Get to Know the High Country

Watauga Lake

Watauga Lake, the third-cleanest lake in America, beckons water enthusiasts to Tennessee, just 45 minutes from Boone. Once there, you can enjoy a powerboat ride, picnic or just spend a few relaxing hours by water's edge.

In an area known for whitewater rafting, Watauga Lake allows visitors to slow down and enjoy the stunning scenery of the Cherokee National Forest and Appalachian Mountains of Northeastern Tennessee.

Created in 1942 by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Watauga Lake is located east of Elizabethton and southwest of Mountain City and sports the 3rd largest TVA built or manmade dam in the world.

There, visitors can canoe, swim, fish or ride a sailboat. Not all lake activities are slow-paced, though. You can also water ski or skim the waves in a Jet Ski.

My favorite activity is hiking around the Appalachian Trail at the lake. It is just breath-takingly beautiful.

In addition to spending lots of time in Butler TN., Tom and I spend lots of time in South Carolina. We have been vacationing in the Charleston area for 22 years and love coming back. We plan on wintering on South Carolina in the future.

This photo and more information is available at the Lakeshore Resort website.

Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge mountain range and a globally recognized nature preserve. Stand head and shoulders above the surrounding region, be struck with awe by 360-degree views of mountain ridge after mountain ridge retreating to the horizon, and discover sanctuary for the human spirit.

More photos and information are available at the Official Website.

Appalachian State University

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northwestern North Carolina, Appalachian State University has built a national reputation for providing outstanding academics. With a student/faculty ratio of 17:1, faculty members are able to take a personal interest in student progress, often becoming mentors, advisers, and friends - even tennis partners. That can only happen in a close-knit community.

Nestled at the base of Howard Knob, the university is located in downtown Boone, NC (year-round pop. 15,000), a small town which thrives as one of the Southeast's premier tourism and outdoor recreation destinations. The nearby Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest provide a beautiful natural setting with unlimited possibilities for outdoor adventure.

Explore the campus and see more photos at the ASU website.