Family is so friendly and they took our picture for us with the tree and even posted it on their FB…read morepage. Very very nice people and glad we found this place. Most other places in the area say they are open but when you drive 20 miles you find out they are closed. Will be back next year. Thanks for a nice memory. The only other thing we would like is some other varieties of tress but NC only seems to have the Fraser furs. IN CT we had a huge selection of varieties . LOve that we can bring our dog next year

The falls are pretty and peaceful. We walked to the bottom of the falls as well as a hike on the…read morehiking path to the swinging bridge.

I actually went 30 minutes out of my way to visit when I hiked South Mountains State Park and I…read morewasn't disappointed! A calm, beautiful spot for families, couples, and even a solo trek. There is a beautiful waterfall with a water area that you can swim in warmer months. An historic mill provides a nice flavor of previous times in the area. There are some trails in which you can walk around and enjoy the stream beauty. This is also great spot for a nice run. It is clean, well-maintained, and there are two really nice scenic overlooks. There are a few picnic areas.

We were running a bit early for our motel check-in in Morganton, so we decided to dive off…read moreInterstate 40, and see what the little town Valdese was all about. It is located in Burke County, less than 10 miles East of Morganton, and has a total population of less than 5,000. One of the largest Waldensian congregations in the United States founded the town in 1893. The town was settled by immigrants from the Cottian Alps in the Piedmont region of Italy. The small, historic downtown section could be a poster child for quaint - it is clean, loaded with charm (almost all the "store fronts" were decorated for Halloween, flowers, etc), a beautiful church with a side garden and fountain, the wonderful smell of freshly baked bread emanating from a family owned bakery on the hill, and a feeling of 1950's serenity was all around. We walked around the three or four blocks (both sides), sat on a bench in the sun, wandered into a retro '50s diner called Myra's, had a great soft serve ice cream cone, and one bite of a bad hot dog - good times x2!

Went to the Children's Park today October 25. Had a large group and was so disappointed that the…read morerestrooms were locked. Why would they be locked during nice weather? No one could enjoy the park under those circumstances. Why would a park be open if the bathrooms were locked. Unbelievable and no excuse for that. As a tax payer and resident of Valdese I am very disappointed. Valdese do a better job!!

We stayed at a campground outside Boone which is just a short drive to Banner Elk which we had…read moremapped out as a destination to further explore the area. Not knowing much about the area I had visions of large herds of wild elk roaming the mountainous areas in and around the town. Well that's not exactly what I found, actually there are no herds of wild elk there are some pretty impressive elk statues and according to some information I read there are (3) live elk who live in a local habitat, the three elk are all males and are known as "the bachelor herd" and can be seen at Grand Father Mountain I appreciate the effort at one time Elk did thrive in Banner Elk and other parts of the High Country, but have sense become sparse, Their numbers were decimated by over-hunting and loss of habitat in the 18th and 19th centuries, and they were eventually eradicated entirely from the region which is so unfortunate and sad. In the year 2001 the National Park Service began reintroducing elk into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and they've been thriving there ever since but you won't find them here. This charming little town incorporated in 1911 only takes moments to drive through, it sits at an approximate elevation of 3,701 feet and now is known for its Christmas Tree Farms as does much of the surrounding area. I met a few of the locals and I will say they were some of the friendliest folks you'll every meet and so proud of the town they call home...

When one considers the abominations that many mountain communities have become, Banner Elk stands…read more'heads' above its counterparts, on both sides of the state line. I fully understand the thought processes in place in the mid-century just past: Be a carnival, cash-in, flash equals cash! And tottering on extinction, many communities needed cash. The logging was done, the hi ways had been rerouted, and the rail-lines were shrinking. It was 'Do or Die'. Dress up in fake costumes, import cheap souvenirs, dress-up the old motor courts, and 'fleece' the tourists. Cherokee, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, etc are fine examples of that process, and will continue to be so, for once begun the path of cheap&tawdry cannot be undone. Some communities however, were so far off the 'beaten path' that the 'upgrades' taken by their sister towns were outta reach: Too poor to renovate, to broke to tear down! Banner Elk is a prime example of a community that decided to become attractive, in a controlled, classy fashion. Yes, there's gift shops, a B&B (or three), and due to the terrain, traffic funneled down their main street. During colour-season things CAN get a bit crowded. But there's tons of local, friendly people, as well. Where else, would I be kindly stopped during my afternoon wanderings with pup in tow, to be asked, "Canna help you find something?" Not once, twice, but four times over the course of an afternoon! And these were just regular folk pulling their vehicles over to the curb! If you're not into large, throngs of people, tons of neon, and (frankly) money-grubbers, give Banner Elk a few days of your vacation time. You too, will be singing the praises of the NC highlands and the friendly folk who reside there!

Downtown Morganton was a surprise. The biggest of all surprises and the highlight was the Catawba…read moreBrewing Company in an old warehouse downtown. Walking distance from restaurants, a neat old square complete with the typical memorial to the war of "northern aggression". Lots of shops around the square. Not a "destination" per se, but also "not not" a destination. There is a really great restaurant just around the corner from the Brewery. Churchill's. Upstairs is fine dining...downstairs a sports bar environment with live music.

The Johnny Bristol Mural is located on the side of Jones Drugs in Morganton, NC. The drug store's…read moredrive-thru lane is on the same wall, so I suggest paying close attention. I am thinking this is #29 or #30 of the North Carolina Musicians Trail Murals by Scott Nurkin. I haven't found an official list, so a lot of my discovery of these marvelous murals is by chance. So I may have found more of his murals than are officially on the trail. Scott Nurkin has been painting Musicians in their hometowns in North Carolina. So who was Johnny Bristol? He was born in Morganton, NC. He was a soul singer, songwriter and producer. But more importantly played a role in shaping the "Motown Sound." Before going to Motown, he sang Doo-Wop, jazz and gospel vocal harmonies in a youth group called The Red Jackets in Burke County, NC. One of Bristol's songs was dedicated to his hometown, titled Morganton, North Carolina. Bristol was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. His fingerprints are all over some of music's greatest hits. He produced Diana Ross and the Supremes' "Someday We'll Be Together" and even sang background harmony. He co-wrote and produced Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Your Precious Love". He also wrote and produced for Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jermaine Jackson, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. When he left Motown, he launched a successful solo career and scored several R&B hits, including "Do It to My Mind", "You and I", "Leave My World", "My Guy / My Girl" (recorded with disco star Amii Stewart), and "Man Up in the Sky". Whether you are a die-hard Motown fan or just passing through Burke County, this vibrant wall is a beautiful tribute to a local legend and a must-see stop in downtown Morganton.

The Ben Long Fresco is located inside the CoMMA Performing Arts Center lobby. You can visit when…read morethe box office is open. There is plenty of parking in the free lot. The title is "Sacred Dance & the Muses". It was completed in April 2004 and is 24 by 33 feet. It is the largest single-panel ceiling fresco in the United States. The fresco uses the nine figures of the Greek muses. This one celebrates theatre, music and comedy with dancing tying it all together. You won't miss the two theatrical masks that represent comedy and tragedy. Long used real-life residents of Morganton, family, friends and his dogs for models. Long paid tribute to his mentor Pietro Annigoni, whom he apprenticed with for eight years in Florence, Italy. He even has a self-portrait with him holding his paintbrushes. It is an absolute must-see stop on the North Carolina fresco trail!

The Etta Baker Memorial is on the CoMMA Performing Arts Campus in Morganton, NC. The bronze…read morememorial was dedicated in 2017 to the Piedmont blues guitarist and Morganton resident. The performing arts center has plenty of free parking, and the memorial is located to the left of the building. Thomas Jay Warren was the sculptor for the bronze monument. The bronze sculpture has Miss Etta sitting and strumming her guitar. As an added touch for the memorial, her rose bushes were planted around the monument. Etta Baker played the guitar for almost 90 years, leaving her mark on the folk revival in the 1960s and inspiring other artists like Bob Dylan and Taj Mahal. She was initially taught by her dad, Boone Reid. He started teaching her when she was 2. Since she was too small to hold the guitar, it was laid flat on a bed, and she was taught where to place her fingers. As she grew, he taught her about the intricacies of mountain music and the blues. Her signature style was the two-finger picking, using her thumb for the bassline and her index finger for the melody. In 1936, she moved to Morganton, and she raised nine children. While she performed less publicly to focus on her family and job at Skyline Textile Company, she played and practiced every day. She was discovered while on vacation at Cone Mansion in Blowing Rock. Her father asked other folk artists to listen to her play. The chance encounter led to her recordings. Her first record was recorded in 1956, and she was given a $1.25 contract. She wasn't properly compensated for decades for "Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians". In 1991, she received the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. She released albums later in life, including "One Dime Blues," and also collaborated with Taj Mahal. Etta kept touring and playing festivals into her 90's.