Blue Ridge Mountains ...Part II

As promised this is the second installment of our recent visit to Boone NC and before you read any further Darris you should know Rachel and I were also married the same weekend…sorry buddy it’s true, but look on the bright side you are not the last to know.

As for the rest of you if you are keeping up with our adventures then you know Rachel and I do love to travel together, Rachel as my co-pilot and navigator and as for me I sometimes think Rachel just brings me along because she knows that I like to drive, but none the less we travel and boy do we travel. In the past four months together we have traveled 14 out of the last 17 weekends, which equates to 56 days and approximately 6,000 miles…wow.

I do know from this recent trip to Boone I must invest in a map that is less then twenty years old, the one Rachel was using failed to list major towns and more then a few state roads which really didn’t present a problem until the return trip home when Rachel informed me that Damascus VA was no longer on the map. Damascus VA for the uninformed is a major layover for those individuals hiking the Appalachian Trail a great spot to re-supply and relax for a day or two before heading out to the their final destination in Georgia or New Hampshire depending on the north south heading.

I digress, as mentioned before Rachel and I had eloped to Boone, although we had planned an October wedding we decided just days before our departure to include marriage in our plans, while including my sister Lena and her husband Mike as witnesses. Pretty simple process really the state of North Carolina only requires identification, $20 fee and we provide witnesses for our weekend ceremony. An ordained minister can perform the ceremony as well as any local Magistrate…we chose the later. Sorry again Darris! Where else do you get a lesson in elopement 101?

I guess if you were to ask Rachel her favorite part of the weekend besides the wedding it most certainly would include the cabin I rented for the weekend. Close to everything, yet snuggled in the mountains away from town; a very special location just over the mountain from where my father was born and distant family still live. The cabin which can be seen in the provided pictures offered more then enough room for two considering its ability to accommodate eight people comfortably with full size beds in every room and two very large bathrooms. The only thing this cabin did not provide was food, aside from this we had everything we needed which enabled Rachel and me to prepare very nice dinner for the four of us later that evening.

http://fallcreekvacationrentals.com/

The Friday evening before the wedding Rachel and I arrived early in order for me to show Rachel around the area and to stop by the courthouse to get our marriage license information in order. Soon after departing the courthouse we found ourselves exploring RT 321 south of Blowing Rock passing along the way such must see places like Tweetsie Railroad which offers live interactive comedic train robbery while your train clambers its way over hill and dell; back at the bottom of the mountain musical theatrical productions are featured on the hour in the now famous Tweetsie Saloon.

As we also clambered our way up the mountain we happened across a unique restaurant perched at the edge of the canyon…appropriately named Canyons. The evening included live local entertainment, fresh seafood and customer friendly service second to none, I say this because the waiter and kitchen staff went over and beyond in order to make sure Rachel could eat something that did not include onions…nasty reaction when she eats onions. The view of the canyon like the customer service is second to none and was visible from most any seat in the house with outside dinning for even the most timid of height seekers.

Backtracking off the mountain make sure and swing through the small community of Blowing Rock, take in the local fare and atmosphere. Walk the streets explore the shops and galleries and then move over to the park just across the street, purchase an ice cream cone, acquire a park bench then sit back and people watch, you will be glad you did.

The day of the wedding began rather much in a lull things were quiet we had scoped out the floral shop the night before. Good thing we did it had taken us twenty minutes and much back tracking in order to find this little tiny whole in the wall. Before leaving Morgantown I taken time to order Rachel a bouquet of roses on-line, using the sight most advertised and with the highest rated comments I called and placed an order. Obviously the company expends a lot of money on their on line presence and not so much on the store itself, as a matter of fact had Rachel not seen the tattered fabric awning attached to a beat up old warehouse we would still be looking for the florist. However, with that being said the flowers were beautiful and fresh, the thought of walking in there the next morning and seeing a bunch of weeds presented to me on our wedding day was weighting heavy on my mind the entire evening…I guess looks can be deceiving.

Did I fail to mention I was late for my own wedding, yep forgot the ring back at the cabin. We were just driving around killing time and low and behold my co-pilot started going through her trusty checklist and yes the ring was missing. I franticly called my sister and informed her we would be little tardy in picking them up. What I thought would be 10 minute drive back to the cabin quickly turned to 15 and then 20 and then 30 minutes passed, which placed us 5 minutes late in arriving to the courthouse.

After the very simple ceremony before the Magistrate the four of us retired to the Crying Onion a restaurant famous for its humus and ice cold tea…great place just around the corner from the courthouse.

Later that evening as previously mention Rachel and I prepared dinner for the four of us, but not before stopping and picking up a few things from Earth Fare a mostly organic food store, offering great organic coffees, fruits, pasta and bison. I only wish Morgantown or even Charleston West Virginia had such a store, great place to shop if you are really into watching what you put in your body. My daughter Courtney turned me onto the whole health food store concept…very glad she did.

Back in Morgantown Sunday evening we began to plan our next trip… destination Williamsburg VA. Meeting up with the new in-laws I guess we need to tell them we’re married sometime. Wish us luck!

Boone NC picture Show.

Blue Ridge Mountains….Simply Beautiful, Part I

This summer, take time out and enjoy the mountains, any mountains will do, but I would strongly suggest a secluded section of the Blue Ridge Mountains located in western North Carolina…more specifically Boone, North Carolina. Located just minutes off the Blue Ridge Parkway and nestled at the base of Grandfathers Mountain; Boone NC affords travelers both scenic beauty and hospitality while allowing and an easy commute to numerous travel destinations throughout western North Carolina.

Although one can travel with relative ease to locations like Asheville NC home of the Biltmore Estate or Hickory NC home to numerous furniture manufactures while making Boone an ideal “base camp” so to speak, however, for me it is Boone NC itself that has drawn me to the region since my youth. As is the case with most Appalachian descendents a periodic emersion into ones roots is essential to maintain a connection with the “hills” and being that Boone was the birth place of my father it seems travel to the region was an obvious no-brainer. On more then one ocassion I can recall my travels to Boone in my early years with me always sandwiched between Mom and Dad on the front seat while my five siblings consumed the back seat of the old Chrysler sound a sleep as Dad navigated various narrow back roads from Morgantown WV to Boone prior to the development of I-79… all in an attempt to find the shortest and ultimately the quickest route home.

Boone NC named after that famous frontiersman Daniel Boone served as home and base camp too many excursions of the famed frontiersman into what was then unexplored regions of Tennessee, Kentucky and NC. The region in and around Boone has assuredly changed since Daniel trekked these mountains, but rest assured the mountains have remained the same while offering up the needed amenities of modern day life in a cohabitation between man and nature. Today Boone offers both the Mayberry downtown atmosphere and minutes away the growth that is needed to maintain a small town economy, wedged between the two distinct sections of town as if bridging the present with the past is Appalachian State University home of the Mountaineers.

Uniquely the campus has liberal arts feel while maintaining a dynamic presence in the bible belt foothills, as with most campuses it tends to dictate the retail economy in and around the area and Boone is no exception; offering up trendy juice bars, health food stores and restaurants all within walking distance of campus. Downtown is an exceptional experience beckoning the traveler to explore the small and inviting antique stores, coffee shops, book stores and various restaurants exclusive to Boone. The Mast General Store in itself affords a trip back in time completing the whole Mayberry experience with squeaky wooden floors, stacks of durable apparel and hard to find candies and sundries. While the aging hippy and Andy Griffith atmosphere may not appeal to everyone, just minutes away one can have your present day culinary and shopping needs met within a variety of chain restaurants and retail clothing stores.

Regardless of your shopping needs and culinary desires it is the Blue Ridge Mountains that one must experience just as Daniel and my predecessors have done for decades. Just north of Boone on RT 194 lies the community of Meat Camp an unincorporated community that harkens back to the early 1900’s, a picturesque vicinity complete with cool streams, rolling hillsides abundant with young tree farms and an age old grist meal which up until just recently still afforded farmers the ability to have local field grains ground and bagged for easier storage.

Minutes in the opposite direction located on RT 321 lies the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, catching the parkway here allows one to travel either north into Virginia or further south into North Carolina, traveling through such areas as Linville Falls and the Cherokee reservation. Along the way travelers enjoy some of very enticing scenic wonders, a few not to be overlooked include Linville Falls, Blue Ridge Viaduct and the film location for the movie Last of the Mohicans; not to mention the unobstructed view of the mountains. The view from the Parkway is to be enjoyed at subdued pace, take time to stop at scenic overlooks and experience the vista and don’t forget the camera. You will be surprised how often you find yourself saving “hey honey, quick bring the camera.” Closer to Boone and still on the Parkway one can experience the Moses Cone Estate and craft store…bring your credit card because you will certainly find something that your home can not do without.

Unbeknownst to many the Parkway has become a Mecca of sorts for motorcycle enthusiast from across the country offering and easy and also safe ride with very few intersecting junctions, which as we know can be problem for motorcyclist who have to share the road with their larger cousin the car. It is not uncommon to see vacationing motorcyclist tucked well off the side of the road in a grassy meadow; blanket spread, either enjoying a nap or a box lunch under a tree. When you stop and think, aside from hiking parallel to the Parkway traveling by motorcycle is as close to experiencing the mountains in the same manner as our frontiersman did from horseback.

Although you may be traveling up the Parkway into the mountains you are actually traveling south so take the time and make the return trip back to Boone via Rt.105 thus affording you the experience of the Grandfathers Mountain. Before leaving the mountain I would strongly suggest allowing the children to get out and stretch their legs while exploring the natural animal reserve and swinging bridge, documented as the highest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River.

During the return trip off the mountain take time and experience the roadside stands most are operated today as they were by generations of families before them and offer a variety of farm fresh fare; while you have the car pulled to the side of the road selecting your various jams and jellies remember to look up. I can remember years ago a professor telling me if you want to get a feel for a piece of architecture before it was changed “look up” as is the case with Grandfathers Mountain the view of the mountain from the south west is by far the best means to capture the this colossal giant in picture.

With your daytime filled with small road trips and excursions to places like Mystery Mountain and Tweetsie Railroad and by the way both are excellent stops for children of all ages, you may be asking at this point what does Boone have to offer for evening adventure? In Part II of Blue Ridge Mountains…Simply Beautiful I will conclude my stay in Boone and offer suggestions for evening dining, accommodation, and additional outdoor adventures.

See Photo Gallery Below.