Linville Falls, Pappy's, Art in the Park and more

The family spent a wonderfully-relaxing weekend at Our Mountain Place -- even though we had a few touch-ups and chores to do for the place. Still, we found ample time for fun stuff after marking the must-do things off our list on Friday night. That left plenty of time for the "want-tos."

On Friday, we went on a little hike around Seven Devils -- something we hadn't done before. We checked out some new roads, some new homes and even saw the resort and lake. We even saw some chipmunks!

We then went into Blowing Rock where we saw some great Art in the Park -- right before the rain got us. We managed to buy a terrific aluminum photo print from Jerald Winter. (Ironically, the print we got was for Our Beach Place. Go here and see if you can see it. It's photo 12 of 20.)

We left Art in the Park and did some shopping before heading over to Pappy's in Banner Elk for dinner. It was awesome. Charity and I both got pulled pork platters, with Texas toast. I got the beans (some of the best beans I've ever had) and fries. She got sweet potato fries and corn. The girls even loved it -- there's a bit waterwheel in the back to watch!

Sunday we got up and headed to Linville Falls (hopefully photos to come) to do some hiking. We were actually there for several hours which, with a 2- and 4-year-old, we were quite impressed. Linville Falls is as pretty as ever, and the weather was great. Once again, we got out just before some rain.

Anyway, we once again made a video to show some of the additions to the house, which we have dubbed "Honey Bear House." You can view it in the video below. Warning: the video quality is not great. And neither is the narrator. So sue me.

You could never get bored

Here's a nice look at some upcoming events to the High Country. Don't miss out on these awesome happenings! Horse shows, concerts, art ... the area has it all!

We plan to personally make it to Blowing Rock's Art in the Park at some point, and Grandfather Mountain is always a winner!

LOTS going on in the coming months

Our good friends at Blowing Rock Investment Properties (hey, Denice!) sent us this link that highlights the wealth of great activities coming up in the High Country.

Among the events are the Rhododendron Ramble at Grandfather Mountain (May 30-June 12), MerleFest (April 28-May 1), Blowing Rock's Art in the Park (ongoing), the Banner Elk Herb Festival and much more.

How could one ever get bored?

Talk about proximity to EVERYTHING!

The town of Seven Devils is the ultimate escape. It may not have tons of "attractions" in the town limits proper, but that's OK. (It does boast Hawksnest snow tubing/zipline.) We have found it to be a fantastic place to just get away from it all.

But, boy, does it boast great proximity. I came across this listing of attractions "in" Seven Devils. While the aforementioned Hawksnest gets the nod as the "only" one in the town, there's no doubt that there are plenty of things to do nearby.

In short, you'll never bored up there. Unless you want to be. And that's OK too.

Here ya go:

Attractions near Seven Devils

Mountain Glen Golf Club Newland, North Carolina Mountains. 3 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Activities: Golfing Sugar Mountain Resort Banner Elk, North Carolina Mountains. 3 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Ski/ Snowboard Areas Activities: Skiing Ranked #4 in Banner Elk, NC High Mountain Expeditions Banner Elk, North Carolina Mountains. 3 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Tours Ranked #2 in Banner Elk, NC Banner Elk Stables Banner Elk, North Carolina Mountains. 3 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Horseback Riding Stables Activities: Horseback riding Ranked #3 in Banner Elk, NC Julian Price Park Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 3 miles southeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: State Parks Beech Mountain Beech Mountain, North Carolina Mountains. 4 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Ski/ Snowboard Areas Activities: Skiing Ranked #1 in Beech Mountain, NC The Greater Foscoe Mining Co. Foscoe, North Carolina. 4 miles east of Seven Devils Ranked #1 in Foscoe, NC Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 4 miles southeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Historic Sites; Equestrian Trails Activities: Horseback riding, Hiking Ranked #3 in Blowing Rock, NC Edge of the World Banner Elk, North Carolina Mountains. 4 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Tours Ranked #1 in Banner Elk, NC Grandfather Mountain Linville, North Carolina. 4 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Mountains; Nature/ Wildlife Areas; Natural History Museums Activities: Hiking, Picnicking, Leisure education Ranked #1 in Linville, NC Mast General Store Valle Crucis, North Carolina Mountains. 5 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Shops Activities: Shopping Ranked #1 in Valle Crucis, NC Alta Vista Gallery and B & B Valle Crucis, North Carolina Mountains. 5 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Art Galleries Dutch Creek Trails Valle Crucis, North Carolina Mountains. 5 miles north of Seven Devils Attraction type: Horseback Riding Stables Ranked #2 in Valle Crucis, NC Moses Cone Manor Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 5 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Historic Sites Activities: Hiking, Walking Ranked #6 in Boone, NC Yancey Ridge Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 6 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Biking Trails Activities: Biking Magic Mountain Mini Golf and Arcade Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 7 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Amusement/ Theme Parks Ranked #11 in Boone, NC Benson Hollow Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 8 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Biking Trails Activities: Biking Appalachian Resort Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 8 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Ski/ Snowboard Areas Activities: Skiing Ranked #8 in Blowing Rock, NC Christopher's Wine & Cheese Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 8 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Specialty Shops Ranked #6 in Blowing Rock, NC Scream Time Ziplines Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 8 miles north of Seven Devils Ranked #4 in Boone, NC The Blowing Rock Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 8 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Geologic Formations Ranked #9 in Blowing Rock, NC Wahoo's Adventures Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 8 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Tours Ranked #3 in Boone, NC River and Earth Adventures, Inc Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 8 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Educational Sites Ranked #1 in Boone, NC High Mountain Expeditions Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 9 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Tours Ranked #2 in Boone, NC Appalachian Ski Mountain Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 9 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Ski/ Snowboard Areas Ranked #7 in Blowing Rock, NC Mast General Store Old Boone Mercantile Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 9 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Specialty Shops Ranked #8 in Boone, NC Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 9 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Specialty Shops Ranked #7 in Boone, NC Horn in the West Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 9 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Theaters Ranked #5 in Boone, NC Grandfather Golf and Country Club Linville, North Carolina. 9 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Activities: Golfing Ranked #4 in Linville, NC Appalachian Cultural Museum Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 9 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Specialty Museums Ranked #9 in Boone, NC Mystery Hill Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 9 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Educational Sites; Mysterious Sites Ranked #4 in Blowing Rock, NC Doc's Rocks Gem Mine Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 9 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Mines Ranked #1 in Blowing Rock, NC Boone Golf Club Boone, North Carolina Mountains. 10 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Activities: Golfing Ranked #10 in Boone, NC Bolick Family Pottery Lenoir, North Carolina Mountains. 10 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Specialty Shops Christa's Country Corner Pineola, North Carolina. 11 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Shops Activities: Shopping Tanger Outlets Blowing Rock Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 11 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Factory Outlets Ranked #5 in Blowing Rock, NC Plumtree Canopy Tours Plumtree, North Carolina. 12 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Other Ranked #1 in Plumtree, NC Linville River Linville, North Carolina. 13 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Bodies of Water Linville Gorge Linville Falls, North Carolina. 14 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Canyons; Geologic Formations Ranked #1 in Linville Falls, NC Blue Ridge Country Club Linville Falls, North Carolina. 15 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Activities: Golfing Roan Mountain State Park Roan Mountain, Tennessee. 16 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: State Parks Ranked #1 in Roan Mountain, TN Wilson Creek Asheville, North Carolina Mountains. 18 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Bodies of Water Activities: Group tours/day tour, White-water rafting Ranked #36 in Asheville, NC Butler Museum Butler, Tennessee. 19 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Museums Ranked #1 in Butler, TN Museum of North Carolina Minerals Spruce Pine, North Carolina Mountains. 21 miles southwest of Seven Devils Activities: Leisure education Ranked #3 in Spruce Pine, NC Mountain Aire Golf Club West Jefferson, North Carolina Mountains. 22 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Activities: Golfing Penland School of Crafts Penland, North Carolina. 22 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Educational Sites Activities: Arts and crafts Ranked #1 in Penland, NC Gem Mountain Spruce Pine, North Carolina Mountains. 22 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Mines Ranked #1 in Spruce Pine, NC Tweetsie Railroad Blowing Rock, North Carolina Mountains. 23 miles southeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Amusement/ Theme Parks Ranked #2 in Blowing Rock, NC Hawksbill Mountain Trail Linville, North Carolina. 23 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Hiking Trails Activities: Hiking Table Rock Trail Linville, North Carolina. 23 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Hiking Trails Activities: Hiking Ranked #3 in Linville, NC

Linville Gorge Wilderness Area Linville, North Carolina. 23 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Geologic Formations Activities: Camping, Hiking, Viewing wildlife, Birdwatching Ranked #2 in Linville, NC Sitting Bear Trail Linville, North Carolina. 23 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Hiking Trails Activities: Hiking Appalachian Trail Damascus, Virginia. 24 miles north of Seven Devils Attraction type: Trails Activities: Hiking Ranked #3 in Damascus, VA Linville Golf Club Linville, North Carolina. 25 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Activities: Golfing Linville Falls Visitor Center Spruce Pine, North Carolina Mountains. 25 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Tourist/ Visitor Centers Ranked #2 in Spruce Pine, NC Ashe County Cheese Factory and Store West Jefferson, North Carolina Mountains. 25 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Factory Tours Ranked #1 in West Jefferson, NC Mount Mitchell Golf Club Burnsville, North Carolina Mountains. 25 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Ranked #2 in Burnsville, NC Emerald Village Little Switzerland, North Carolina. 26 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Mines Ranked #1 in Little Switzerland, NC Rhododendron Trail Jefferson, North Carolina Mountains. 27 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Hiking Trails Activities: Hiking Mount Jefferson State Natural Area Jefferson, North Carolina Mountains. 27 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Mountains; State Parks Activities: Hiking, Viewing wildlife, Viewing foliage Sycamore Shoals State Park Elizabethton, Tennessee. 28 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: State Parks Ranked #1 in Elizabethton, TN Quaker Meadows Golf Club Morganton, North Carolina Mountains. 28 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Activities: Golfing Ranked #2 in Morganton, NC Jefferson Landing Jefferson, North Carolina Mountains. 29 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses; Ghost Towns Activities: Golfing Ranked #1 in Jefferson, NC Bouncin' Kids Morganton, North Carolina Mountains. 29 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Game/ Entertainment Centers Ranked #1 in Morganton, NC Youngs Mountain Music Burnsville, North Carolina Mountains. 30 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Concerts; Performances Ranked #3 in Burnsville, NC Tipton-Haynes Historic Site Johnson City, Tennessee. 30 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Historic Sites South Holston Dam Bristol, Tennessee. 30 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Dams Mount Mitchell Burnsville, North Carolina Mountains. 31 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Mountains Activities: Hiking, Picnicking Ranked #1 in Burnsville, NC Summit Trail Burnsville, North Carolina Mountains. 31 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Hiking Trails Activities: Hiking, Viewing foliage Backbone Rock Shady Valley, Tennessee. 32 miles north of Seven Devils Attraction type: Geologic Formations; Hiking Trails Ranked #1 in Shady Valley, TN Backbone Rock Waterfall Shady Valley, Tennessee. 32 miles north of Seven Devils Attraction type: Waterfalls Ranked #2 in Shady Valley, TN Silver Creek Plantation Morganton, North Carolina Mountains. 32 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Activities: Golfing Hands On! Regional Museum Johnson City, Tennessee. 32 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Children's Museums Ranked #1 in Johnson City, TN Historic Carson House Marion, North Carolina Mountains. 33 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Historic Sites Sundog Outfitter Damascus, Virginia. 33 miles north of Seven Devils Ranked #4 in Damascus, VA Freedom Hall Civic Center Johnson City, Tennessee. 33 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Civic Centers Ranked #2 in Johnson City, TN Adventure Damascus Damascus, Virginia. 34 miles north of Seven Devils Attraction type: Specialty Shops Ranked #2 in Damascus, VA Rocky Mount Museum Piney Flats, Tennessee. 34 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Historic Sites Ranked #1 in Piney Flats, TN USA Raft Erwin, Tennessee. 35 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Other Ranked #1 in Erwin, TN Cherokee Adventures Erwin, Tennessee. 35 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Bodies of Water; Tours Ranked #2 in Erwin, TN Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee. 35 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Race Car Tracks Ranked #1 in Bristol, TN Richard Petty Driving Experience Bristol, Tennessee. 35 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Amusement/ Theme Parks Deal Orchards Taylorsville, North Carolina. 36 miles east of Seven Devils Attraction type: Farms Ranked #1 in Taylorsville, NC Nolichucky River Erwin, Tennessee. 36 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Bodies of Water Activities: White-water rafting Downtown State Street Bristol, Virginia. 37 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Historic Sites; Landmarks/ Points of Interest Appalachian Caverns Tours Blountville, Tennessee. 37 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Caverns/ Caves Grayson Highlands State Park Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. 37 miles northeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: State Parks Activities: Hiking Ranked #1 in Mouth of Wilson, VA Tri Cities Golf Club Blountville, Tennessee. 37 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Golf Courses Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Bristol, Virginia. 38 miles northwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Specialty Museums Ranked #1 in Bristol, VA National Storytelling Festival Jonesborough, Tennessee. 39 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Educational Sites Ranked #1 in Jonesborough, TN Signature Spas of Hickory Inc. Hickory, North Carolina. 39 miles southeast of Seven Devils Attraction type: Spas Ranked #3 in Hickory, NC Catawba Science Center Hickory, North Carolina. 39 miles southeast of Seven Devils Ranked #1 in Hickory, NC Virginia Creeper Trail Damascus, Virginia. 40 miles north of Seven Devils Attraction type: Biking Trails; Trails Activities: Biking Ranked #1 in Damascus, VA Barter Theatre Abingdon, Virginia. 40 miles north of Seven Devils Attraction type: Theaters Ranked #1 in Abingdon, VA Old Fort Monument Old Fort, North Carolina Mountains. 40 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Monuments/ Statues Linville Caverns Marion, North Carolina Mountains. 40 miles south of Seven Devils Attraction type: Caverns/ Caves Ranked #1 in Marion, NC Grant's Indian Museum Old Fort, North Carolina Mountains. 40 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Museums Wolf Laurel Ski Area Mars Hill, North Carolina. 41 miles west of Seven Devils Attraction type: Ski/ Snowboard Areas Ranked #2 in Mars Hill, NC Old Fort Railroad Museum Old Fort, North Carolina Mountains. 41 miles southwest of Seven Devils Attraction type: Museums