The New River Marathon is just around the corner. If you are planning on participating in this race in Todd, on May 4, 2013 you might want to plan on staying in one of our nearby cabins on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Relax in the jacuzzi as you rest your tired legs.
New River Marathon
April 24th, 2013Blue Ridge Wine Festival
April 9th, 2013
Spring has finally sprung (?) in the Blue Ridge, so no more whining about winter. Why not celebrate the new season by dropping by Blowing Rock for the 2013 Blue Ridge Wine Festival. From April 10-14 all kinds of wine related happenings are going on including wine dinners, wine tastings, wine and food seminars, live music and even a 5K race and much more.
Doc Watson Tribute at Merlefest
March 17th, 2013
Merlefest was started 26 years ago as a way of honoring the memory of Merle Watson after his untimely death. This year Merlefest is planning a special tribute to his father, Doc Watson, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 89. As host of the annual “traditional plus” music festival, the musical icon has always been the soul and embodiment of the event, and while his spirit will always be at the heart of Merlefest, he will truly be missed.
Blue Ridge Brutal 2013
March 1st, 2013
Registration is now open for the 2013 Blue Ridge Brutal bicycling challenge. Ashe County’s premier cycling event takes place August 10 and begins in nearby West Jefferson. The routes explore the beautiful scenery of the North Carolina high country including the Blue Ridge Parkway passing right by the Mountain View Lodge. So register for the ride and make your reservations for one of our cabins
Storytellers at Merlefest
February 17th, 2013
I am delighted to see that the Appalachian storytelling tradition will be returning to Merlefest in 2013. Local tall tale spinner Orville Hicks will perform Saturday April 27th. I highly recommend you avail yourself of this opportunity to enjoy a delightful aspect of Mountain cultural heritage. If you find after catching his performance that you need more of the same, the Todd General Store presents weekly storytelling events throughout the year.
Winterfest returns to Blowing Rock NC
January 17th, 2013Mark your calendars! January 24-27th Winterfest returns to Blowing Rock NC. The weekend is packed full of family activities such as a chili cook off, a polar plunge, hayrides and a bonfire and the Winter Paws Dog Show for the four legged members of the family. Plus a parade that’s not to be missed. So, don’t blink, you might miss it.
As usual, Blowing Rock offers plenty of interesting shopping and dining options, so if you’re planning a visit to Mountain View Lodge this month check out Blowingrockwinterfest.com
Are You Ready for Blood Sweat and Gears?
March 27th, 2010It’s that time again. The 12th Annual Blood, Sweat and Gears bike ride is Saturday, June 26, 2010. Hardy, healthy folk mount their bikes to ride 50 or 100 miles and raise money for The Russell Fund, which helps local families displaced by flood, fire or natural disaster.
Are you ready for the ride of your life?
This ride starts and ends just outside of nearby Boone, NC, near our Blue Ridge Mountains cabins. If you plan to participate, you’ll need to sleep well before and after the race. You’ll also need mounds of food. Our N.C. vacation cabins have fully equipped kitchens where your supporters can easily prepare feasts for you. You, of course, should do nothing but rest and prepare for – or recover from- one of the most beautiful and challenging bike rides in the country.
Register for Blood, Sweat and Gears soon, before all the spots are full.
Canoe the New
March 20th, 2010Spring seems to be here, at last. It conjures the image of folks drifting down the New River in canoes, hands lazily dangling in the cold, clear water. It is easy to picture yourself sitting comfortably around a fire at our Blue Ridge Mountains cabins, tired after a day on the river.
The New River’s North and South Forks gently meander 100 + miles through a wonderland of dense woods and pastoral valleys, until they join just south of the Virginia border. The South Fork is generally a forgiving river; it tends to be shallow, and it’s rapids are most exciting for the faint of heart. In short, it is an ideal place to canoe no matter your age – toddlers, parents and grandparents will all feel at ease once settled in a secure canoe.
New River Outfitters opens for the season in April. It isn’t too early to start planning for a trip, for advance reservations of at least two days are required. You design the canoe trip you want; it can be as brief as two hours, or as long as several days. You can float down river, or paddle up river. Many folks opt to float for a while, stop for lunch, and float a while longer. Bring your own lunch, or purchase it at the General Store at New River Outfitters.
Time spent on the New River is always time well spent. True, it may be too cool yet to jump in the river, or float in a tube. It is also unlikely to be uncomfortably hot. In the event excessive rain or snow creates dangerous conditions on the water, New River Outfitters will schedule rainchecks.
Plan to spend some time this spring at our Blue Ridge Mountains vacation cabins. Ride your bike, take a hike, or paddle the New River. Bring the whole family, or plan a romantic retreat. Either way, you’ll be happy you did.
Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival
March 12th, 2010April 15, 2010, kicks-off of the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival. The “Uncork the Festival” opening night party is just the first of many fun events that will involve great foods and outstanding wines. The festival takes place in and around Blowing Rock, about an hour southwest of our Blue Ridge Mountains lodging.
Hope to see you at the 2010 Wine and Food Festival
Friday, April 16th, will be a day full of wine tastings, wine seminars and cooking classes. Learn about pairing wine with spicy foods, chocolate and cheese. Learn the basics with Wine Tasting 101, or delve into Bordeaux wines. All seminars and classes are relaxed, with the hope that they will be as enjoyable as they are educational.
Taste wines from North Carolina, the greater region and the whole world at the Grand Wine Tasting on Saturday, April 17th. You may also watch the Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge on Saturday and Sunday, as chefs take the stage and do battle with their finest creations. Taste what they make, and you can help decide who’ll be the victor.
They’ll be live music throughout the event, and art shows. Blowing Rock takes on a festive air for this festival, so it is a fun time to browse the shops and explore the town.
Close to 20 wineries are expected to participate. This is a great opportunity to sample a wide variety of regional wines all in one place. You’ll probably want to pick up several bottles to bring back to your Blue Ridge cabins, where you can enjoy them at your leisure.
Art in West Jefferson
March 2nd, 2010West Jefferson is a charming town just 20 minutes northeast of our cabins Blue Ridge Parkway. A trip to the R.T. Morgan Art Gallery is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
Sculpture by R.T. Morgan
The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 am to 5 pm. R.T. Morgan has devoted most of his life to the creation of one and two dimensional art. Camille Morgan is a glass artist who stretches the boundaries of what can be done with glass. Their gallery is full of their own work and that of artists from around the country, some of whom are internationally recognized.
Visit the R.T. Morgan Art Gallery in the heart of downtown West Jefferson, where you’ll find several good restaurants and many nice shops. It makes a great outing from our NC vacation cabins.