The first snows of the season have fallen on Grandfather Mountain

On November 27, West Jefferson will host its second annual Hometown Christmas with the lighting of the Ashe County tree. The word on the street is that Santa will come into town on an antique fire engine, and there will be cider and singing for all. Please read the previous blog post, dated Nov. 9, to learn more about West Jefferson.

Not far from our Blue Ridge Mountains cabins there’ll be an annual Christmas Show at Boone Mall November 27-29. You’ll find art from around the country – maybe you’ll find the perfect gift for a friend.

A scenic drive to Sparta on Saturday Nov. 28 will reward you with the annual Christmas parade down Main Street, starting at 2pm. This is a great excuse to check out the delightfully quaint town of Sparta. Or head to the Sparta Fairgrounds on Dec. 5 for the Christmas Craft Fair.

Finally, drive about an hour southwest of the cabins to historic Valle Crucis for their Fireside Tour on December 6, 2009 (1pm – 6pm). This is a self-guided tour that will lead you down country roads to restaurants, gift shops, art galleries and churches. Once you arrive at a stop on the tour, you’ll be invited to sit by a roaring fire and enjoy a warm drink and a tasty tidbit or two. This is great incentive to stop at a shop you might otherwise have missed.