Here is a list of activiites, restaurants, etc that I send to people who rent from me. The Biltmore House is the huge Vanderbilt mansion worth spending a day and worth the drive. I have the web site listed below along with other activities. There are several whitewater rivers in the area and we chose the Nolichucky which is the most challenging. They have some milder rivers if you are taking the little ones, but for the adults I recommend the Nolichucky. This area is great and a place i like to spend at least a week vsiting each year. In the summer and labor day it is much cooler than most places so check the weather forecast and bring some light jackets (avg high 75, avg low 57).
Tom
Blue Ridge Village is rustic and I love this resort and area. The 2 bed room units are very large. There is an indoor pool, tennis courts,9 hole putt putt course, free trout fishing lake with free paddle boats,grills, jaccuzzi, and several good organized hikes at the resort.
Do the Linville Falls hike for sure
http://images.google.com/images?q=l...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=5&ved=0CCkQsAQwBA
and go all the way to the end because the second falls are much bigger than the first.
Go to Blowing Rock and Banner Elk for some really great food.
Boone has the Danile Boone Inn and is home to Appalachian State University, many other restaurants, and the local Wal Mart.
I love the Louisianna Purchase restaurant which is very close to the resort.
http://www.bannerelkdining.com/arealinks.htm
Bella's is in ashopping center. Don't let the location fool you. This is great food and will give any place in Banner Elk a run for their money.
http://bellasnc.net/
Sorrento's Banner Elk. This is most people's favorite restaurant in Banner Elk. It is very good
http://sorrentosbistrohome.com/
Artisanal in Banner Elk. Probably the best in Banner Elk, even better than Sorrento's
http://www.artisanalnc.com/
Knights on Main Street in Blowing Rock is great and much more reasonable
http://www.knightsonmainrestaurant.com/
Storie Street Grille in Blowing rock is wonderful too
http://www.storiestreetgrille.com/
Here is a site that lists some of the area restaurants
http://www.highcountrydining.com/
Also Boone is the biggest town in the area and worth visiting.
This is a list of some of the fun things I have done in the area:
Here are some local activities not including hikes to waterfalls, hikes to sliding rocks,whitewater rafting, rock climbing, rapelling, and other outdoor activities like golf and mountain biking.
Hawks Nest is about 5 miles from the resort and they have the longest zip line course on the east coast.
http://www.hawksnest-resort.com/defaultzipline.php
Sugar mountain has chair lift rides on Saturdays and Sundays almost directly across from the resort. You can sightsee or bring a bike and ride up on the chair lift and back down on mountain bike trails. I think you can rent mountain bikes in the area too.
http://www.skisugar.com/liftrides/
This is Grandfather mountain's web site. You must go to Grandfather mountain whether you are with kids or without. The mile high swinging bridge is great for all. There is a hike from the parking lot to numerous peaks that is strenuous but fun. You climb ladders and cables to get to the top. A small but nice zoo is included.
www.grandfather.com/
There is a small theme park in Blowing Rock called Tweetsie Railroad if you have kids.
http://www.tweetsie.com/
This is the Biltmore house web site which is about 2 hours away
www.biltmore.com/
One of many whitewater rafting, caving, and mountain climbing outfitters. Their office is 1 mile from the resort. We went rafting on the nolichucky which is the most challenging with the most rapids, but they have less challenging rivers.
http://www.highmountainexpeditions.com/
Lake Lure is beautiful and about 30 minutes away. This is a site for tours or Boat rentals.
http://www.lakelure.com/rentals.php
Mast General store in Valles Cruscis has been in operation since the late 1800's. Buy candy out of barrels and take it to the register where they charge you by weight just like the good old days. Get some lye soap, see things you didn't know you could even buy anymore.
http://www.maststoreonline.com/destinations_nchc.cfm
The Blue Ridge Parkway has many scenic overlooks and trails to waterfalls etc. It is beautifull and free.
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/
Gem mining in Blowing Rock about 20 minutes from the resort.
http://www.blowingrock.com/members.l...egoriesid=3527
I love the food at daniel Boone Inn in Boone about 20 miles from the room. Southern Family style meals served in bowls on the table with refills included. Biscuits and ham are specialty. Here are some awards:
The restaurant placed third in Southern Living in the reader's choice awards for country cooking restaurants. We also won first place among readers of Our State Magazine for Family Dining/Country Cooking and third place under Best Restaurant in North Carolina.
http://www.danlbooneinn.com/
There are a lot more things to do in the area, but this is more than you can do in a week. Let me know if you have any questions
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Thanks for your response.