The Blowing Rock

        Saturday morning we ventured to The Blowing Rock, named after a Chickasaw legend of love and honor, which had breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and was strewn with purple and yellow wildflowers.  Spending the day surrounded by natural beauty decorated in brilliant golden hues in the crisp mountain air was the perfect way relax and take a moment to embrace the grandeur of the season.

2012 Place 4 : Blowing Rock, NC

           This weekend Lindley and I decided to have a girls weekend, celebrating the fall season and a little time away from Greensboro!  It was a timely opportunity to go to my 4th Place of the year! (( For new readers,  I made a new year's resolution in 2010 to travel to five places I'd never been before, and I've kept that resolution for the past three years.  To read about the other places I've been you can start here. ))
          For Place Four of 2012, I choose Blowing Rock, NC.  Only two hours away from Greensboro, the drive was full of amazing scenery and beautiful trees!  When we arrived, we checked in and headed  straight downtown, which was conveniently within walking distance.  We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and buying all things apple: apple cider, carmel apples, and fresh apples of all different varieties.  My favorite was the Turley Windsap, the pastel lime and pink colored apples had a sweeter taste and were crisper than Lindley's favorite the Pink Lady.   With corn husk decorations and  baskets of pumpkins along the sidewalk, the streets of Blowing Rock, while quaint, were bursting with life and people enjoying the beautiful weather and the freshest time of year! It was the perfect escape for a girls weekend!

Posts on Day Two Next.

Grandfather Mountain Adventure

4th Place, 2011

Grandfather Mountain, NC

          The most amazing views of the trip came at the end of the day after we crossed the mile high swinging bridge.  The mountains, full of lustrous colors, simply breathed warmth. The hills were full of Mountain Ash berries and thousand year old rock gardens. 

(remember to click to enlarge)

Surrounding Areas

           Everyday we ate at the Banner Elk Cafe, which was also joined with the Lodge.  At this cute place with wooden table and outdoor music on Saturday night, they gave you two menus to select from with everything from seafood to creamy pasta.  I would advise anyone to try their chili and cornbread.  A cup is only $3 and is the perfect snack or meal to soothe the soul.
           Our trip was made cozy by the Best Western, Banner Elk Mountain Lodge, which is highly recommend.  Feather beds, pet friendly for an affordable price at the peak tourist season.  Evergreens was a small bar and restaurant that was located in the hotel, which had cheap drinks and eat and kept our bellies warm on a cold night after venturing all day.
          On my next trip to the North Carolina mountains I want to pick apples at the 102 year old orchard of Altapass and hike to the Chimney Rock waterfalls, but you can only do so much in three days.  'Til the next place...

Banner Elk Winery

Banner Elk Winery

Banner Elk Winery Website

          On the first day of our trip to the Blue Ridge we thought it'd be nice to visit a small, quiet winery.  Located in a valley, the scene was breathtaking, glowing with an orange and gold light from the surrounding trees.  I had never been to a winery or even a wine tasting since I've turned 21 over a year ago, so it was an opportunity to learn a lot about the process of winemaking as well as the different kinds of wine.  Such as, that one of the differences in red and white wines is that white wine grapes are pressed and only the juices goes through the fermentation process, and red wine grapes are fermented with the pulps, skins, and juice, giving it the common deep red color.  I was also intrigued with the fact that different types of oak or wood make the wine taste differently, so they put different varieties in either American Oak or French Oak depending on how they want the end result to taste.

          After a short tour, we had a wine tasting of six different kinds, 2 reds, 2 whites, and 1 rose.  My favorite was the Banner Elk White, a sweeter, lighter wine as perfect for the cool afternoon, however Ioan preferred the Banner Elk Red.  

Wine Tasting List

(from the winery itself)

2008 Seyval Blanc

          Our Seyval Blanc is a crisp white wine with delicate undertones of citrus and melon.  Seyval Blanc is a French hybrid varietal known for its resistance to the cold.  The Seyval Blanc is a great summer wine to enjoy on the porch, and pairs well with seafood, cheeses, and entrees such as roasted duck and veal. 

Banner Elk White

         The Banner Elk White is a softer white wine composed of Seyval Blanc, Traminette and Viogner.  Complex flavors of citrus, honey, apricot and orange make this wine an exceptional delight when paired with spicy foods, grilled salmon, and a mild cheese.

High Country Rose

          This unique wine is single varietal Rose made from the Stuebun grape.  Unique for being a dry Rose, this wine is characterized by flavors of cranberry, strawberry with a green apple tart finish.  Our Rose pairs well with cheese, pesto-and-garlic based pasta dishes, as well as roasted chicken and barbecue.

Banner Elk Red

          The Banner Elk Red is a winemaker's blend of Petite Syrah, Marechal Foch and Cabernet Franc. Smooth and light-bodied, this wine displays earthy tones with a peppery, oak finish.  This wine will couple well with steak, fresh pasta marinara or braised lamb.

Marechal Foch

          Our Marechal Foch is made from 100% Marechal Foch grapes, a luscious French American hybrid with soft tannins coupled with blackberry and cherry undertones.  This Foch has a smooth velvety finish and is an excellent match with creamy cheese, red bases pastas and cheesecake.

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

          A gold medal winner in the North Carolina State Fair for the past 2 years, this full-bodied, well-structured Cabernet Sauvignon displays a balance of dark fruit and mature tannins with a very bold finish.  Being a traditional Cabernet, this wine will pair well with prime rib, roasted duck, lamb and artisan cheeses.