Horseback Riding in the Winter!

The Winter is a great time to go horseback riding. Most people only think of winter fun of being skiing, snowmobiling, tobogganing and ice skating, but they're missing the thrill of riding a horse through fresh snow packed trails. However during the winter months there is an abundance of horseback riding opportunities throughout the High Country.

The winter season is a great time to get outside and enjoy the magnificent mountain setting that surrounds you. Not ever day in winter is filled with snow and ice and below freezing temperatures! There are plenty of nice days during the winter time to get out and into Mother Nature’s playground. Horseback riding is a fantastic alternative from the car for sight-seeing. Horseback riding is just one of the many outdoor activities here in the North Carolina Mountains.

There are are a few riding trails and riding companies to accommodate your needs. Bring the entire family and create memories that will last a life time! You can visit the following links for more information:

Clear Creek Guest Ranch
100 Clear Creek Dr, Burnsville, NC 28714 http://www.clearcreekranch.com/

Dutch Creek Trails
793 Rubin Walker Rd, Vilas, NC 28692 http://www.dutchcreektrails.com/

Valle Crucis Farm
4365 NC Hwy 194 S., Valle Crucis, NC 28691 http://www.vcfarm.com/

Boone Christmas Parade

Boone's Christmas parade will be on December 18, 2010 starting at 11am on King St., between Hardin St. (Dan'l Boone Inn) and Water St. (county courthouse)

(Lineup is at 9am at Horn in the West; parade starts at 11am).

Note: several municipal parking areas in town provide ample one-hour parking, with metered spaces available on Queen St.Call 828-262-4532 for details.

Let the Skiing BEGIN!

There are 4 area ski and tubbing slopes in the area.

Appalachian Ski Mountain, http://www.appskimtn.com/, is located in Blowing Rock. Is OPEN for it's 2010-2010 season! Appalachian Ski Mountain offers the French Swiss Ski College for those of you that are just learning to ski and caters to all ages, young and old. Appalachian Ski Mountain also offers an outdoor ice skating arena as the perfect complement to our slopes. Located in a spectacular scenic setting overlooking the ski slopes on one side, and the Blue Ridge Mountains on the other, Appalachian's outdoor ice arena has a refrigerated ice floor, and is fully lighted for skating under the stars seven nights a week. Skaters and non-skaters can watch the action and warm up by our rinkside bonfire. They offer skate rentals in traditional figure skates, as well as hockey skates.

Sugar Mountain Resort, http://www.skisugar.com/conditions/, is located in the village of Sugar Mountain in Avery County, NC. You will find 115 acres of ski and snowboard terrain and with a 1,200foot vertical drop. Other activities include tubing, ice skating and snowshoeing. It is scheduled to open soon with conditions permit.

Ski Beech, http://www.skibeech.com/, is located on Beech Mountain, the highest incorporated town in the Eastern United States! Ski Beech is a PSIA certified ski school (Professional Ski Instructors of America) utilizing the American Teaching System (ATS).

Hawksnest Resort, http://www.hawksnest-resort.com/, is located in a small town called Seven Devils, NC. As a leader in snow tubing, Hawksnest has taken their snow tubing to new levels of fun. Hawksnest’s expanded snow tubing operation will make it the biggest snow tubing operation on the East Coast. Their Snow Tubing resort will now have 4 different areas to snow tube with 20 lanes of fun, lanes will be 400 – 1000 feet long and 2 moving carpet lifts to take you back to the top. Hawksnest has 100% snowmaking and lighting on all lanes to provide the best possible conditions and fun for the whole family. Also, don't forget to enjoy their Coffee Bar, Carolina BBQ and Pizza before, during and after your tubing session! It is set to open as weather conditions permit.