Bear Ridge Mall , Murphy, Cherokee county

The last place I visited was the Bear Ridge Mall, the Murphy area’'s largest indoor flea market. They offer antiques, many different collectibles, and much more. The on-site RV park has 20 campsites with full hook-up, water, sewer and cable. The Mall is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 8am to 4pm.

Appalachian State University football team ring ceremony, Boone, Watauga County

In Boone, I went to the 3-time 1-AA National Championship Football Team ring cermony at Appalachian State. My brother (who happens to be on the team) gave me a tour of the campus before the ceremony began.



App. State Library, http://www.library.arizona.edu/conferences/ltf/2006/images/ASU-Library-large.jpg,
4/19/08


Touchdown Yosef, http://collegerule.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/yosef_asu_boone_lg.jpg, 4/19/08


ASU seal, http://access.unc.edu/images/seals/asu_seal.gif, 4/19/08


Appalachian State Sign, http://www.wsoctv.com/2008/0303/15478572_240X180.jpg, 4/19/08

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Picture taken By Evonne Jurius on March 29, 2008

Mystery Hill, Boone, Watauga county

Mystery Hill, home of the Hall of Mystery and the Mystery House, is the only place where a ball rolls uphill, water flows uphill, and you can stand at a 45 degree angle without falling down! You can even put a bubble around yourself (unless you’re a 280-pound lineman, that didn’t exactly work for Josh…). Prices:

Adults (13-59)………………………$8.00
Children (5-12)……………………..$6.00
Seniors (60 and over)……………..$7.00
Children (4 and under)…………….Free

Mystery Hill Logo, http://grandfathervistas.net/images/gal_MysteryHillLogo.jpg, 4/19/08

Price Lake, Banner Elk, Avery County

Price lake, situated just off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a National Park in which you can camp, hike, or swim. With the beautiful views, the amazing fishing, and the awesome campgrounds, this is a great family getaway.

Price Lake, http://www.kodey.com/boxster/images/brbs_2002/price_lake.jpg, 4/19/08

Hawksnest ski resort, Seven Devils, Avery County

At Hawksnest, you can ski, snowboard, and tube on any of the 12 slopes, with three beginners slopes, six intermediate slopes, two difficult slopes and one expert slope, you will spendmore time skiing and less time in line. If skiing, tubing, or boarding just aren’t your things, you can sit back and relax at the expansive lodge, with the huge fireplace near the Nest Lounge, the restaurant. Prices:

Adults………………..350.00

Juniors/students……325.00

Seven Devils Spring, http://www.findrentals.com/php/22785/kellys001.JPG, 4/19/08

The Blowing Rock, Blowing Rock, Watauga county

The blowing rock, named for the rocky walls of the gorge that form a flume through which the northwest wind sweeps, making light objects (such as snow) blow back up to the top of the rock. The Legend of the Blowing Rock (copied from www.blowingrock.com/legend.html):

It is said that a Chickasaw chieftan, fearful of a white man’s admiration for his lovely daughter, journeyed far from the plains to bring her to The Blowing Rock and the care of a squaw mother. One day the maiden, daydreaming on the craggy cliff, spied a Cherokee brave wandering in the wilderness far below and playfully shot an arrow in his direction. The flirtation worked because soon he appeared before her wigwam, courted her with songs of his land and they became lovers, wandering the pathless woodlands and along the crystal streams.

One day a strange reddening of the sky brought the brave and the maiden to The Blowing Rock. To him it was a sign of trouble commanding his return to his tribe in the plains. With the maiden’s entreaties not to leave her, the brave, torn by conflict of duty and heart, leaped from The Rock into the wilderness far below. The grief-stricken maiden prayed daily to the Great Spirit until one evening with a reddening sky, a gust of wind blew her lover back onto The Rock and into her arms. From that day a perpetual wind has blown up onto The Rock from the valley below. For people of other days, at least, this was explanation enough for The Blowing Rock’s mysterious winds causing even the snow to fall upside down.

Blowing Rock, http://www.westernncattractions.com/images/blowing1.jpg, 4/18/08

Prices are:

Adults…………………$6.00

Children (4-11)...…….$1.00

Senior Citizens (60+).$5.00

Linville Caverns, Marion, McDowell county

The natural limestone caverns in Marion, North Carolina are the only caverns in the state. The underground streams, which are home to native trout, feed into the ‘bottomless pit’, the extremely deep pool. The temperature is constantly at 52°F, so bring a jacket. Prices are:

Adults ............................................$6.00
Children ages 5-12 ......................$4.00
Seniors ages 62+ ..........................$4.50

Both Linville Caverns Limestone Pics, www.tripadvisor.com, 4/19/08