Down a Carolina Road

DOWN A CAROLINA ROAD WE GO . . .

November 18, 2012

North Carolina is a beautiful state.    The best part of living in this state is the luxury of being able to travel our interstates, back roads, bridges, dirt roads or even a sandy dune to a wonderful vacation in our state’s backyard.    You do not have to leave this great state to have a vacation that will give your family memories for a lifetime.   

If you like the coast, river, lake, mountains and creeks . . . we have it all.  From high end luxury accommodations in our blue ridge mountains to the most remote villages of the outer banks you can have an affordable, comfortable and unique vacation.  Save the gas money and air fare ticket funds for a splurge on your accommodations or for that four wheeler rental or even rent a boat!   

Many accommodations that are for rent by owners will provide canoes, pontoon boats and four wheelers with just an additional fee on your rental.  Some of them stock fishing rods, canoes and paddle boats included with the rate of your rental.  While you can always choose to stay at a “name brand” hotel, why not choose a one of a kind family owned vacation home and help out the independent businesses in our great state.  Most of these owners may only use their properties a few times a year and the rest of the year that share them with folks like you and me.  It helps them earn some income and you have a memorable vacation in a unique way.   You will also find here many realty rental companies that offer personable communication and can be contacted by phone and speak to a real person! 

My website and blog will grow to include all things North Carolina . . . Browse the categories and take advantage of all the research I have done for the “perfect” vacation homes.  Check out the hidden secrets our state has to offer you!  Learn about a tradition, custom, craft, cooking and so much more that North Carolina has to offer.  Enjoy the ride down a Carolina road!  

Travel “Down a Carolina Road”

In this version of “Down a Carolina Road” we head to the hills . . .

Mountains of North Carolina

Close your eyes and dream of rolling hills, winding roads, creeks and rivers and lakes!  Oh My!  Now, stop dreaming and start planning.  These are just a few ideas of places to visit in those hills.  Anytime of the year the mountains of North Carolina are truly four season vacation destinations. 

Boone Area/Valle Crucis

http://www.rentourcabins.com/DragginFly/DragginFlyN29.JPG

Anderson Mtn Rentals . . . ask for “Bob from Wilson NC”  a.k.a. Bob Anderson

828-262-0043

Just ask “Bob from Wilson, NC”  a.k.a. Bob Anderson at Anderson Mtn Rentals . . . try not to book my weekend folks!   Rightly named “Draggin Fly” for the incredible Watauga River front cabin . . . a fast flowing river over beautiful rocks in your backyard just steps away!  Enjoy the fire pit by the river; swing on the covered porch, light a fire in the wood burning fireplace.   The best part of this cabin other than riverfront is the master bedroom with a sliding door to the porch, two dens so large families can spread out and a foosball table for fun when the sun goes down.  Three bedrooms and two bathrooms.  I have talked with several fly fishing companies that will send out an instructor to show you how to really enjoy “Draggin Fly”.  This cabin is near to Boone and Valle Crucis you are within minutes of great shopping, restaurants and day trips to other mountain parks and attractions. Also – only about $770.00 for three nights!  You can’t put everyone in motel rooms at that price and they will only have the view of a parking lot!   This one is one of my favorites for family fun, lots of room and location!   Tell them you read about here at “Down a Carolina Road!”

Burnsville, NC     
    “A little slice of Heaven Cabin”

Don’t let the name fool you – Burnsville is heaven in the mountains for sure!  This cabin makes it even sweeter!  Three bedrooms, 2 baths, pool table, great fire pit and riverfront – oh my!  Three bedrooms, two bathrooms. The Cabin is close to several local attractions, including Mt Mitchell National Park (the highest elevation on the eastern seaboard), gem mining, horseback riding, Natural Hot Springs, Smokey Mountain Train Rides, and white water rafting.

Only 175.00 per night!  Or $995.00 per week – this is a bargain folks!  The homeowners communicated well with me through email and returning phone calls and that in itself is worth a lot! Be sure and tell them you read about here at “Down a Carolina Road”

  

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p136485

Telephone:

+1 561 339-0442   Alternate Phone: +1 561 818-6985

Murphy NC – most western tip of North Carolina Mountains

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/reviews/page:3/p399638

Rushing Creek Retreat

Your backyard for your vacation!                                              Inside looks just as nice!

Murphy NC . . . always heard the saying “From Murphy to Manteo”  well this is the far western tip of our beautiful North Carolina Mountains.   I personally spoke with “Doc from Birmingham Alabama” about this wonderful home.  You will find that I find a code name for most of the home owners – it helps me to remember which house belongs to whom.  He is a very kind gentleman and returned phone calls and was great in communicating.   This house is great for a slow and easy kind of vacation that includes relaxation and lots of fishing or just watching that creek!  They even have equipment at the house for you to use for fishing!   Best part – this 1600 square foot, 3bedroom home is only $125.00 per night!  $700.00 for a week!  WOW – what a bargain – no city lights, but something better . . . creek, telescope provided to view the stars, fishing equipment and steps that lead to fishing in your backyard – what more could you ask for!

Be sure and tell “Doc from Birmingham Alabama” you read it here at “Down a Carolina Road!”

Burnsville, NC

SHALOM at Cattail Creek

http://www.vrbo.com/429158

All rooms are creek side, and downstairs have floor-to-ceiling windows which offer expansive views of the creek. There are many vistas from which to enjoy the creek including a private overlook, with views of a waterfall. Above the house is a private picnic area with a stone grill, picnic table, and fire ring.  The home is very comfortable and beautifully decorated with indigenous art and furnishings.  This property is beautiful!  Contact the owner through her vrbo.com 429158 email.  She responds very quickly and is easy to communicate with as well.

 Tell her you read about it here at “Down a Carolina Road!”

Coming Soon . . .

Mountain Homes with Incredible Views

A sunrise coming up over the mountains, a sunset to end the day with glorious colors over panoramic views of mountains as far as the eye can see.    Could not be any sweeter than to be in North Carolina and see for miles all the glory of those hills on top of the world.  The drive may be on a curvy road but the memory goes straight to the heart. 

(Look for this in my next blog update)

Waterfall Mountain Home

Trap Hill, NC

http://www.vrbo.com/237914

(757) 647-4704

I love this cabin . . . look at the incredible waterfall – just click the link or copy and paste to your browser.  Unfortunately the owner has the pictures locked on their vrbo.com website and I am unable to drag them into this profile.  But seriously – you want to look!  2 bedrooms, 1 bath – so it is not for a big crowd of folks.  A wood burning fireplace, Covered front porch, and did I mention there is an incredible 90 foot waterfall in your backyard!  Oh my!  The rate is sweet - $149.00 per night!  Be sure and tell them you read about here on “Down a Carolina Road!”

Ski at Sugar Mountain

 http://www.sugarmountainlodging.com/hemlocknob-condo-f35.html

Hemlock Nob condo has 3 bedrooms with a loft and 2 baths. Rooms are spacious, well decorated and reflect the taste and style of the owner. These rental condos are ideal for the ski vacation or summer vacation on Sugar Mountain in Banner Elk, North Carolina.  You are at the bottom of the slopes near the ski lodge so you can walk right over – no worries about parking or driving back and forth on the mountain!  How cool is that? Around $225.00 per night and will sleep about eight people – but the loft (basically a 4^th bedroom) has small beds – so those two might need to rest the kiddies in them. . . but if you are really tired from your day on the slopes you might not mind any kind of bed at all! Give them a call at 800-858-9663 and of course be sure and tell them you read it

 Here at . . . “Down a Carolina Road”

Ski at Sugar Mountain http://www.staysugarmountain.com/details.php?mode=search&table=rental&id=211&back=1&Start=0#listingTop

800-438-4555 staysugarmountain.com

 By the way going to the mountains in the winter makes me think of snuggling up with a warm quilt!  Thinking quilt + mountains and I think of Tweetsie Railroad and Bryson City Great Smoky Mountain Train Ride!  So I decided to make a "Rail" Quilt!  You can do this too!  If you can measure, cut a straight line, sew a straight line you can do it too . . . check out the steps . . .

RAIL QUILT

First you will cut 240 2 1/5 x 2 1/5 blocks from six different fabrics . . . then you will cut 160 2 1/5 x 6 1/2 strips of the same fabric.  You can use a pre-cut jelly roll to do this quilt but I selected approximately two yards of six different fabrics.  I use a cutting mat and ruler and rotary cutter . . . look at the pictures below and you will see the green mat.

Begin by sewing two of the small block together, then sew one more = three small blocks

Now you will begin to use the larger 2 1/2 x 6 1/2 strips . . . see . . . now do it again on the other side.  You now have one square!  You just need 80 more like this to complete the lap quilt!  Next steps . . . you see that I check the squares and make sure they are . . . well square!  Sometimes you have to trim off the excess if you did not get the measuring just right when you cut the fabric.  As you can see in the last photo above I press them and check for a perfect square because you will sew eight blocks together and the measuring has to be precise to get nice even rows.   By the way, the cutting map you see - the green background can be purchased at any fabric store - you will also want the measuring guide that you see laying on top of the fabric and a rotary cutter.  One more picture below will show you how to stitch each square together - I use the pressure foot on my machine as my guide for seams for this quilt.  See how I use the outside of the pressure foot for the seam guide - simple thing to do!

Now . . . I begin to put all the squares together . . . but remember you have already pressed each square and checked them to be the same measure - if you did it right they will be 6 1/4 measurement each way - horizontally and vertically - it really helps if you use the cutting mat - the green one shown above to check this measurement each way.   Now . . . squares being put together . . . .

Be sure to alternate the pattern when you begin to sew them together and again you will use the same seam measurement guide - your pressure foot on your sewing machine!  Then sew another one . . . and another one until you have eight sewed in one row . . . see

Now you will sew 10 rows of eight blocks in a row!  Then you will sew all ten rows together and your quilt top is done!  In a few days I will show you the finished quilt top and how to make the finished product.  It really is easy.  I am looking at these two rows shown in the picture above and realize I have made a mistake in alternating my block - oops,  will have to take that apart and correct the order of blocks.   If you have questions, post them and I will try to help you along the way in making this quilt.  I love sewing and hope that you can also try this project for yourself!  Keep watching - I can tell you this quilt is adorable!  

Coming Soon . . .

Mountain Homes with Incredible Views

A sunrise coming up over the mountains, a sunset to end the day with glorious colors over panoramic views of mountains as far as the eye can see.    Could not be any sweeter than to be in North Carolina and see for miles all the glory of those hills on top of the world.  The drive may be on a curvy road but the memory goes straight to the heart. 

(Look for this in my next blog update)

Outer Banks of North Carolina

Watch the horses run the beachfront, climb a lighthouse, see why we are called “first in flight”.   Check out the Elizabeth and see how the true sailors ruled the water.   Deep sea fishing is in your water front yard. 

Crystal Coast Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Salter Path, Pine Knoll Shores

Slow and easy does it!  What happens when you cross the bridge is a state of mind that you leave behind and claim the “island state of mind”. 

Southern Coast Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and more

The bottom of the state but the cream that rises to the top for beach lovers! 

Also very soon . . . let's make some homemade jelly and jam!  How about homemade salsa?   Yes those mountain folks know how to can some food for the winter . . . let's do it together!  Thanks for reading . . . God Bless you and yours!