Although things in Western North Carolina haven’t exactly returned to normal for Christmas 2024, those NC mountain towns that have recovered enough are set to celebrate the holiday season full steam ahead. These towns DESPERATELY need visitors to help make up for the millions in lost revenue Hurricane Helene caused during their peak Fall leaf-peeping … Read more
From the Biltmore House Christmas and Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum to the Grove Park Inn’s Gingerbread House Competition, Asheville has more than its fair share of nationally-known holiday attractions. But those seeking a simpler, less crowded, and more budget-friendly small town Christmas celebration may want to head 25 miles south to Hendersonville, … Read more
Now in its 11th year, Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum ranks right alongside Biltmore Christmas among our favorite things to do during Winter in Asheville. With all proceeds supporting the Arboretum’s annual programming, this is their largest fundraising effort of the year. And this year, like most of Asheville, they need those funds more … Read more
Since Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina in late September, we’ve received hundreds of requests on our Facebook page to create a guide to Western NC stores that offer online shopping. We always try to shop small businesses when we travel, because for every $1 you spend at a small business, around 67¢ stays in the … Read more
Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina on September 27, devastating (and, in some cases, obliterating) many of our favorite mountain towns. Since then, many of us who love the region have been feeling distraught over the destruction, wondering what we can do to help NC. While heading to the afflicted areas with a chainsaw (or … Read more
If you’re planning to spend Christmas in Asheville NC, experiencing the Biltmore Estate Christmas is a bucket list item that proves well worth the pricy investment (2024 tickets range from $125 to $400+). The 8,000-acre estate is the largest privately owned home in the USA. With 250 rooms encompassing 135,000+ sq feet (+75 acres of … Read more
In my 7 years of living in Western North Carolina, I’ve survived two 100-year storms (see: 10 inches of rain in less than a day), a 5.1-magnitude earthquake, and a 20-inch snow blizzard. With each new dramatic weather phenomenon, I’m brought back to what a local excavator operator said as he stared at our new, … Read more
Since Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina in late September, we’ve received hundreds of requests on our Facebook page to create a guide to Western NC stores that offer online shopping. We always try to shop small businesses when we travel, because for every $1 you spend at a small business, around 67¢ stays in the … Read more
Boone NC is one of our favorite mountain towns. And since my wife Emma and I live about an hour north (right off the Blue Ridge Parkway), we usually visit Boone every month or so. Downtown Boone has a great vibe, with good restaurants, cool shops, and fantastic walking routes. We also love the fact … Read more
Those of you who follow our BRMTG Facebook page know we’ve been keeping active tabs on the recovery efforts of the myriad Blue Ridge Mountain towns that were negatively impacted by Hurricane Helene. It has only been a few weeks since the devastating storm wreaked havoc in the region, with historic flooding and landslides impacting dozens of … Read more
