The High Country

​North Carolina is the home to magical, rustic, and romantic mountains known as the “High Country”. This hidden gem is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains with quaint towns, friendly neighbors and undeniable charm offering a host of things to see and do, or not do! At every turn, you’ll see beautiful backdrops of picture perfect mountains & wildlife. Summer temperatures in the High Country are mind-blowing. At 75-80 degrees during the day and a refreshing 60-70 degrees after sunset you can't deny this place is amazing. Surrounded by miles of vivid green mountain peaks, you will fall in love with our North Carolina mountains, just as I have. 

The whimsical winding mountain roads and charming towns tucked in between offers fun, thrilling adventures, romantic nature hikes, cooling waterfalls, local winery’s, shopping and fine dining. Just a few hours south of Charlotte, NC, the Appalachian Mountains are home to the Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountain, Beech Mountain, Banner Elk/Blowing Rock (small towns) and Sugar Mountain. Located within 30 to 40 minutes of each other, you can visit each in just a few days, or take a few day trips. 
 
Recently a good friend and I escaped to Beech Mountain. We enjoyed 4 days of mountain bliss. Beech Mountain peaks at 5,506 feet in elevation; the perfect dream location for skiers during winter. Beech Mountain is one of my favorite summer hideouts, so don’t tell everyone about it...OK? LOL… Right off Beech Mountain is a romantic little town, Banner Elk. Any given night you can find a great meal, the perfect bottle of wine, good people and local live music. For the art lovers, catch a professional performance at Lees McRae College, enjoy the local arts community or take a local pottery class; it's all within your reach. 

The panoramic mountain views, refreshing breezes, and rejuvenating peacefulness is just what we needed. We took one day to advantage through the beautiful country side, traveling through the mountains taking in one winding road after the next. Being elevated brought clarity, joy and calmness I hadn't felt in some time. In life, we waste a lot of time doing and doing and not enough time enjoying the simple things life has to offer. High County living will defiantly give you a new outlook on life… Essential living at its best.

Visiting the beautiful mountains of North Carolina is a must. Here are a few Do's you should add to your travel itinerary we found to be worth wild.

Blowing Rock - North Carolina's oldest travel attraction since 1933. Short scenic walk includes views of Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock, and Hawksbill. Also enjoy a small garden waterfall, observation tower and unique gift shops. Open daily April-December. January, February and March open weekends only, weather permitting. 
 




Grandfather Vineyard - There is nothing more relaxing than sitting on the banks of the Watauga River under the shadows of the beautiful Grandfather Mountains.  Grandfather Vineyard offers award winning wines, wine tastings ($10 - $7, includes your tasting glass), assorted cheeses and a food truck on weekends. Be sure to give yourself at least an hour or two to enjoy this beautiful vineyard.
 




Artisanal Restaurant – You cannot travel Banner Elk and not visit this hidden culinary diamond. The manicured rolling green hills meet you upon arrival with complementary valet parking, exceptional service & seasonal cuisine with a fresh unique farm-to-table approach that will take you on a journey of superb fine dining. They offer seasonally reservations (May-October). Artisanal has been named a Top 100 restaurant in the United States by OpenTable.com and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. You will need to make a reservation in advance or you will be disappointed.
 

​Mary’s Kitchen – This local treat is tucked away just below downtown Boone, North Carolina, a true diamond in the rough. Don’t let the curb appeal fool ya! Mary’s Kitchen has been around since 1989. It’s the local  heartbeat of the town known for their breakfast & lunch made fresh daily. Everything about this place screams high country and grandma’s house. The food and service were incredible and affordable. Be sure to try the chocolate gravy (It’s a local treat). You won’t find Mary’s Kitchen online, or on social media – Just show up and enjoy. Hours:  5am to 2pm | Address: 486 George Wilson Road, Boone, NC | Phone: 828.386.1187 

Travel Tips For Friends & Couples 

Traveling with great friends is an amazing experience when done the right way. Clancy and I have been friends since high school....don't count but it's more than 20 years. Our adventure through the High Country together was more than I could ask for. Traveling with friends or a mate is an art. Below are a few tips you should consider when traveling with your friends, a group or mate:

Know why You Are Traveling
Having a clear goal for your travels is by FAR the most important detail to discuss before planning. Wanting to travel to the same destination, does not always mean you desire to do the same activities when you arrive. This is where the art of compromise comes in. Essentially, the goal is to ensure everyone's travel needs are met. For example, Clancy and I were able to do everything we wanted for the time we were there. This made for an enjoyable time spent together. 
 
Personal Time
Don’t be afraid to go in individual directions. It’s OK for you to take a day and go do you. After,  meet back up with your travel companion/s over dinner and swap stories from your journey. This will make for great meaningful conversation. Time apart is key to traveling with groups, friends or mates. It’s wonderful and amazing to have someone to share your travel journey with and it’s equally important to set aside “me” time. Too much togetherness can put unnecessary strain on a group or couple trip.  

Introverts 
If traveling with an introvert, it’s important to know they need quiet time to recharge. Don’t confuse this with anti-social behavior, everyone has different needs which shows up in different ways. Learn to go with the flow…

Money, Money, Money
Some people budget for travel, some travel on a budget. My advice, budget for your travel. It's much easier when traveling with others. If you want to travel on a budget, traveling alone might be easier. You never know what you are going to do or what you might want to buy when traveling. You only live once, so make sure to have a few extra coins on reserve just in case. It’s just money, you can make more, promise!
 
Talk About Everything
No matter who you travel with, communication is the key to a successful trip. Decide upfront who is going to do what. When traveling to the mountains, Clancy and I decided upfront who was going to do what, and it was the perfect balance to our shared experience. Between the two of us, we ate and drank whatever we wanted, took turns on the tab...it was a great time. The joy of traveling is found in how well you communicate, so set the standard and travel.
 
Uncalculated Risks 
It’s true! When you travel with others, you are more likely to do things you never would do on your own. When your friend/s wants to do something and you don’t; most times you will do & sometimes you won't. Peer pressure can be good when it exposes you to something good. Again, go with the flow.
 
Getting to Know All About You
Traveling is a great way to get to know people. If you want to learn about some real quick; just take a trip. You are sure to observe and discover things about your friends or mate that you did not know before. Hopefully what you observe will make you appreciate them more, I know it did for me! Thanks, Clancy for a great time in the High Country. 
 
Go with the Flow
Traveling with others requires patience and flexibility. You won’t get to do and see everything, and that’s OK. Remember, you can always go back. The important thing is to embrace your time with loved ones, connect and create life long memories. 
 
Wooo Hooo... You made it! 
I humbly thank you for your time. My goal is to make my travel blog worth your time.  I enjoy sharing my experiences with you. I hope to inspire my readers to travel well and travel often. For some, travel is an unrealized dream but it doesn't have to be. For a long time, I allowed anxiety about being over-weight prevent me from traveling. After getting over myself, I decided to travel with purpose overcoming my fears & I have no intentions of stopping now. 

It means a lot to have you join me in this quest. As always share, comment and subscribe.
 
Until the next time, travel well and travel often,
Lady Kay
 
                           “It is better to have seen the promised land for yourself, hearing about it is for the blind”. – Kenyatta J.