Christmas in Waynesville

If you have ever spent time in North Carolina, you may have heard the tagline "Got to Be NC."  Here in the North Carolina, the moderately temperate climate and the range from warm coastlines to cool mountain ranges means we can grow just about anything. And in December in the mountains, that means Christmas Trees.  Not just any Christmas tree, but the Fraser Fir.  There are no shortage of Christmas tree farms to choose from, but we went to  Mehaffey Tree Farm in Waynesville to pick ours.

Most tree farms in this area are "full service" meaning that you select the tree, but the farm will usually cut it down and bring it back to your car for you, although if you really want to saw it down yourself, you can do that, too.  Some farms will even let you dig your tree so you can take it home to plant!

Although there was no snow on the ground, it was hard to miss it when we surrounded by such breath taking views.

Once we had our tree taken care of, it was time to explore downtown Waynesville.  Although the winter is typically a slow time for mountain towns, Waynesville puts on some great activities for Christmas.  In addition to the monthly "Art after Dark" event, Waynesville puts on a great Christmas parade featuring local businesses, schools, churches, and charities as well as local fire departments and police stations and, of course, Santa.  The town and the businesses along Main Street also do a fantastic job of decorating, making even a simple stroll downtown a festive event.

Downtown Waynesville also puts together an evening even called "A Night before Christmas."  Featuring a horse drawn wagon, wandering carolers, dozens of luminaries lining Main Street, a live nativity scene, and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Clause.

The horse drawn wagon takes passengers up and down Main Street during "A Night before Christmas"

One of the churches puts on an incredible live nativity scene - sample foods from biblical times, learn how to basket weave and see live demonstrations of pottery, wood working, and candle making.  Just stay away from the Romans.

Dozens of luminaries line Main Street

Main Street is closed to traffic, turning downtown Waynesville into a street fair

Groups of carolers make their way up Main Street

A concert held during "A Night before Christmas"

And, of course, never forget the true meaning of the holiday season - peace, love, and beer.

We anticipate reopening the Red Leaf River Inn in the Spring of 2015 and hope you will follow along as we renovate and restore this beautiful property in Waynesville, NC.  Find us on Facebook and Google+, follow us on Twitter @RedLeafRiverInn, or visit us at our website.

Gatlinburg, TN

Located a scenic hour and a half drive from Waynesville, Gatlinburg, TN is one of two small Tennessee towns that make up the "Myrtle Beach of the mountains." While nearby Pigeon Forge's claim to fame mainly stems from Dollywood and a carnival like collection of arcades and go kart tracks that line the main street, Gatlinburg is the more grownup getaway.                                                                                  Like Pigeon Forge, the attractions at Gatlinburg are anchored by one franchise - in this case, Ripley's Believe It or Not.  The small town contains several Ripley's attractions, one of the best being a large aquarium featuring a shark tank, underwater tunnel, sting ray touch tank and a kid's section with small tanks and an activity center.  Other activities include numerous  mini golf courses, a ski lift that operates year round for those that wish to see Gatlinburg from above, and moonshine breweries on every corner.                                                                                           Public parking is both hard to find and expensive, but fortunately nearly everything in Gatlinburg is within walking distance and for those few attractions that are not, there is an extensive trolley system that runs from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge.  

Strolling around Gatlinburg, you will notice two things immediately (well, besides the moonshine).  One is a love of all things bears - carved bears grace benches, store fronts, stream beds, or just hang out on the sidewalk.  The other is an eclectic mix of architecture.  Although Gatlinburg is in Tennessee, some of the buildings look as though they would be more at home in Austria.  

  

Gatlinburg is also dominated by the Pigeon River which runs through the town.  Outdoor sports such as white water rafting are popular during the summer and nearly every hotel in town features river front balconies.

Although River Road may seem one of the most crowded and commercial spots in the Smoky Mountains with its abundance of arcades, haunted houses and souvenir shops, Gatlinburg also borders the Smoky Mountain National Park.  Even downtown Gatlinburg is prone to black bear sightings (real bears, that is, not just the carved ones).

So whether your pleasure is bar hopping downtown, playing round of mini golf with the family, or simply relaxing to the sound of the river, Gatlinburg has something for everyone.  Even the bears.

We anticipate reopening the Red Leaf River Inn in the Spring of 2015 and hope you will follow along as we renovate and restore this beautiful property in Waynesville, NC.  Find us on Facebook and Google+, follow us on Twitter @RedLeafRiverInn, or visit us at our website.

WNC Nature Center

The WNC Nature Center is tucked away in the heart of Asheville, NC.  Just minutes from the Asheville Mall and Tunnel Road, a main thoroughfare in Asheville, the Nature Center is a unique sort of zoo.  The 40 acre park is run by the City of Asheville's Parks and Recreation, and, while it is accredited by the Association of Zoo's and Aquariums, you won't find the typical zoo animals here.  Instead, you will be immersed in a little slice of native Appalachia.  

The Nature Center features a small petting zoo with goats and sheep for the kids, and long walk ways through exhibits featuring the natives of Appalachia such as black bears, red tailed hawks, and cougars as well as engangered species such as the red wolf.   Interspersed with the exhibits are fun treats for the kids, such as the otter slide next to the otter exhibit where kids can slide just like the otters do or the giant rope climbing web in the arachnid exhibit.  

There are also picnic areas within the park and guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks in.  Most of the park is accessed through wide wood boardwalks and paved roads, although you can also take a short hike down the Trillium Trail.   Just 3/4 of a mile long, the Trillium Trail is a great way to experience the native flora of Appalachia.

At just $8 for adults and $4 for children, the WNC Nature preserve is a great way to spend a day or just a few hours exploring the wilder side of WNC.  

Waterfall over the turtle exhibit

Sleeping Bobcat

Raised walkway between the black bear exhibit
and the white tailed deer exhibit

We anticipate reopening the Red Leaf River Inn in the Spring of 2015 and hope you will follow along as we renovate and restore this beautiful property in Waynesville, NC.  Find us on Facebook and Google+, follow us on Twitter @RedLeafRiverInn, or visit us at our website.

KidSenses Children's Museum

About an hour and a half from our little town of Waynesville, NC, there is another small town called Rutherfordton.  Centerally located between Charlotte, Asheville, Hickory and Spartanburg/Greenville, this small town is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and makes a great stopping point for families driving their way across WNC.    '

The Alphabet Trail is just
for kids 4 and under with slides
and games just right for the
little ones.

Kids can push soft scarves and
balls into this vacuum only to have
them shoot out back into the room

Unique jungle gym that
 kids can use to
climb between floors.

One of the best attractions in the small town is KidSenses Children's Museum.  Right on Main Street, the museum is the perfect distraction for small kids tired of the car.  At just $5 a person, even a quick visit is worth the admission price.  Kids of all ages can visit twelve different exhibits within the museum.  We took the boys, Alexander (4 years) and Nikolas (2 years) out to see the museum.  The giant red fire truck in the window won them over before we even got into the musuem.  Once inside, it was hard to decide what they loved best - playing in the science power exhibit, making a meal at the Pueblito cafe, grocery shopping at the Little Family Dollar, or even getting to be inside a giant bubble! There is quiet space inside the Alphabet Trail for reading books and the boys even got to make a Cat in the Hat craft before they left.  

The giant red fire truck
 comes complete with fire
hats and boots to dress up in

Kids can "cook" or wait
tables at their own
kid-sized cantina

The bubble exhibit lets you be inside a giant
bubble - so easy even a 4 year old could do it!

So the next time you find yourself faced with the prospect of driving your family across WNC, consider making everyone's day a little brighter with a stop at the KidSenses Children's Museum in Rutherfordton, NC.

And, don't forget the milk, okay?

We anticipate reopening the Red Leaf River Inn in the Spring of 2015 and hope you will follow along as we renovate and restore this beautiful property in Waynesville, NC.  Find us on Facebook and Google+, follow us on Twitter @RedLeafRiverInn, or visit us at our website.