Family Trip to the NC Mountains

Planning a special family reunion is no easy task, but I decided to take it on this year for a celebration of my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary. There was no question about where the reunion would take place as my parent’s favorite vacation spot is the NC Mountains.

Once the guest list was nailed down, I began searching for a mountain home that would accommodate 13 people. I enlisted the help of Blue Ridge Vacation Cabins to help in the search. They were able to find the perfect vacation home located on Sugar Mountain know as The Trinity. The home had 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a lot of fun amenities including a hot tub, pool table, ping pong table and classic arcade games.

The area surrounding Sugar Mountain offers a variety of activities for all sorts of interests. This was perfect since we had family members that ranged in age from 3 years old to 75. During our 3 day stay members of our family visited Tweetsie Railroad, Banner Elk Winery, Grandfather Mountain , the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Mast General Store. Each attraction offered our family the opportunity to make memories in a unique setting. Here’s an overview of what we enjoyed at each location.

Tweetsie Railroad- A childhood favorite of my own, Tweetsie was the perfect spot for the kids (ages 3 and 4). We spent the day riding the famous train and other rides suitable for young children. Then, we spent quite a while in the petting zoo feeding a variety of farm animals including baby pygmy goats that just wandered up to us. We finished out the day with a meal and a trip to the fudge store. The park was not crowded, making it a joy for the parents as well as the children.

Banner Elk Winnery- The wine lovers in the group decided to check out Banner Elk Winery which offers wine tastings (year-round) and tours of their facilities (from May through October). The location proved to be a beautiful setting for a picnic or just a walk around the grounds. Their award-winning wines are also available for purchase.

Grandfather Mountain- Located in nearby Linville, Grandfather Mountain is a great place to take in the beauty of the NC Mountains and visit some of its wildlife. We headed straight to the top of the mountain first to cross the mile high swinging bridge and enjoy breath-taking views. Luckily, the bridge has gone through some major renovations over the years so it doesn’t really “swing” anymore making it accessible to more guests. A short ride down the mountain took us to the animal habitats which include cougars, deer, black bears and river otters. We also caught a special presentation featuring an owl.

The Blue Ridge Parkway-This beautiful stretch of road runs throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains and several states. We decided to drive a short distance on the parkway in search of a place to do a little hiking and nature observation. Within 15 minutes of getting on the road, we stopped at a small turn-out area and found a small trail that took us to a lovely stream. There are hidden gems like this throughout the length of the parkway and we were happy to happen upon one.

Mast General Store- A short ride to the small town of Valle Crucis is made worthwhile when you step into the Mast General Store. The store has been around since 1883 and is full of unique gifts and treasures from the past. It is fun to browse and notice the small details of the old building such as the creaky wooden floors and old tools on the walls. Down the road from the store is an Annex building that houses “The Candy Barrel” which is a favorite of the young and old. If you had a favorite candy as a child but haven’t seen it around in a long time, chances are they have it at The Candy Barrel. We visit these unique stores every time we are in the area.

Overall, with so much to do in the NC Mountains, it was a great location to host a family reunion. Whether we were out and about visiting attractions or just spending time at the rental home, we had a wonderful time.

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