There are a couple of festivals in Banner Elk and Valle Crusis the weekend of Oct 17-18 if you will be there at that time. The Wooly Worm festival (www.woolyworm.com) is all about racing fuzzy worms up strings, and the Valle Country Fair (http://www.vallecountryfair.org/) is all about crafts.If you want to do both in the same day there is a back way to go from Valle Crusis to Banner Elk without going back out to the main highway... ask a local and they will be able to help.

katzn,

I did see the fair would be on during my visit. Is is super crowded? Are the crafts within the artistic range? I was wondering if this would be something to avoid and go during the week, or not to miss?

Dayle, "Simplicity Mast" sent an update on Facebook this morning about a cake baker in Asheville and the article was from this magazine -

http://www.vervemag.com/septemberoct...-of-cakes.html

It may be a good source of "going-ons" in the area while you are there. If you are on FB, make Simplicity Mast a friend to read a variety of articles/suggestions of things to see and do while you are there.

Dayle,
It can get quite crowded the weekend of the Wooly Worm Festival, but it's nothing unmanageable. You don't mention exactly where you are staying, but if you are in Boone you are actually quite a ways from either fair. It's an easy drive but highway 105 which goes from Boone to Banner Elk can get backed up. Pretty much only two lane roads, that is why I mentioned the back way from Valle Crusis to Banner Elk. I was there this weekend and checked and the road you take is highway 194. Restaurants can be pretty busy too.
There are a variety of vendors at the fairs ranging from homemade to quite artistic. It really is an enjoyable way to spend an autumn day.
You mentioned fog... I was in Boone Friday afternoon and you could watch the fog as it rolled in and blanketed the whole town, so yes fog is a definite possiblity.

Thanks again katzn and starrs for the extra advice and suggestions! The mountain home is actually a few miles north of Boone. In the middle of nowhere!

I will probably be doing quite a bit of driving to the small towns. I'll probably just do whatever I feel like each day depending on weather. It's my vacation and I'm going to balance between sightseeing and driving (which is relaxing to me) and hiking and biking. Only thing set is an overnight to Asheville.

Our fall colors here in Park City are at their peak right now and it's absolutely gorgeous. Record breaking warm weather today and Wednesday it's going to snow - big time! Goodbye pretty flowers.....

The colors haven't started yet, but in mid-Oct you may hit the jackpot. Here's what I'd do if I were spending a week in the area -

First day after your arrival - Drive from Boone to Banner Elk via Valle Crucis. Stop in VC at the Mast General Store. Slow down as you pass the Mast Farm Inn to just look.
Wander the shops of Banner Elk and glance at menus to decide on your return trip.

On a bright, sunshiney day - Plan to visit Grandfather Mountain and drive for a while on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Make sure it includes the viaduct section. Stop and take a stroll or a hike on a trail.
http://www.grandfather.com/

On another day - drive up to Mt Airy to look around. If you are lucky, you can coax cmcfong to join you at the Slappy Lunch. If not, take a tour in a squad car and stroll the shops and commune with the folks from Mayberry.
http://www.thesnappylunch.com/index....&id=6&Itemid=6

http://www.tourmayberry.com/

I didn't know about the zipline in the area, but inspired by NeoPatrick's adventure I'd give it a try
http://www.visitmayberry.com/12brCar...nopy_Tour.aspx


On two of your days - to and from Asheville (previously discussed)

Linville Caverns is small but you may enjoy it - http://www.linvillecaverns.com/

Folks, what's the historic diner on the left as you drive north from Marion to Boone? Stop there and eat.

You may enjoy stopping at Lake Lure - the site of most of the scenes in Dirty Dancing. Rent a pontoon boat if you can and enjoy the fall color from a mountain lake
http://www.rutherfordtourism.com/pla...isit/index.php

starrs,

Great suggestions! Some I was planning on, but I didn't know there was a zip line. Here I have a bunch right in our mountains and haven't done one yet. I've been waiting to talk visiting friends to go with!

I'm really looking forward to the scenery. It's so different from what I'm used to.

Now I'm watching the weather reports and trying to decide what to pack. I'm thinking a variety of tees and lightweight sweaters, a fleece and a rain jacket. Wondering if I should bring my favorite pair of Mephisto sandals or if I need to stick with real shoes for fall back there? Still debating on hiking boots vs. tennis shoes...

Well, I never go anywhere without my Mephisto sandals. They would be a "must" in my suitcase.

tennis shoes vs hiking boots - depends on how much hiking you plan to do and how far. If you don't have a pair of the cross between the two, now's the time to buy them. If you have lightweight hiking boots, bring those.

We (further south) just got the first chilly morning of the year. You may end up with 80 degree days so a few Ts should do you. The layers you plan to bring will be perfect.

You are going to be there during the very best time of year. Enjoy! :-)

Dayle,

You asked about the Grove Park Inn - yes, it is in Asheville. We stayed there a few years ago and arrived quite late and had dinner at the hotel and went straight to bed. Awoke the next morning to a drop-dead view of the mountains!

As far as visiting the Biltmore mansion is concerned, it was certainly worth it. Having been to the Vanderbilt's summer home in Newport, RI (The Breakers), we thought that nothing could possibly top the Breakers, but the Biltmore did, in a very BIG way!!!

We also enjoyed the wine tasting at the Biltmore and spent a good amount of time browsing through the fantastic galleries and shops in Asheville that sold 'real' art. The jewelry was to die for!!!

We went to Gem Mountain and 'panned' for precious rocks - my teens loved that. They got to take home their finds and my daughter and I had a ruby and an amethyst cut, polished, and set as pendants - souvenirs that we would always treasure.

Enjoy your visit - it's the best time to see Asheville!!!

Really getting excited. I always enjoy discovering somewhere new. Yes, this home exchange has been planned for over a year. The NC homeowners came to my house in March to ski and I picked the fall colors time for my visit.

Grazie!

The best weather forecast for the Boone area is produced by local:

http://www.booneweather.com/Forecast/Boone

I'd be very surprised if you saw the 80s in Boone in mid-Oct.

Yes, Brian. I agree. I've been looking at the weather.com forecasts and it looks like I'm going to have some rain. I hate rain since I'm from a desert climate.....

Any suggestions for things to do on rainy days in the NC mountains? I am taking a raincoat and umbrella....

Dayle, it was very warm here (Pinnacle) today, but is expected to be cooler tomorrow. So far very little color in our leaves.