This beautiful State Park is located on TN Hwy 143 at the base of the majestic 6,285 Roan Mountain.

Roan Mountain State Park encompasses more than 2,000 acres dominated by rich hardwood forest along rugged ridges. The cool, clear Doe River winds its way through the center of the park and supports a healthy population of trout. Wildflowers and wildlife inhabit the hollows andridges of the Roan foothills in abundance.

There are 30 comfortable and well maintained cabins, as well as RV and tent camping at the 107-site campgrounds. Each cabin has a front porch with rocking chairs, fully outfitted kitchen, full bath, wood burning stove and gas/electric heat. Each campsite has a grill and picnic table and is located near a bathhouse with hot showers.

Visitors can hike along the creeks and ridges, tour the century-old Miller Farmstead or enjoy cross-country skiing in the winter months. There are approximately 12 miles of hiking trails and 2.25 miles of mountain bike trails. Difficulty levels range from easy to strenuous.

Fishing is a popular activity in the park. The Doe River is cool enough year-round to be home to three species of trout. Native brook trout, as well as rainbow and brown trout, are stocked regularly.

The Friends of Roan Mountain have compiled species checklists of flora and fauna found in the park. To view checklists for amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles, please visit www.friendsofroanmtn.org/Species/species.htm.

The park is located in Carter County and was designated a state park in 1959.

These notes were taken from the State Park's Website.

There’s no question that staging your décor is advantageous when you’re trying to sell your home.

The strategic editing and placement of your furnishings can be enormously important to boosting its appeal. In a recent NAR survey, in fact, 77 percent of buyers’ agents agreed staging is important to helping potential buyers envision a given home as their own. Fortunately, conducting your own staging need not be complex; you should be able to mimic professional techniques by following a few easy guidelines:

• Prioritize by room. The NAR reports you’ll get the most visual impact by staging your living room, master bedrooms, kitchen and extra bedrooms(s), in that order.
• De-clutter. Cleaning will be easier after you pack away at least 90 percent of your own décor and personal artifacts. Your goal is to create a minimally-decorated space buyers can imagine moving in to.
• Deep clean. Everything must be groomed, sparkling and odor-free inside and out.
• Divide and conquer. Plan to remove about half your furniture to give the impression of optimal space. If it’s all unpresentable, use stylish rental pieces or fake “pop-up furniture” for showings. Tip: Wherever possible, move display furniture away from walls (a technique known as “floating”) to create groupings that are tied together visually with area rugs.
• Accessorize inside and out. Create an atmosphere of airiness, friendliness, and cheer by selectively adding new flowers, potted plants, attractive seating and welcome mats outside, perhaps fresh flowers and bowls of fruit inside.
• Optimize light. Add brighter light bulbs, pull back curtains, clean windows and clean (or perhaps update) light fixtures to add to the overall impression of positivity.

Are you up all night after being up all day? You’re not alone. You may have tried counting sheep, but have you thought about changing your environment? These simple changes may improve your quality of sleep and help you recharge for the next day.

Block out light: Sunrises are beautiful, but that early morning sunlight can wake you up before your alarm does. Choose thick, dark curtains so your bedroom can remain in optimal sleeping conditions until you’re ready to rise and shine.

Keep noise to a minimum: While you can’t always control sounds outside of your home, try to decrease the volume inside. A thick area rug may muffle noise. If someone in the family likes watching television late at night, consider buying cordless headphones.

Get rid of distractions: Ban electronics from your bedroom. This means TVs, computers, and cellphones should reside somewhere else. Buy an alarm clock and switch to traditional books. Technology stimulates the brain, making it more difficult to relax when it’s time to sleep.

Avoid blue light: Blue light, such as the light from electronics and fluorescent lighting, has been known to disrupt your circadian rhythms — another reason why cell phones shouldn’t be in your room. Eliminate blue light even further by replacing your lights with warm, yellow colored lights.

Find storage elsewhere: Experts say a bed should be elevated so that the space underneath it is available for air circulation. So if sleeping better is your goal, don’t use under-the-bed storage. Find a different spot to stash stuff.

Stick to cool paint colors: Cooler shades such as blue, green, purple, and grey, are known to reduce heart rates and slow respiration. Because of their physically calming capabilities, they may be the best choice of color to choose for your bedroom.

Pick a perfect pillow: Believe it or not, pillows are not “one size fits all.” Your sleep position should determine your pillow firmness. Are you allergic to something in your current pillow? Consider a hypoallergenic one. Spend some time researching the right pillow for you.

Buy your dog a bed: Your dog may be your best friend, but that doesn’t mean you two have to share everything. Give your buddy his own bed so he’s comfortable even when he’s not in yours. You might find that having your own space improves your sleep.

Keep your cool: Having just a little bit of air circulating through the room at night may improve air quality (and sleep). Open a window or use a fan or air conditioner.

Embrace Feng Shui: Bringing Feng Shui into your home may bring calmness and serenity, both of which may help you relax into a deep sleep.

Start with some of these tips today and you may catch more zzz’s with ease.

Does your family have a long weekend getaway coming up? Visiting the High Country? Did this article blog convince you to visit the High Country? If you answered yes to any of the questions, exploreboone.com has a day-by-day guide for what to see while you are visiting. This gives you the chance to take advantage of everything the High Country has to offer from amusement parks, hiking, outdoor adventures, and more. They even provide an interactive map to pinpoint all of the fun places your family will be traveling. 

Day One: "Get the lay of the land" 

Day one is all about getting to know the High Country. Get familiar with the Blue Ridge Parkway as you will visit places like Cone House Manor, Price Lake Overlook, Linn Cove Viaduct, and more. Lunch will take you to Grandfather Mountain where you will enjoy a picnic lunch at the Grandfather Mountain Picnic Area and test your bravery on the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge! After a day full of exploration, you will head back to Boone to enjoy dinner and get a chance to check out Horn in the West, an outdoor theater full of exciting historical insight. 

Day Two: "On track for fun"

Day two is pure amusement, as you will spend most of the day at the High Country's one and only family fun park, Tweetsie Railroad. Tweetsie has been the High Country's choice for family fun for almost 60 years. Tweetsie Railroad has many attractions including a carousel, Ferris Wheel, Turnpike Cruisers, and their famous trains! The train will take its passengers on an exciting 3-mile ride with many adventures on the way. Don't miss an amazing time at this family fun park! In the evening, don't forget to check out Horn in the West (if you didn't before), or if you're a history buff, check out exploreboone.com's History Travels and Tours page for more insight into the High Country's Past.

Day Three: "Outdoor adventures"

Day three means exactly what it says: Outdoor Adventures! The day starts with the opportunity to "raft, paddle, or go with the flow." During this day, you can find places to canoe, kayak, or to go whitewater rafting. Go to Price Lake at Boone Fork Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and rent a rowboat, canoe, or kayak and paddle the calm, scenic lake! Fishing is permitted, so bring those fishing poles and tackle boxes. Like to bike? The entire family will love the Boone Greenway. It has miles of paved paths and even more challenging trails for the experts! End the day with a zip line tour! Soar above it all and have the time of your life!

For a more detailed list of things to do on your long family weekend, click on this link!

Mystery Hill: a must see attraction! At Mystery Hill, the forces of gravity are unlike any other. Defy gravity by watching a ball roll uphill or experience water flowing up instead of down! This attraction is open 7 days a week, year-round, in any type of weather! Come check out insane optical illusions and natural phenomena! This fascinating tour includes the mystery house where guests stand at a 45-degree angle, the puzzle room, and "bubble-rama!" The Mystery House is a place where the laws of gravity don't apply. This part of a tour is a must see and will leave you and your friends/family stunned! "Dating back 50 years, Mystery Hill is a nostalgic High Country attraction that families flock to for its unusual appeal."

Want to have some fun this weekend? Need something to do on April 13th? Grandfather Mountain is offering a "Beginner-Novice Guided Hike" for those who may be new to hiking. Join Ranger Sicard for an easier 1.5-mile hike to learn how to become a better, and more confident, hiker! Topics of conversation during the hike will be "basic items you should have with you during any hike," "how to dress appropriately," and "clothing and apparel for specific conditions." Fortunately, this opportunity is appropriate for ALL AGES, however, no pets will be allowed on this hike. For more information about the hike, times, and location, please visit https://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/events-and-programs/beginner-novice-guided-hike-0.

Open the windows. Come out of hibernation. Spring is just around the corner! Rejoice by getting your home in shape for spring.

1. Inspect air conditioning units: Hire a professional to install or examine your air conditioner. Clean the filters and replace them as needed because dirty filters make the system work harder, increasing energy costs. 
2. Change the doormats: Doormats collect a lot of dirt. By the end of winter, your doormat has seen better days. Buy a new doormat to reduce the amount of dirt and grime that is carried into your home. 
3. Prep the outdoor areas: Dreaming of lounging by the pool, playing soccer, or dining al fresco? Get your outdoor space ready. Take out the patio furniture, power wash your deck, and plan your gardening. 
4. Inspect the roof: After a rough winter of holding heavy snow and ice, your roof may be in need of some TLC. Take a pair of binoculars and inspect your roof from the ground level. Check to see if there are any leaks, broken shingles, or other damages. If you spot something, hire a professional to come repair it.
5. Repair broken walkways: Snow takes a heavy toll on the ground around your home. The snow and sleet may have caused cracks in your driveways, walkways, and sidewalks. To make sure that the perimeter of your home is safe, check for cracks and fix any problems. 

These tips can make your home safer and help you get ready for spring!

Grandfather Mountain: "The High Country's Premier Natural Attraction Entertains, Informs, And Inspires!

Grandfather Mountain is a MUST SEE ATTRACTION for anyone visiting the area. Its views are breathtaking and you will never be disappointed! Grandfather Mountain is open all year long (weather permitting) with multiple things to do while you visit. Enjoy the Mile High Swinging Bridge, various trails to walk and hike, the Nature Museum, and even multiple wildlife habitats. 

"A spectacular drive takes visitors to the newly wheelchair-accessible Mile High Swinging Bridge, thousands of feet above the Carolina Piedmont. You'll marvel at 360-degree views of mountain ridge after mountain ridge retreating to the distant horizon. Surveys show that the journey to the other side is always the highlight of a trip to Grandfather Mountain."

Visit https://grandfather.com/ and http://www.exploreboone.com/things-to-do/grandfather-mountain/ for more information on ticket prices, visiting hours, and more information on this beautiful sight!

New to the area? Visiting for the day? Have you lived here all your life but are still looking for new things to do? Well, here is a compiled list of some of the greatest attractions in the High Country for every visitor, resident, and everyone in between. 

1. Blue Ridge Parkway
2. Grandfather Mountain
3. High Gravity Adventures
4. Horn In The West
5. Linville Caverns 
6. Mast General Store
7. Mystery Hill
8. Ski Resorts of the High Country
9. State Parks of the High Country
10. The Blowing Rock
11. The Boone Area Wine Trail
12. Tweetsie Railroad
13. Zipline Adventures

Visit http://www.exploreboone.com/things-to-do/attractions/ for more information!

This Friday, April 5th, Appalachian State University presents "The World of Musicals." The cost is $25 and this wonderful musical experience begins at 7:00 in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. You can purchase tickets online at http://theschaefercenter.org/events/id/7/ or to read more about this wonderful event!

"The World of Musicals brings the very best of musical theatre to life. This captivating production is an emotional journey through the great world of musicals that will leave audiences spell-bound and singing along with their favorite show tunes from the movies and musicals they love."