Explore Wineries in the NC Great Smoky Mountains
A vacation, or staycation, in the Great Smoky Mountains of NC can have you exploring the ridgetops of a mountain after lunch and then sipping a glass of distinctive, locally produced wine by dinner. Here is your comprehensive guide to the best wineries and vineyards available in the western-most towns of North Carolina. B & […]
A to Z: The Best Breweries in the NC Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains offer dozens of thrilling escapades that are deserving of a cold brew or two at the end of the day. Or maybe visiting every single brewery is your idea of vacation adventure. Here is the ultimate guide to the best breweries in the Great Smoky Mountains of NC. Balsam Falls Brewing […]
The Friendliest Stop Along the Appalachian Trail – Be a Lazy Hiker Awhile!
Although Franklin sparkles with its gems, I was impressed to see the way this town cares for the dirty and grungy (and I mean that in the best possible way!). You see, Franklin sits just 10 miles off the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail that hundreds hike through from Maine to Georgia each year. It was the […]
Ferncrest Winery Awards
FernCrest Winery is in the Snowbird Mountains above the Western Carolina Regional Airport, where we planted a small vineyard of Chardonel, Vidal Blanc and Cynthiana grape vines in 2010. We began making wine from them in 2013. Both the 2013 Chardonel and 2013 Vidal Blanc won Gold medals at the Wine Maker’s Magazine’s International Amateur Competition in […]
Elevated Mountain Distillery Awards
Congratulations to Elevated Mountain Distilling Co of Maggie Valley on beating out some of the best spirits in the world in three categories at the 2018 Cigar & Spirits Magazine’s World Spirits Competition. 2nd Place Vodka – Hurricane Creek 3rd Place American Blended Whiskeys – Purchase Knob Oak Reserve 1st Place Infused Whiskey – Raymond Fairchild […]
The American Dream Told by The Copper Door
Imagine dining in an old gas station where the chef spent 9 years as a bombardier officer in a B-52. Hard to believe? Maybe, but Open Table named The Copper Door (http://thecopperdoor.com/) as one of America’s top 100 restaurants in 2014. Here’s Copper Door’s back story. After graduating culinary school in New Orleans, Chef Dennis […]