Asheville, NC, skyline
With the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, the town of Asheville has morphed into more than just a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. This small mountain town, known as the “Paris of the South,” is a hotspot for farm-to-table restaurants, lively music, arts and crafts, upscale shopping and a wide variety of seasonal festivals.
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Beech Mountain Resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC
Are you psyched for the Winter Olympics? Want to try out some of those half-pipe tricks or finesse your figure skating jumps?
We’re lucky in North Carolina–we have both a beautiful coastline with sandy beaches and gorgeous sunsets, but also stunning mountains with waterfalls, autumn leaves and snow, providing lots of opportunity for all types of sports.
Check out my article for Allegiant’s in-flight magazine, Sunseeker, to read about Beech Mountain Ski Resort, a fantastic winter resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains where you can ski, snowboard, go snow tubing, ice skating and sledding. Then after a day on the slopes enjoy some craft beer and great food at one of the few breweries owned and operated by a ski area.
Hendersonville, NC, a small town near Asheville in the North Carolina mountains, will celebrate its inaugural Apple Country Cider Jam Saturday, April 22, which showcases eight hard cideries, two producers of nonalcoholic cider, two local wineries and music by the band Balsam Range, winner of 10 awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Henderson County is at the epicenter of NC’s burgeoning cider industry. The county produces 85 percent of the state’s apples and leads the way in hard cider production as well.
“We have world-class cider produced right here, and it all starts with our great apples,” says Mark Williams, executive director of Agribusiness Henderson County and event organizer. “The Cider Jam kicks off the whole season of apple production. It coincides with the apples in full bloom and promotes a product that can be enjoyed year-round.”
Festival cideries must be based in North Carolina and use apples sourced within the state. The eight hard cideries are: Bold Rock Hard Cider in Mills River; Bull City Ciderworks in Lexington and Durham; Crimson Ridge in Mills River; Flat Rock Ciderworks in Hendersonville; GoodRoad CiderWorks in Charlotte; Noble Cider in Asheville; The 1898 Waverly Inn in Hendersonville; and Wallace Ciders from St. Paul Mountain Vineyards in Hendersonville.
Local producers Apple Wedge Packers & Cider and McConnell Farms will provide fresh, nonalcoholic cider varieties, while Burntshirt Vineyards of Hendersonville, will serve apple wine.
The Apple Country Cider Jam runs from 1-6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include tastings, souvenir cup and live music. Non-alcohol tickets are $10. Food will be available from local food trucks and downtown restaurants.
For info or to purchase tickets, visit www.CiderJamNC.com. For lodging and details about Hendersonville, go to www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.com or call (800) 828-4244.
(Photo by Sam Dean)
A Thriving Hard Cider Industry Exists in North Carolina
Bold Rock Hard Cider Tasting Room in River Mills, NC
While Asheville, N.C., is famous for its craft beers, an area just 30 minutes south is making a name for itself in the hard cider industry. The Hendersonville area, long known for its orchards, is the largest apple-producing county in North Carolina and the seventh largest in the nation, thus making it a natural home for an emerging hard cider business. (continue this article which appeared in Allegiant’s in-flight May-July 2016 Sunseeker magazine by clicking on: cheers-hendersonville-style.
TAKE AN “ARTISTIC SAFARI” ALONG THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER
Spend a day exploring an iconic community of 200 artists set in an urban scene of old factories and historical buildings along the French Broad River. The River Arts District (known simply as RAD) is open year-round and provides a unique opportunity to experience art as it’s being made. Visitors can watch artists weave a scarf, fire pottery, turn a wood bowl, or produce avant-garde blown glass pieces. (Appears in Allegiant Air’s in-flight magazine, Sunseeker. To read entire article click on subtitle.)
Costumes worn by actors Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant in “Sense and Sensibility”
In celebration of Biltmore’s long history as a location for weddings and romantic getaways, the estate is hosting a new costume exhibition highlighting love stories from iconic films. Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film will showcase wedding dresses and attire from major motion pictures spanning centuries of design. Continue reading
Hidden in the mountains of western North Carolina, Asheville is famous for its scenic views, local artists and culinary creations. Its newest claim to fame is being named “Beer City, USA” by Examiner.com four years running. With more breweries per capita than any other city in the country, Asheville has become the craft-brewing center of the Southeast.
Read entire story here: BeerCity copy 2
Posted in Asheville, Food and Wine, North Carolina
Tagged Asheville NC, beer, Beer City USA, breweries, Craft beers, pub tours, pubs
