pleasing.

Basic Source - See What Other Things We Found

I’ve always wanted one of these and took some notes on how to design one for our own house. Inside, you have four comfy rooms and one suite to choose from on the upper floors. The first floor is where you’ll find the dining room and cozy living room on opposite sides. There’s also a second-floor common area, where you’ll find drinks and snacks. And if the house is packed or you’re seeking more seclusion, go for one of Engadine’s mountain cabins . They’re pet-friendly and great for a family, with the latter being especially great for us. Understandably, the Inn is for adults only, but five out of six of the cabins welcome kids. The luxury Cherokee Cabin is for two adults, which sets it apart from the others. During our stay, we occupied the “Looking Glass Cabin,” which is named for the famed peak in Pisgah National Forest . We enjoyed the view from the porch and inside, a cozy atmosphere for our little one before and after days out exploring surrounding spots in Western North Carolina .

https://www.nctripping.com/engadine-inn-and-cabins-candler-near-asheville-nc/

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gatlinburgpigeonforgetn · 7 years ago

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A Guide For First Timers In Pigeon Forges

Pigeon Forge is mountain town located in eastern Tennessee, In Sevier County. This location is the south eastern part of the United States of America. This town is a famous destination for tourists. It gets its name from the two words “pigeon” and “forge”. This area is rich in the southern culture and also home to country music.

This town is accessible through Interstate 40, 33 miles to the southeast of Knoxville, TN and about 96 miles to the northwest f Asheville, NC. I-75 and i-81 are the other two states nearing Pigeon Forge. These are connected to Pigeon Forges by route 66 and the US Highways 441, 411, and 321.

On arrival to Pigeon Forges, moving around is made easier by the Trolley shuttle services. They are cheap and have maps stretching around Pigeon Forge, and the neighboring Gatlinburg and Sevierville.

Tourist Attractions In Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge is the place you find the great smoky mountain. The beauty of nature manifests itself through the Great Smoky Mountains National park which is rated the most visited national park in the United States of America. Areas of interests include aerial tours, amusements, dinner shows, golf courses, indoor adventures, live theater shows, museums, outdoor adventures, professional sports, receptive and tour companies, SPAS and whitewater rafting.

Aerial tours give a tourist a flying adventure giving them a bird’s eye glimpse of the great smoky mountain and the sounding.

Amusements include a guided tour in the mountains within the national park. Here you will view ancient forest, waterfalls and hidden trails. A number of companies have come up with amusement parks giving pigeon Forge an adventurous face. Dinner theater is a major investment in this town. Several theaters offering world standard production and food unimaginable to most are offered.

Work without play makes Jack a dull boy. For this reason, a golf course is available for the golf players. There are a number of museums available in Pigeon Forges. The Alcatraz East Crime museum which is a crime museum containing exhibits of ancient American crime. The Bush Visitors Center and General store which is generally an ancient, old-fashioned general store founded by AJ Bush in 1897. The Christ in Smokies Museum documents the story of Christ in realistic scenes, artifact, and sculptures.

Where To Stay

As more and more tourists trickle in each year. The hospitality industry continues to grow significantly. A number of hotels, cabins, inns, and restaurant have evolved. Competition has made services to be fair and quality is to world class standards. Cabins and chalets located within the smoky mountains make the experience even more adventurous.

In addition to this, camping grounds are available. This is for those who wish to step away from their lives and hustles and cultivate inner peace in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Pigeons Forges suits everybody’s needs. Visit this city and you will learn to appreciate nature and its beauty. Carry backup system like power banks, Internet backup to be on the safe side if theirs fail.

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realtor10036 · 7 years ago

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Ready, Set, Splash: The Top 10 Lake Towns in America

iStock; realtor.com

Are you an ocean person or a lake person? During most of the year, this would qualify as little more than idle chit-chat, but not in the most ferocious dog days of summer. No, when the air is thick, the clothes are sweat-soaked, and the days seem endless, everyone, it seems, craves a home on the water.

But where?

The sound of ocean waves from the bedroom of a beach house may be a life-affirming wonder, but for roughly 80% of the country, a seaside escape is simply not in the picture. That’s where lake towns come into play. And as it turns out, the differences between these two types of waterfront locations go way beyond saltwater vs. freshwater. If popular ocean beaches sometimes evoke jam-packed frat houses or singles scenes drenched in SPF, the lake milieu seems more like summer camp—for grown-ups as well as kids. Think of floating tranquilly on an inner tube, or skimming along in a kayak, then heading ashore to enjoy local wineries or craft breweries.

Now that’s summer.

So where do you find the best lake towns, for your enjoyment as well as a smart home-buying investment? The data team at realtor.com® ran the numbers to come up with the spots where there are both plenty of things to do (besides getting a sunburn) and rapidly rising prices that are a good indication that your purchase will appreciate.

Lake towns are generally “a calmer, less tourist-driven culture than the beach,” says Brian Cauble, director of market engagement for Lake Homes Realty, based in Pelham, AL. “It’s not uncommon for people who own them to be there every weekend in summer.” And much of the rest of the year, too.

About 70% of lake homes purchased are used as second homes, approximately half of which are located within a three-hour drive of the owner’s primary residence, according to the company’s statistics, pulled from the 13 states it covers.

To trim down our selection from the country’s thousands of lake towns, we looked at more than 3,000 locations with listings, using the keywords “lake,” “lakefront,” or “lake view,” and analyzed the following:

Price appreciation from the first quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2017, according to realtor.com data

The number of restaurants and bars per capita, according to Yelp data

The number of outdoor activities per capita, according to TripAdvisor data

(To avoid a monopoly by, say, towns on the Great Lakes, we limited our list to two destinations per state, for some geographic diversity.)

Got it? Let’s jump in.

1. Chelan, WA

Median price in 2017: $585,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 13.6%

Chillin’ on Lake Chelan

tness74/iStock

Just a three-hour drive east from Seattle, with 300 days of sunshine per year, this high-desert town is a bright escape from the notoriously overcast Emerald City.

Set in a picturesque glacial valley, the town straddles Lake Chelan, a 55-mile-long body of water that is so clear you can see 40 feet below the surface. In the summer months, boaters cruise around checking out historic cabins and palatial estates. Many traverse the lake to Stehekin, an old miners’ and trappers’ town that is only accessible by boat, ferry, or plane.

In the winter, water sports like wakeboarding give way to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

“Basically, it’s Seattle’s playground,” says Justin Skaar, luxury property specialist for Coldwell Banker Lake Chelan Properties.

But Chelan is not just for outdoor obsessives. The town is filled with blocks of mom-and-pop restaurants, gastropubs, and boutiques. What’s more, the pastoral countryside is dotted with more than 38 vineyards, some of which look as if they’ve been plucked straight out from under the Tuscan sun.

Many of the wineries now feature acclaimed on site restaurants, such as Tsillan Cellars’ Sorrento’s Ristorante. “It’s not just burgers and shakes on the lake anymore,” Skaar says.

Buyers can find condos starting around the mid-$200,000s. However, homes with private waterfront access start at $1.2 million.

2. Frankfort, MI

Median price in 2017: $375,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 11.6%

Point Betsie lighthouse

Matt Hansen Photography. Dynamic Wildlife Photography via Getty Images

This port town on the Great Lake of Lake Michigan, just south of Point Betsie Lighthouse, is a beacon for Chicago’s boating crowd.

The area offers everything one would expect of Michigan’s west coast: miles of pristine beach right near a cute downtown, and plenty of water sports. Lake Michigan gets lots of wind, attracting sailors, windsurfers, kite boarders, and even surfers. But, for those who prefer a calmer spot to hang out, there are other smaller, inland lakes nearby. Frankfort is also just a short trip away from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The town was hit hard by the recession, and for years, bargains abounded. However, Frankfort’s home values have been rebounding.

“Just about everything under $200,000 got sold” when prices were low during the recession, says Faye Finch, a local realtor with Century 21 Sleeping Bear Realty. Now, she adds, “our higher-priced properties are selling.”

3. Bigfork, MT

Median price in 2017: $592,500 Price appreciation since 2014: 9.6%

Flathead Lake in Bigfork, MT

Tamra Hamilton / EyeEm via Getty Images

The sister towns of Lakeside and Bigfork, MT, showcase different types of quintessential lake towns. Quiet Lakeside attracts those looking to channel their inner Henry David Thoreau, reveling in rustic solitude. But just across Flathead Lake, Bigfork is ideal for those who vibe better with Ernest Hemingway: It’s wild, beautiful, and there’s plenty to drink at the local microdistillery.

In fact, the entire Flathead Lake area has among the highest density of microbreweries per capita in the world, says local broker David Fetveit of Purewest Christie’s International Real Estate. Bigfork’s historic downtown also offers an array of cultural offerings, with restaurants and bars, some nightlife, a performing arts center, and a couple of resorts.

Bigfork properties start in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, but “you can’t be on the water for less than a million,” Fetveit says.

4. Grand Haven, MI

Median price in 2017: $312,400 Price appreciation since 2014: 14.5%

Lake Michigan in Grand Haven

stevegeer/iStock

Tree-lined dunes? Check. Iconic lighthouse? Yep. Romantic pier? Of course.

Grand Haven, MI, has all the requisites of a lakeside resort town, and it’s completely walkable—the beach and downtown are just a mile apart. That’s one reason prices have steadily climbed over the last few years.

“A lot of people who rent seasonally end up retiring here,” says Julie Tardani of Unsalted Vacations, a local getaway rental business.

Visitors sail, paddleboard, water ski, and surf during the day, then head out for sushi or New American restaurants and hopping bars by evening. There’s approximately one watering hole for every 138 people in town. Sweet!

Grand Haven has a variety of waterfront homes overlooking either the lake or river, starting in the high $200,000s and stretching well beyond the $1 million mark. (Even empty lots can run north of $3 million.) But prices come down dramatically just a few blocks away from the water.

5. Lake Lure, NC

Median price in 2017: $310,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 5.5%

Chimney Rock State Park

ehrlif/iStock

Surrounded by lush mountains and the sheer granite cliffs of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure is one of the most alluring man-made lakes in the United States.

The scenery is so beguiling, it looks as if it could be straight from a movie. It is, actually! Classics like “Dirty Dancing,” “Forrest Gump,” and “The Last of the Mohicans” all had scenes filmed here.

Chimney Rock, the famous 500-million-year-old monolith, is known for its easy to strenuous hikes and impressive views. There are multiple greenways throughout the area, including Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, which combines a historic 1925 bridge with thousands of vivid blooms. There’s a golf course, a zip line, beachside water slide, and a wide range of international restaurants.

And it’s just 27 miles from the acclaimed eateries, craft breweries, and airport in the hippie mecca of Asheville, NC.

Houses start right around $200,000, but there are plenty of multistory mountain retreats selling for upwards of $1 million.

6. Lake Placid, NY

Median price in 2017: $419,900 Price appreciation since 2014: 3.8%

Adirondack chairs in their natural environment.

AlbertPego/iStock

This serene Adirondack mountain town is best known as the home of the 1980 Winter Olympics—and it embraces its athletic history wholeheartedly. The town has an informative museum on the Games as well as international ski jump, bobsled, and luge training facilities.

But you don’t have to be an honest-to-God athlete to enjoy Lake Placid. The area offers hundreds of hiking trails for all levels of ability, motor boating, fishing, stand-up paddleboarding, and, for those seeking some summer adrenaline, whitewater rafting.

Just as diverse as the activities, real estate is available at most price points. That means buyers can scoop up time-shares starting at $40,000 in luxury resorts with a pool, hot tub, and tennis courts, to $10 million mansions—and just about everything in between.

7. Mount Dora, FL

Median price in 2017: $325,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 17.1%

Mount Dora, FL

Education Images/UIG via Getty Images

Affectionately known as the Festival City, this lakeside town hosts more than 30 outdoor events a year, ranging from art fairs and music festivals to the annual Scottish Highland Festival and the Lighted Boat Christmas Parade.

Mount Dora sits beside a large freshwater lake, surrounded by pristine, 72-degree springs. When locals aren’t getting their festival on, they’re most likely on the water—kayaking, waterskiing, and dragon boat racing.

The historic downtown features shops, art galleries, museums, and about 30 locally owned restaurants located just 40 minutes from downtown Orlando. So it’s not surprising to find multimillion-dollar mansions on the water, as well as plenty of single-family houses in the community in the $200,000 to $300,000 range.

Mount Dora’s real estate market is heating up like the rest of the Sunshine State, says Brian Young, events and promotions director of Visit Mount Dora. And it’s only expected to get hotter.

“The new highway, when complete this fall, will further increase the values, as Orlando will be only minutes away,” Young says of the Wekiva Parkway, which will connect Interstate 4 with State Road 429 in 2021.

8. Sandpoint, ID

Median price in 2017: $374,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 10.8%

Sunrise in Sandpoint

Silvrshootr/iStock

Those in search of a home with a view need look no further than this charming Idaho town and the three mountain ranges surrounding Lake Pend Oreille.

White sand beaches are framed by snowcapped peaks, which offer miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, as well as fly-fishing, zip-lining, and more. Plus, the area features a slew of festivals, wineries, breweries, tasting rooms, coffeehouses, and dozens of restaurants.

All that activity, however, doesn’t come cheap. Homes start around $300,000, with multimillion-dollar mansions and townhomes on the water offering stunning views running into six-figure prices.

But there are still deals to be found, including this two-bedroom condo with waterfront access, going for less than $200,000.

9. South Lake Tahoe, CA

Median price in 2017: $539,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 7.9%

South Lake Tahoe

Tom_Skrivan/iStock

Lake Tahoe is known as one of the country’s premier ski destinations. But the local adage goes, “You come for the winter, stay for the summer.”

Summer hiking is stunning, with vivid evergreens, rocky peaks, cerulean skies, and the glassy lake just outside the door of many of the area’s stunning, single-family getaways.

The city is in the midst of a revitalization spree, having spent more than $750 million on capital investments in the past three years, with an influx of high-end lodgings, local craft breweries—including a South Shore Beer Trail—and awesome new dining options.

That growth is helping the real estate market. Prices may be rising, but that doesn’t mean buyers still can’t find a deal. Condos near the lake can still be found in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. For now.

10. Lakeside, MT 

Median price in 2017: $699,000

Growth since 2014: 21%

Volunteer Park in Lakeside

Martina Nolte/Wikipedia CC

Located on the largest natural, freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, the appropriately named Lakeside is like stepping back in time to the days of the frontier. The town is squished between National Forest Service land and Flathead Lake, which comes straight down from Glacier National Park. Towering mountains loom over the landscape.

There are no lakeside resorts, no waterfront restaurants, and not a single hotel in town. If you want to visit here, you need to rent out a whole house.

“It’s so huge, it feels like you have it all to yourself,” broker Fetveit, of Purewest Christie’s International Real Estate, says of the landscape.

The town offers 10 restaurants and 7 bars, but outdoor activities are the real draw—not just the requisite water sports, but also four-wheeling, hunting, and berry-picking.

In the winter, locals ski nearby Blacktail Mountain or Whitefish Mountain resort, about an hour away. A top local attraction is the annual skijoring competition, when skiers or snowboarders are pulled through obstacles by a person riding a horse. Yes, you read that correctly.

The perks don’t come cheap, though. Properties a few blocks in from the lake start at around $450,000, according to Fetveit. But even a vacant waterfront lot is going to cost at least $750,000.

Those on a budget may want to consider renting instead. Short-term summer rental homes can fetch between $3,000 to $5,000 a week.

The post Ready, Set, Splash: The Top 10 Lake Towns in America appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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ashevillevacationfan · 6 years ago

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Asheville Vacation Cabin Rentals includes Wide Range of Activities

Drive through the scenic mountains, cross the rivers, waterfalls, parks and forests and enjoy the scenic beauty of Asheville. Come with family come with friends to the cabin in Wolf Laurel cabin rentals in Mars Hills surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery all around. This cabin is one of the selected cabins where you can come along with your pets. Get your four wheelers in case of severe ice and snow. The area is few minutes away from the ski slopes and tubing, you can watch deer in the woods. Explore one of the magical estates, Biltmore Estate, private estate and is one of the most popular destinations in Ashville. It was built by George Vanderbilt; it’s one of America’s largest homes which include beautiful gardens, winery, Antler Hill Viilage, historic farm. It also includes wide range of activities. There are shops, café and restaurants on the Estate. It’s a different world in itself. If you want to explore rafting then go for white water rafting on French board on the third oldest river. There are various zip lining tours in Ashville which is safe and secure as it happens with the assistance and instructions of the guide. Explore the unbeatable Appalachian Mountains and enjoy the serene beauty of trees and Rocky Mountains. Enjoy the hiking all day, climbing over several peaks, evergreen environment. Ski wolf ridge, one of the most magnificent mountains of North Carolina which provides infinite outdoor adventure and activities. Some of them are mountain biking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, hiking, caving and many more. Asheville log cabin in North Carolina is the land of fun filled vacations with lots of entertainment, relaxation and comfortable opportunities. Get mesmerized with the beauty of North Carolina and surroundings while staying in one of the best place to get the best of North Carolina.

#wolf ridge ski resort cabin rentals #wolf ridge ski resort lodging #cabins near Asheville NC

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lammsend · 2 years ago

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Lammsend - Romantic Cabins in Asheville NC | Luxury Cabin Rentals Asheville NC

Are you searching for Luxury Cabin Rentals Asheville NC, USA. Find the perfect cabin for luxury cabins in asheville nc, your trip to North Carolina. For luxury vacation rentals asheville nc, If you are planning on indulging in a luxury cabin rental for your next North Carolina vacation. Lammsend offers Best North Carolina Cabin Rentals for romantic cabins in asheville nc, Lovers of the Great Outdoors· The Ultimate Log Cabin Black Mountain, romantic cabins in nc. the best, top-rated vacation mountain rentals, log cabins, condos, near Luxury cabin in North Carolina, The Best Blue Ridge Mountain Luxury cabin Vacation Rental in NC· Cozy log cabin with luxury cabin Vacation Rental in North Carolina, mountain views near Asheville, North Carolina.

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realestate63141 · 7 years ago

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Ready, Set, Splash: The Top 10 Lake Towns in America

iStock; realtor.com

But where?

Now that’s summer.

Price appreciation from the first quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2017, according to realtor.com data

The number of restaurants and bars per capita, according to Yelp data

The number of outdoor activities per capita, according to TripAdvisor data

(To avoid a monopoly by, say, towns on the Great Lakes, we limited our list to two destinations per state, for some geographic diversity.)

Got it? Let’s jump in.

1. Chelan, WA

Median price in 2017: $585,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 13.6%

Chillin’ on Lake Chelan

tness74/iStock

Just a three-hour drive east from Seattle, with 300 days of sunshine per year, this high-desert town is a bright escape from the notoriously overcast Emerald City.

In the winter, water sports like wakeboarding give way to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

“Basically, it’s Seattle’s playground,” says Justin Skaar, luxury property specialist for Coldwell Banker Lake Chelan Properties.

Many of the wineries now feature acclaimed on site restaurants, such as Tsillan Cellars’ Sorrento’s Ristorante. “It’s not just burgers and shakes on the lake anymore,” Skaar says.

Buyers can find condos starting around the mid-$200,000s. However, homes with private waterfront access start at $1.2 million.

2. Frankfort, MI

Median price in 2017: $375,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 11.6%

Point Betsie lighthouse

Matt Hansen Photography. Dynamic Wildlife Photography via Getty Images

This port town on the Great Lake of Lake Michigan, just south of Point Betsie Lighthouse, is a beacon for Chicago’s boating crowd.

The town was hit hard by the recession, and for years, bargains abounded. However, Frankfort’s home values have been rebounding.

3. Bigfork, MT

Median price in 2017: $592,500 Price appreciation since 2014: 9.6%

Flathead Lake in Bigfork, MT

Tamra Hamilton / EyeEm via Getty Images

Bigfork properties start in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, but “you can’t be on the water for less than a million,” Fetveit says.

4. Grand Haven, MI

Median price in 2017: $312,400 Price appreciation since 2014: 14.5%

Lake Michigan in Grand Haven

stevegeer/iStock

Tree-lined dunes? Check. Iconic lighthouse? Yep. Romantic pier? Of course.

“A lot of people who rent seasonally end up retiring here,” says Julie Tardani of Unsalted Vacations, a local getaway rental business.

5. Lake Lure, NC

Median price in 2017: $310,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 5.5%

Chimney Rock State Park

ehrlif/iStock

Surrounded by lush mountains and the sheer granite cliffs of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure is one of the most alluring man-made lakes in the United States.

And it’s just 27 miles from the acclaimed eateries, craft breweries, and airport in the hippie mecca of Asheville, NC.

Houses start right around $200,000, but there are plenty of multistory mountain retreats selling for upwards of $1 million.

6. Lake Placid, NY

Median price in 2017: $419,900 Price appreciation since 2014: 3.8%

Adirondack chairs in their natural environment.

AlbertPego/iStock

7. Mount Dora, FL

Median price in 2017: $325,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 17.1%

Mount Dora, FL

Education Images/UIG via Getty Images

Mount Dora’s real estate market is heating up like the rest of the Sunshine State, says Brian Young, events and promotions director of Visit Mount Dora. And it’s only expected to get hotter.

8. Sandpoint, ID

Median price in 2017: $374,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 10.8%

Sunrise in Sandpoint

Silvrshootr/iStock

Those in search of a home with a view need look no further than this charming Idaho town and the three mountain ranges surrounding Lake Pend Oreille.

All that activity, however, doesn’t come cheap. Homes start around $300,000, with multimillion-dollar mansions and townhomes on the water offering stunning views running into six-figure prices.

But there are still deals to be found, including this two-bedroom condo with waterfront access, going for less than $200,000.

9. South Lake Tahoe, CA

Median price in 2017: $539,000 Price appreciation since 2014: 7.9%

South Lake Tahoe

Tom_Skrivan/iStock

Lake Tahoe is known as one of the country’s premier ski destinations. But the local adage goes, “You come for the winter, stay for the summer.”

Summer hiking is stunning, with vivid evergreens, rocky peaks, cerulean skies, and the glassy lake just outside the door of many of the area’s stunning, single-family getaways.

10. Lakeside, MT 

Median price in 2017: $699,000

Growth since 2014: 21%

Volunteer Park in Lakeside

Martina Nolte/Wikipedia CC

There are no lakeside resorts, no waterfront restaurants, and not a single hotel in town. If you want to visit here, you need to rent out a whole house.

“It’s so huge, it feels like you have it all to yourself,” broker Fetveit, of Purewest Christie’s International Real Estate, says of the landscape.

The town offers 10 restaurants and 7 bars, but outdoor activities are the real draw—not just the requisite water sports, but also four-wheeling, hunting, and berry-picking.

The perks don’t come cheap, though. Properties a few blocks in from the lake start at around $450,000, according to Fetveit. But even a vacant waterfront lot is going to cost at least $750,000.

Those on a budget may want to consider renting instead. Short-term summer rental homes can fetch between $3,000 to $5,000 a week.

The post Ready, Set, Splash: The Top 10 Lake Towns in America appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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mywanderingstars221-blog · 8 years ago

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One of the intents behind my blog is to make sure I impart how important it is to be out in nature as a part of a healthy lifestyle. If you’ve read any of my other entries lately, you will know I’ve been looking for a job since early March. It is not easy! I have been applying my butt off, and I have two degrees (that I worked hard for) and tons of experience, but I am having trouble even getting an interview. If you are lucky enough to have never lost your job, which has never happened to me prior to 2017, then it is actually hard to imagine just how difficult it can be. I know I wasn’t expecting it to be this hard. I was in kind of a dark place recently, mood-wise, which is VERY abnormal for me. I am usually pretty friendly, optimistic, and outgoing. But lately I have not been able to pull myself out of this funk. It’s like drowning in quicksand. Nothing makes you feel better. Having no purpose or prospects, worrying about finances, constant rejection or being ignored when you reach out to employers and hiring managers, and simply being alone most of the day to wallow in your worries and fears = a recipe for serious depression and anxiety. And my coping mechanism has been to bottle it up, because I don’t want to bring others down with me. I guess I just felt like other people don’t deserve to be burdened my bad juju. In retrospect, I probably should have opened up more about it, however at the time I found that to be hard to do. BUT, things have been slowly looking up lately and I’m now occupied with other certain opportunities (that will be a subject for another blog), so I am feeling much better. Honestly though, having never felt that way before, and feeling it and so helpless to do anything about it, actually really scared me for a minute.

And so it was right around this time, after feeling this way for a couple of weeks (maybe more… I lost track), that my husband and I planned a trip to the mountains. I strongly feel this trip was the beginning of pulling me out of the quicksand, and I sincerely felt so much better after spending some time in the woods with the man I love, exploring nature and being awestruck by all the natural beauty around me. I needed this. I needed to smell the fresh air, feel the rocks and the trees, and hear the woosh of waterfalls. Even while hiking I was still somewhat depressed (again, very abnormal for me), but being out there and away from the worries of home allowed me to open up a bit and verbalize my fears and stresses, which helped. By the time we got back I was on the upswing, emotionally and mentally, and the physical activity made me feel more alive; less like I was drowning. Endorphins from the kayaking and hiking helped tremendously, I have no doubt. I cannot stress enough the need to GO OUTSIDE. We are hardwired to thrive on nature. Don’t deprive yourself of this crucial puzzle piece to your mental and physical well being! Get your kids and families out in the woods regularly. It’s truly medicine for the body & soul.

So, here’s a little summary of where we went and what we did if anyone wants to check these place out sometimes. It was super fun! Typically, we try to get to the mountains in the Spring and the Fall. Last year we went around the same time for my husband’s birthday (in April), and it was then that he proposed to me at the base of Crabtree Falls off the Blue Ridge Parkway after seven years together. This was the icing on the cake after an awesome weekend visiting the Biltmore Estate, kayaking down the French Broad River, and eating at amazing local restaurants in Asheville.

This time we went to the Boone area. While we did stay in Boone, we also went to Blowing Rock. On the way there, we stopped at Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, NC. This place was AMAZING! It’s a huge granite dome with 18 miles of trails and 20 miles of trout waters (which are beautiful, crystal clear creeks). The main dome is 600 feet tall, and many climbers come here to climb up the gently sloping dome face. We were only there for a couple of hours since we were stopping on our way through and still had about an hour and a half to go before we got to Boone. In that time we were able to hike down to Stone Mountain Falls. There is a Middle Falls trail and a Lower Falls trail. We only did the Middle Falls trail since we were pressed for time and wanted to check out the trails on the huge granite dome. The falls trail was gorgeous. You walk through the woods and follow the sound of the water until you get to a chute of water flowing out of the woods and down a slick looking granite face. The Middle Falls terminates in a cool pool with trees and boulders you can climb on, and is very dog and kid friendly. About 1/3 of the way down there are some stairs that lead to the base of the falls, so it’s extremely easy. No climbing over rocks or anything. Here are a few pics and a little video from the Middle Falls trail.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After we climbed back up the stairs, we headed over to the Stone Mountain Loop trail. We didn’t do the whole loop because A) it was too long and we were on a schedule, and B) part of the loop had been burned so it was inaccessible and therefore not a “loop” at this time. It was only about half a mile in / out, and although a little steep at first, especially after climbing all those stairs up from the falls, it leveled out fairly quickly and was extremely easy for the majority of the time. There were plenty of kids and dogs on this trail also. Once you get to the top of the dome, the views are spectacular. The dome itself is incredibly impressive, and seems to go on forever. It makes you feel pretty small! Although they won’t do it even remotely close to justice, here are some pics of our adventures exploring the dome of Stone Mountain. We didn’t want to leave because it was just so gorgeous and peaceful…

I would have done cartwheels if it didn’t mean certain death lol. This place was amazing.

I was trying to capture how the dom ejust kind of curves off into oblivion… It’s kinda scary, but neat!

Shoutout to Catawba Outfitters for this rad hat!

Can you spot by husband?

(In Donkey voice from Shrek) Thas a big dome!

Hawks were circling everywhere, and some got very close!

The warning sign gives you some perspective on the massiveness of the dome and how it curves downward.

Trail going up to the dome is nice and wide and flat. There are a few switch backs at the end when you get near the top, but you are in the shade.

Gorgeous!

Where is the edge?

Finally, after we went back to the parking lot we continued down the road through the park in our car. On the way out we found a couple little surprises including a small fairy-land oasis of a trout stream, some curious deer, and another waterfall trail for Widow Falls. As we made our way on to Boone down some country road with no intersections in the dark that never seemed to end, we saw a gorgeous sunset! When we FINALLY reach a main road again, we were relieved because we needed gas big time and also I swear I started to hear banjo music in the background… 😉

Our deer friend. He was just nibblin.

Me in front of Widow’s Falls

The pool at the top of Widow’s Falls. It looked deep…

Gorgeous mossy-rocked trout stream

See how clear the water is? The river rocks were so pretty and we saw little fish fry jumping out of the water to eat bugs.

Another view of the trout stream / fairy home.

Sunset over the NC foothills

Hello!

The next day we had reservations to kayak down the New River. We booked the trip via Wahoo’s Adventures, which I highly recommend. They are so nice, professional, and courteous. Also they have a nice facility on the river where you meet them and they load up your kayak or canoe, and drive you from this spot to the put in area. It’s a log cabin with bathrooms and a hot shower for afterwards if you need it. They also let you have extra time on the river, up to another hour free of charge, if you get back to the cabin and want more time. A word of warning is to make sure to follow the directions to the cabin up on the river, and not just put their name in your GPS because this will take you to their business office in Boone instead. Not that I did that or anything… Ahem. Anyway, we had an AWESOME time on the New River. The New River is thought to be one of the oldest rivers in the world, and actually has a northward flow! Pretty cool, huh? It was the first weekend of the season and the water level was low, so much of the time it was quite shallow which meant we got stuck on a few rocks here and there. But otherwise it was superb! There are parts of the forest and riverbanks you can see only from floating down the river. We brought some sandwiches for lunch and waters and pulled over on a little sandy beach to eat. We saw tons of wildlife, and paddled past a few farms with cows and horses. At one point a few horses were right next next to the river up on an embankment looking down at us and watching us float by with curiosity. I paddled right up to them! Unfortunately I only have a couple of pics to share from the parking area in front of the log cabin because I didn’t want to lose my phone in the river. We paddled for 12 miles, which took us just under 4 hours. This was definitely the highlight of our trip, and I would highly recommend that you do this! If you have never kayaked before, maybe start with a canoe and do the 1 hour trip instead, otherwise you may not have as much fun. Some experience is necessary!

After an awesome dinner in downtown Boone at Vidalia, the next day we drove to Linville Falls. But, before we ventured to those trails, we made a detour and went to Linville Caverns. If you have never been to Linville Caverns, you MUST make it a point to go sometime! It was just crazy cool. There is so much history there. From Confederate soldiers holding up and hiding out inside, to boys getting lost in there, to the discovery of new elements and animals, there are so many interesting stories attached to this hidden place in the mountain. It also has animals found no where else in the world, including a certain kind of cave trout and bats. There weren’t any bats in there when we went because they were migrating and living somewhere else at the time, but it would have been cool to see some! And the beauty of the caves themselves is just indescribable. I love geology though, it’s like history you can touch. But don’t touch the walls inside the cave. There is a precariously balanced system of little organisms, like algae, that can be destroyed if you touch… but you know what I mean. You can literally see the layers of time in the rock formations. Crazy. Here are some pics from the incredible rock cliffs that surround and house the caverns, the river that flows out of it, and some crazy stalactites and stalagmites, and other limestone formations. PS, it is chilly in there and you will get droplets of water on you. Just an FYI!

This is the river that flows out of the caverns. The discovery of teh caverns was made by following this river to it’s source.

This formation was called “The Wedding”

If you squint you can see the trout!

Stalactites and stalagmites meeting to form pillars.

After the caverns, we made a short drive to the Linville Falls. On the way we stopped at a little overlook area of the river, and Tim taught me how to skip rocks! I’d never gotten the hang of it until the ripe age of 35, lol. Once we got to the falls, we did a couple of trails here. One was to the “Overlook”, and the other was to the base of the falls. The view from the Overlook trail is amazing. You can see the falls and also the surrounding Linville Gorge, and the hike is not long and pretty easy. There is another trail that isn’t so bad to a spot called the Chimney. This is actually the first place my husband and I went hiking together on our first trip together almost a decade ago! We went up to the Chimney then so we didn’t do that trail this time, but from what I remember it’s moderate with spectacular views from the opposite side of the gorge from the Overlook, and a little higher up. The trail to the base of the falls is only 0.5 miles. DO NOT LET THIS DECEIVE YOU! It is a STRENUOUS hike over boulders and down some steep terrain, which you must go back up. However, to be honest getting back up was easier and felt shorter than going down. You need proper footwear and water. Do not wear flip flops or something like that (Yes, I saw people wearing those… on a hike…). That being said, it is worth the effort 10 times over when you get to the bottom. You can swim in the pools at the base of the falls, and you are surrounded by huge cliff walls with giant crack in them and trees growing out of the cracks, and birds flying over head, a nice perpetual cool breeze from the falls themselves, tons of nice boulders to lay on, take a nap, or have a picnic, and the most spectacular view of the falls there is. By the way, Linville Falls is a true, huge double waterfall, and you can really feel it’s power from the bottom. Here are some pics and a quick video of the falls that, again, don’t come anywhere near doing this magical place any justice.

Where I finally learned to skip a damn rock!

Chillin on my rock, taking in the views

Downstream view, we had fun climbing on some of these boulders.

View from the Overlook

Out in the middle of the pools at the base of the falls

Up close, you can feel the mist even at this distance

Trail down to the Overlook. This is the only steep part.

Coming off the trail to the base of the falls, there is this huge boulder the size of a bus right in the middle of the river.

Cliff walls surround you as you descend to the base of the falls.

Huge cavernous cracks in the gorge walls house trees and colonies of birds.

Enjoying our moment of serenity together.

On our last day, we went to Blowing Rock, as I mentioned in the start of this blog entry. We had been there before but it was a foggy day and we couldn’t see anything! So we decided to go back. Blowing Rock is a quaint little town and is nestled up in the mountain tops with some spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. First we went back to The Blowing Rock, the actual rock from which the town gets its name, and accompanying museum and little preserve, which is all privately owned. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and only $2 for kids up to 11 years old (under 3 years old is free admission). It’s super cute with little gardens and paths, and a big octagonal viewing platform that juts out over the cliffs of rock. If you visit the Boone area, it’s worth the short drive to Blowing Rock to see the little downtown B&B’s, check out The Blowing Rock, and take in the views. We drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway that afternoon and stopped to hike on a few trails. We were looking for an old trail we hiked before but we could’t find it, although we did find one with a great view of some mountains off in the distance and a valley below right when the sun was starting to set. Sitting here I took in the views and felt all my stress melt away. I tried to savor the moment and stay in it as long as I could, smelling the fresh air and feeling the age of the ancient rock beneath me, enjoying the company of my favorite person, and watching the orange and red glow of the setting sun peek between the shifting storm clouds in the distance.

On the drive home we stopped at one more spot, an access point to another stretch of the New River with great camping sites for kayakers traversing the 360 million year old body of water. As soon as I can get a job, we’ll be getting kayaks and coming back to this place! After a little walk here and checking out the ruins of an old homestead of early settlers, we took some back roads home back to real life. To say I needed this trip was an understatement, but I am so glad we took the time to do it.

Let me know if you have ever been or decide to go visit any of these places in the comments! I’d love to hear about your experiences too!

Here are a few pics of Blowing Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway hiking trail.

The Blowing rock is on the left

The Blowing Rock

Tim checking out the views. The names of the peaks were on the viewfinder so you can identify them all.

Dogwood growing out of the underside of The Blowing Rock

The legend of The Blowing Rock. http://www.theblowingrock.com/legend-of-the-blowing-rock/

Hiking trail of the BRP

Our spot off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A pretty end to a great trip

Peace and love, and GO OUTSIDE! 🙂

Epic blog post for an epic hiking weekend- with vids, pics, and links to cool spots to explore in Western NC One of the intents behind my blog is to make sure I impart how important it is to be out in nature as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

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buyherepayhereusa · 8 years ago

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Top 5 Road Trips in America

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”

– John Muir, The Yosemite (1912)

Get your motor runnin’ and head out on the highway. Adventure awaits on these uniquely American road trips.

From purple mountain majesties to alabaster cities, America has some of the best landscapes and roadways in the world. The vast, sprawling scenery has inspired many great works of art, philosophy, science, and of course, epic road trips.

If you’re yearning for a new, beautiful, and intrinsically patriotic experience, channel your inner Jack London/Kerouac and start planning your next great American Road Trip. To help, here’s our list of the best road trips and destinations in America. Get lost!

A couple tips before we begin:

Leave yourself plenty of time for spontaneous trips and longer-than-expected stays

Stock your vehicle with the essentials (and non-essentials)

Check/change your fluids and tires, and get your vehicle ready for the trip.

Obtain paper maps (maps and guides can be found at your local AAA)

Speaking of AAA, consider purchasing roadside assistance

Play fun car games

Make sure you have a suitable vehicle

Drive on America’s National Scenic Byways if you can

Plan your route (log in to Google and click “Create Map” in “Maps”)

Bring binoculars

The best time for a road trip is between spring and fall. You may want to wait until October for annual fall foliage displays. Double check peak fall color times to make sure. And always check road and weather conditions.

Great Smoky Mountain Road Trip

Source: National Park Service

Start: Chattanooga, TN

Visit:

Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, TN

Raccoon Mountain Caverns in Chattanooga, TN

Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN

Chattahoocee National Forest

Nantahala National Forest

Mountain Farm Museum and Qualla Arts and Crafts in Cherokee, NC

Cataloochee Valley (Hannah Cabin) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Boogerman Trail loop

Big Witch Overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway

Devil’s Courthouse overlook trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway

North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, NC

Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

Jack of the Wood, a Celtic-style bar in Asheville, NC

End: Asheville, NC

As Tennessee natives ourselves, it’s hard not to be inspired by the wild beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. One of the most popular national parks in the country, the Great Smoky Mountains attracts millions of visitors every year. And rightly so. Don’t be afraid to wander.

If you live near Chattanooga, Cleveland, or Dayton, as we do, you’ll want to pass through the Chattahoochee and Nantahala National Forests and enter the Great Smoky Mountains from the Cherokee, NC entrance. If you’re on the eastern side of the park, start in Asheville, NC.

It’s not a very long road trip, more of a weekend trip, but if you are taking a road trip anywhere in Tennessee, be sure to include the Smokies on your list. Most visitors enter through the Gatlinburg–Pigeon Forge into the park, but a better entrance might be the quieter North Carolina entrance through Maggie Valley and into Cherokee.

“Shot at Cataloochee Valley, which is located on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The valley is home to more than 100 elk who often graze within yards of the main road – and sometimes like to snarl traffic by jaywalking.”– Jordan Whitt, Unsplash

The views and wildlife are stunning. You may even be lucky enough to witness the famous blue haze associated with the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Make the trip in May or June and the skyline often has a deep pink and/or red glow.

As you wind your way through the scenery, it will seem to change by the minute—rolling valleys, spring wildflowers, soft fog, dense forests, steep mountains, and occasional log cabins and grist mills. Don’t be afraid to pull over along lookout points, such as Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park, and the popular Chimney Tops picnic area. Just watch out for the black bears!

After a few days in nature, we recommend taking the gorgeous Blue Ride Parkway (an amazing road trip on its own) from Cherokee to Asheville (or vice versa if you are entering from that side).

Watch this video to learn more about Clingmans Dome and the Great Smoky Mountains:

youtube

The Blues Highway Road Trip

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Start: Memphis, TN

Visit:

Graceland and B.B. King’s Blues Club in Memphis, TN

Blues and Legends Hall of Fame in Tunica, MS

The Hollywood Café and/or Blue & White Restaurant in Tunica, MS

Devil’s Crossroads in Clarksdale, MS

Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, MS

Hopson Plantation, Cat Head, and Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, MS

White Front Café in Rosedale, MS

End: New Orleans, LA

Take a ride on the Blues Highway (US 61), Bob Dylan’s famous Highway 61 that runs from Wyoming, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana, to experience a unique musical journey. We begin our trip in Memphis. From there, you’ll travel to the same towns and juke joints as Bessie Smith, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Elvis, and other legends once did.

Following the course of the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, there’s plenty to hear, see, and taste on this road trip. Start in Memphis and hit up one of the hundreds of amazing Memphis-style barbecue joints. Some local favorites are Tops Bar-B-Q, Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, and Leonard’s Pit Barbecue. Stay the night at the historic Peabody Hotel (or just visit for a drink). And don’t forget about Graceland!

After a day or two in Memphis, head to the Blues and Legends Hall of Fame in Tunica, Just 40 minutes away, our next stop is Clarksdale, the birthplace of Muddy Waters and deathplace of Bessie Smith. Visit the intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 49, which is said the be “The Crossroads” where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil for his musical talent. For a great live music experience, make sure to check out who’s playing at Cat Head and Ground Zero Blues Club. Nearby is the Delta Blues Museum.

After Clarksdale, you can choose a variety of different options. We recommend getting on the quieter Highway 1 (part of The Great River Road National Scenic Byway—a great road trip by itself), which runs along the Mississippi River’s “Great Wall.” There are lots of beautiful stops along the way, including the Trotter Landing ghost town. Stop for hot tamales at White Front Café in Rosedale.

As your trip approaches the end, don’t miss all the sites and entertainment in Vicksburg. The Vicksburg National Military Park and the Old Courthouse Museum are top attractions, but you’ll definitely want to stop to visit Margaret’s Grocery. It’s no longer a country market, but rather a sort of “voodoo” Christian cathedral, one of the most unique places of worship in the country.

End the trip in New Orleans and enjoy great live blues and everything the city has to offer. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

The Ozarks Road Trip

Source: Unsplash

Start: Fort Smith, Arkansas

Visit:

Devil’s Den State Park in West Fork, AR

Roaring River State Park in Cassville, MO

Mark Twain National Forest in Rolla, MO

Silver Dollar City in Branson, AR

Mystic Caverns in Harrison, AR

Buffalo National River near Harrison, AR

Cosmic Cavern in Barryville, AR

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, AR

Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR

Onyx Cave Park in Eureka Springs, AR

Great Passion Play (May through October) in Eureka Springs, AR

Ozark Cafe in Jaspers, AR

The Inn at Mountain View Bed and Breakfast

End: Rogers, AR

Start your trip in northwest Arkansas at the Fort Smith National Historic Site and visit the museum. Then follow a loop, up toward Eureka Springs, into Missouri, and then back down into Arkansas to Mountain View, Jasper, and on to Rogers, AR.

Take the Scenic Byway 7, a 300-mile-long north/south state highway for beautiful views of lakes, rivers, and mountains. Check out the other National Scenic Byways in Arkansas.

Whatever you’re looking for in a road trip—roadside attractions, outdoor adventure, a happy family—you’ll find in the Ozarks, which means “toward Arkansas.” The most mountainous region between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains, it’s known for scenic drives bathed in moonlight and is surrounded by deciduous trees and some of the nation’s most beautiful waterways.

Sometimes referred to as the Ozark Mountains or Ozark Mountain Country, it basically covers the entire northwestern and north central region of Arkansas and much of the southern half of Missouri.

Wind down the roadway during the fall foliage season and you’ll be witness to the spectacular display of shifting saffron and various shades of red, purple, black, pink, magenta, yellow, orange, and brown. Driving through the beauty of the Ozarks, replete with songbirds and deer, is a distinctly American experience not to be missed.

The Borderlands, TX

Source: Unsplash

Start: Fort Stockton

Visit:

Carlsbad Caverns

Davis Mountain

Museum of Big Bend in Alpine

Hotel Paisano in Marfa

Chinati Foundation in Marfa

The Food Shark in Marfa

Ghost town of Shafter

River Road

End: Big Bend National Park

You may recognize this area when you come to it. The landscape has been used as the backdrop for some big Hollywood movies like No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood.

With spectacular canyons, mountain, and rivers, the Big Bend region seems to come from a different planet. The borderland is characterized by huge space-bending skies, rugged mountains, grassland, and large swaths of desert. It is often compared to African landscapes due to its terrain and wildlife.

The borderland trip starts in Fort Stockton, an old oil town, and progresses to Alpine, a gateway to Big Bend National Park, and through to the artsy and spiritual town of Marfa. From there ride through Paisano Pass and to the ghost town of Shafter. After that, cruise down the beautiful River Road (FM-170) to Study Butte. The overlooking views are some of the best this country has to offer.

The Big Bend region contains over one million acres of public land, including Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. End the trip in Big Bend National Park. If you are just driving through, be sure to take Basin Road into the Chisos mountain range. Replenish yourself at Gage Hotel in the tiny town of Marathon, one of the filming locations for Wim Wenders’ movie Paris, Texas.

Highway 89 National Park Road Trip

Start: Tumacacori National Historical Park, AZ

Visit:

Saguaro National Park, AZ

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

Zion National Park, UT

Kolob Canyon Road, UT

Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

Capital Reef National Park, UT

Arches National Park, UT

Canyonlands National Park, UT

Yellowstone National Park, WY, MO, ID

End: Yellowstone National Park, MO

U.S. Highway 89 passes through 5 states and 7 national parks, clearly making it the longest of all the road trips on the list. If you’re not in a rush, the entire trip is definitely worth. Don’t worry though, you can choose to do one state or a small portion.

If you do choose one state, however, make it Utah. The surreal, Martian landscape of canyons, hoodoos, alcoves, and arches make it unlike anywhere else on Earth. If you make it one park, go with Yellowstone National Park.

U.S. 89 starts in Flagstaff, Arizona and proceeds north, passing near the Grand Canyon National Park, the second of the seven national parks along the way. Once you hit Utah, be sure to spend some time in the Zion National Park and the Bryce Canyon National Park.

The highway proceeds into Idaho around Bear Lake. In Wyoming and Montana, you have Yellowstone National Park, which should be on everybody’s bucket list.

Click here for a collection of posts to help you plan your Highway 89 road trip.

The Best Road Trip (According to Science)

Source: Google Maps

If you are looking for the most efficient route for visiting all of the nation’s best landmarks, some scientists (Randy Olson and Tracy Staedter) have generated the “perfect” map that does just that. It hits all 48 states in the contiguous U.S. and all the major U.S. landmarks, ideal for traveling by car.

How to Survive a Road Trip

America is a force of nature. You have to be prepared for nearly anything when you go on any of these road trips, especially if you have children. Precipitation, cold temperatures, and thick clouds are common at the top of mountains while dry weather and hot temperatures will meet you at some of the country’s lowest points. Dress in layers and make sure you have plenty of water and essential safety items in your car.

Learn what you should always have in the car.

Learn fun car games before the trip starts.

Learn some basic car maintenance, such as changing a tire.

Most of all, have fun!

Don’t hesitate to ask our team members for their road trip tips! We love driving our cars as much as we do selling them.

If you want the perfect road trip vehicle, stop by one of our locations for a reliable Certified Pre-Owned car, truck, or SUV. We’ll set you up with the car of your dreams at a price you can afford.

Chattanooga, TN – (423) 551-3600

Cleveland, TN – (423) 472-2000

Dayton, TN – (423) 775-4600

Dalton, GA – (706) 217-2277

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