Blowing Rock and Grandfather Winery NC

Al drove us (Kathi, Marlon & Me)  to Blowing Rock Town and together we toured the town.  Lots of shops and places to eat.  After all the walking we have been doing its time to enjoy some lunch together.  Decided on stopping at the Six Pence PUb.  GREAT fish and chips, I had the pimento cheese sandwich and some Buffalo chicken soup.  OH my goodness this place has great food and atmosphere.

 

After we ate Al treated us to some ice cream.  Wow, this has been such a wonderful day filled with sunshine and friends.  We got the ice cream at a candy store that was filled with all that old-timey candy we used to get as kids.  Memories

 Next stop was Grandfather Mountain Winery......The first to produce wine in Watauga County. The scenery is beautiful no matter what direction you look. 

 Steve and Sally Tatum are the owners of the vineyard.  They purchased the property in 2000.  Steve toyed with the idea of planting Christmas Trees which is a popular endeavor in the area.  But, a love of wine led him to plant grape vines.

This property is located at an elevation of 3,300 feet overlooking the profile of Grandfather Mountain and nestled on a 58 "slope. They had the challenge of planting on a slope including the elevation. This property allows them to produce a high quality of wines.

 Loved hanging out on the front porch of the winery and listening to some bluegrass music.

The Watauga River flows through the property.  A nice seating area beside the river makes the setting spectacular.  A glass of wine and friends what else could be better?  

 Inside the winery, they were doing wine tastings and some people were just shopping.

 

 The grapes on the vines are looking close to be harvested.

 

Moses Cone Manor Tour in NC

 Moses and Bertha Cone built their home nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The home was donated and all the property was donated to NC.  It is now known as Moses H Cone Memorial Park.  The park preserves the country estate of the Cones, who was a prosperous textile entrepreneur, conservationist, and a philanthropist of the Gilded Age.  The big white mansion has 23 rooms and 13,000 sq ft of living space.  The home was built in 1901. 
The mansion is named "FLAT TOP" manor because of the nearness to Flat Top Mountain, which Moses and Bertha also purchased.  It is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mansion is built in Blowing Rock just at 4,500 feet on the mountain.

 My good friend Kathi and I loved the views and learning about Moses Cone. 

  Sitting on the front porch rocking and gazing at God's beauty.  Thanks to the Cones for leaving this property so we can learn the history of this location.

 Every room had windows to view the blue ridge mountains. When Moses died, Bertha had her sisters Dr. Claribel and Miss Etta Cone come to stay with her.  The cone sisters stayed there during the summer and fall.

      The sisters loved art and purchased many paintings by Matisse and Picasso.
 The manor is now the home of the Parkway Craft Center which features crafts by hundreds of local artists.  Throughout the season there are demonstrations performed by some of the artists.  We are here and there is a pottery demonstration going on.  

Linville Falls Winery NC

Ended our first evening with a Wine tasting at Linville Winery

 We arrived at the winery, and wow what a view!!  Rolling hills of vineyards and a Christmas Tree Farm.  Surprised?  We were.  The story of the Christmas Tree Farm and winery are told in a thorough brochure available right when you walk in.  The story is amazing......  Jack Edge, aka Jack Wiseman, started a tree farm; went to California and learned wine.......  came back to NC and started a winery.

 We participated in a wine tasting.  I loved all their wines, whites and reds.  We did get a bottle of wine.

 After the wine tasting, we went outside to enjoy the view.  They do have music on the weekends which Kathi and Al have been to and said it was wonderful and they had a great evening.  The winery also has cheese and crackers to purchase while you sip your wine and listen to music. 

 Grapes are almost ready to harvest to make their wines.

 The most fabulous scenery......

  Hundreds of Christmas trees behind the barn to choose from.

 

Sugar Mountain Views

Lots of twists and turns as we drove up Sugar Mountain.  Al and Kathi's condo was At an elevation of 5, 140 ft.   Sugar Top is a gated community with 24-hour security.  Inside the lobby, there is a beautifully furnished lounge area where you can sit and enjoy the view of the surrounding Bue Ridge Mountains.  Kathi showed me the pool area, hot tub, exercise room, and a steam room.   

                       Sugar Mountain Resort

Here is a picture of where their condo is sitting.  On top of Sugar Mountain.....wow

The leaves are already starting to have some fall color on them.

  Beautiful view at night.....

Good Bye Sugar Mountain loved your beautiful sunrises and sunsets but disliked those twists and turns to get to the top of sugar mountain.

  The van is here to pick us at and take us down the mountain to reach our van.