Fall

North Carolina Travel: Get Cozy in the Mountains of Western North Carolina

This week is the first time in Raleigh when it has felt like the fall season. The ironic thing is that I posted this photo on Instagram when it still felt like summer at my home due to the unusual warm spell this October in North Carolina.


Apparently, you are ready for chilly, fall fireplace weather, too because this Instagram photo has become one of my most popular photos in my feed since I've been using the social media tool.

The photo was taken at the Inn on Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina earlier this year. And yes, I waited a long time for someone to get out of those seats so my photo could be people free. Was it worth the wait? Yes, it was. I just enjoyed another cup of coffee at the complimentary beverage station while waiting. People who know me know that I have no problem lingering in a hotel lobby. I hardly ever want to go home.


In fact, I recommend one of these delights by the fire at the Inn on Biltmore.  It's a Toffee Coffee, a specialty drink made up by the Inn's bartender. Yes, I had to have one. Delicious!

The North Carolina mountains are beautiful in the fall.  My home state has one of the longest color seasons in the world due to so many tree species.

Photo courtesy of FallintheMountains.com

I have a great travel idea.  Do a fall "cozy up to the fire" fall tour in my state. Here are a few other great fireplaces that you don't want to miss.  The Omni Grove Park Inn, also in Asheville, has a fireplace that just says, "Wow!" It's huge.  I've not written a "Pack Your Bags" on this historic hotel and spa yet, but it's on my list for the blog. My last stay there was in 1998. It became an Omni Resort this year.


Here is Will beside the same fireplace in the summer of 2009 when we did a quick lobby visit on our way back to Raleigh.


The Boone-Valle Crucis-Blowing Rock area of North Carolina is just charming. I can't think of a better place to call home after a day of sightseeing than a cabin at the luxurious Mast Farm Inn.  This cozy cabin that I stayed in last year makes me want to make my own Toffee Coffee, and watch a movie. The Inn has great in-room coffee, by the way.  When I snapped this photo, it was during the spring season so we did not have the gas logs in use, but we could have easily that time of year. It still gets chilly at night in the mountains even in early May sometimes.


One of my favorite hotels in North Carolina is the Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands. So far, it is the most gorgeous hotel property I have visited in the mountains. Let me just say that sitting at this fireplace in the new Lodge area surrounded by the fall color would be spectacular. This photo was in the hotel's Instagram feed last week.



No doubt, the fall is a special time in North Carolina. Explore Asheville has always done a fabulous job with its weekly fall color reports, but this year, tourism officials added a great site which goes into the science behind the fall color. I found it fascinating. You may, too.

Photo credit: FallintheMountains.com






North Carolina Travel: Get Cozy in the Mountains of Western North Carolina

Friday Focus: North Carolina in the Fall

I love this time of year. I love to wear jeans again. I love that it gets dark a little earlier so I can be cozy in my house, which usually smells like a pumpkin candle on most nights. I sip a glass of red wine, have my pajamas on by 9:00 pm, and watch a new season of my favorite TV shows. Ah, that is fall to me! But, I know a lot of my Tar Heel friends like to get out and about in the fall so this post is for you.


Courtesy of Visit NC
With the arrival of fall, the leaves are beginning to shade North Carolina in hues of burgundy, burnt orange and golden yellow. Starting with the lofty peaks in the north, color spreads to the south and east in a painterly wash before slowly fading into winter.

Here are some ways to experience my home state this fall.  Visit NC gave me some great ideas to share, and of course, you know anything that concerns eating, a spa treatment, and a luxury hotel came from yours truly.

Rooftop Touring: After gazing at the vistas along the Blue Ridge Parkway, exit at U.S. 25 North in Asheville, N.C., for a different vantage point: the rooftop of America’s largest home. This sight to behold is the high point of Biltmore’s hour-long Architecture Tour.


Shadow of the Bear in Cashiers, NC
Photo by: Jerry Jaynes

Bear Hunting: As the harvest sun sets behind Whiteside Mountain, a bear-like shadow emerges from the colorful canopy for 30 minutes every evening from mid-October to early November. Catch the “Shadow of the Bear” from Rhodes Big View Overlook near Cashiers, N.C. The mountain, with an elevation of 4,930 feet, boasts sheer rock cliffs that are among the highest in the eastern United States. It provides a splendid setting for viewing leaves throughout autumn, especially during the emergence of the bear.

Luxury Lounging: And if you are in Cashiers to search for the bear shadow, visit the Old Edwards Inn and Spa in nearby Highlands. They have some great seasonal spa specials right now such as the Pumpkin-Apple Spice Facial. 

Ballooning: Drink in the view from hundreds of feet above ground. Carolina Balloon Fest takes place Oct. 21-13 in Statesville, N.C., and individual operators such as Carolina Balloon Adventures take fliers soaring over vibrant woodland hills.

Farmers Marketing: Farmers markets offer distinct insights into regional flavors with selections of pumpkins, apples and greens.  And the local color is dazzling at Wilmington’s popular Riverfront Farmers Market. And don't forget that biggest celebration for agriculture is the North Carolina State Fair, which runs October 11-21, 2012.

Whitewater Rafting: Under the leafy forest canopy, the Nantahala River Gorge creates lasting impressions. Nantahala Outdoor Center near Bryson City, N.C., operates a world-class whitewater canoe and kayaking program.


Wine Tasting: Fall harvest presents a reason to celebrate and sample North Carolina wines. In the flourishing Yadkin Valley wine region, Childress Vineyards and Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery are among the wineries offering tours, tastings and picnic spots with splendid scenery.

Ziplining: Experience fall color up close on a canopy tour. Choose from a dozen or more in the North Carolina mountains or opt for an unlikely destination: Fayetteville, N.C., at the edge of the Sandhills. ZipQuest features eight ziplines, three sky bridges, three spiral staircases and a 150-foot-wide waterfall.

Culinary Touring: Wilmington is an emerging dining destination and offers a variety of culinary tours and festivals including the Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival (October 13-14); Encore Restaurant Week (October 17-24); the Back Door Kitchen Tour (October 20), and Taste of Wrightsville Beach (October 27).

The Inaugural Outer Banks Seafood Festival scheduled for October 20 is designed to capture the essence of what makes the Dare County community unique. Nearly 20 local restaurants have committed to serve their signature dishes featuring only fish and seafood caught along the Outer Banks - resulting in an unmatched "fusion-style" (small portion sizes) buffet from some of the best restaurants on the beach. In addition, local artisans will exhibit and offer their unique creations ranging from hand-crafted jewelry to beach shells and paintings - offering Festival-goers a great opportunity to shop the wares of our gifted artists.


If you love food then you cannot miss TerraVita in Chapel Hill, North Carolina November 1-3, 2012. Now in its third year, the unique event showcases sustainably made wine, beer and spirits from around the globe against the backdrop of North Carolina ingredients and ingenuity. 


TerraVITA, a Celebration of Food and Beverage

The headliner event, the Grand Tasting on The Green, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 1 – 4:30 p.m. This event brings together some of the best sustainably-produced wines, microbrews, coffees and spirits and offers them side-by-side with culinary tastings by James Beard-nominated chefs, artisan chocolatiers, charcuteries and cheese makers from across the state of North Carolina.  

Advance tickets are $65 for the all-inclusive event with a special designated driver/no alcohol ticket offered for $55. Tickets can be purchased at www.terravitaevent.com.

In addition to the marquee Grand Tasting, three other events occur during the festival: Chefs’ Harvest PotluckThe Sustainable Classroom, and The Carolina TableEast Meets West Dinner. Visit TerraVita for a full-line up, and costs. 

Corn MazingGillis Hill Road Produce produces “The ABC’s of NC” – an educational maze for children and adults.  Questions about North Carolina are found throughout the 10-acre maze.   Only the right answer takes you down the correct path. Wrong answers lead to a dead–end.  The ABC’s of NC is open through October 31st. Hours are Monday through Friday from  1 pm – 6 pm and Saturdays from 10:30 am – 6 pm.  Location:  2899 Gillis Hill Road in Fayetteville.  

See you around North Carolina, and my thanks to all of North Carolina's Tourism Bureaus for keeping me in the loop on the latest travels in my home state.


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Friday Focus: North Carolina in the Fall

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