Visiting Western North Carolina

North Carolina's western tip is dominated by the Great Smoky Mountains at the southern end of the Appalachians. Winter and mountains add up to make western North Carolina an excellent winter destination. Take your pick of resorts for skiing, snowboarding and tubing there are nine between Murphy in the south to Jefferson in the north.

The Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson is a hub for spring events and river enthusiasts. In March, The Duck and Run Race will debut. This is a biathlon featuring a duck race down the river followed by a five mile foot race along the Flint Ridge Trail. Bank of America sponsors the US Open Kayak Team Trials at the end of March. Enjoy the competition as top paddlers compete in kayak and canoe slalom competitions and more. Mountain Bikers head to the region in April for the Knob Scorcher Mt. Bike Race held at Tsali Recreation Area.

For a fun weekend, head up to The 13^th Annual French Broad River Festival the first weekend in May. This is a family festival complete with a river raft race, auctions and lots of music to celebrate the beautiful scenery and river. 2010 is the 75^th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway and events will be held throughout the year to honor the region and the parkway's construction.

NASCAR Trivia: Charlotte is a dynamic city with many offerings. There are a few cities with the nickname The Queen City, but only one called the NASCAR Valley and this is the Charlotte metro area. Charlotte is home for over 75% of NASCAR drivers and their teams. Dale Earnhardt Day is held at the end of April to honor the life and career of the NASCAR legend. Charlotte was selected as home for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The grand opening will be held in May 2010 and NASCAR fans will be able to experience personally and up close the thrills of NASCAR competition.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte is an outdoor recreation facility located on the banks of the Catawba River. The world's largest recirculating river, 14 miles of biking, hiking and running trails, and a comprehensive climbing center are all available in one spot. Trail runners will enjoy the first annual HardCORE 8K trail run in late February. Two of four of the River Bound Race Series will be held in March (5K) and May (10K) on the 14 miles of trails at the center.

Greensboro is birthplace of the civil right's sit-in movement. In honor of the 50^th anniversary of the initial sit-in, Greensboro is proud to host the grand opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in the original Woolworth building in downtown. The museum is centered around the original lunch counter where the original non violent protest occurred and includes 14 initial exhibits.

The Greensboro Children's Museum hosts the 2^nd Annual Running of the Green in May. The family fun run/race this year will kick off the grand opening of the Museum's Edible Schoolyard. Form a team with friends and family and support this outstanding addition to Greensboro. This is the first Edible Schoolyard at a Museum and will serve as a model for the nation. Promoting children's health and wellness, the schoolyard will present a full 'seed to table' experience, complete with gardens and kitchen facilities.

Basketball fans plan for the 2010 ACC Men's and Women's basketball Tournaments in March. The Men's tournament will follow the week after the Women's, both will be held at the Greensboro Coliseum. For a more unique athletic event the Triad Highland Games will be held at the end of April. This features a full day of Scottish events and activities including the Sheaf Toss, Stone of Strength, and Turning the Caber which are part of the Heavy Athletics. In addition there will be plenty of performances, food and demonstrations. Come early the catch the Whiskey Seminar.