High Country Host: Plan your trip to the High Country BY MATTARAE STASKEL
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ith so many things to do in the area, planning a trip to the High Country can feel overwhelming. Luckily, for visitors there is a great resource for organizing your visit to the mountains. High Country Host – a nonprofit regional welcome center – is the answer to any questions you might have about lodging, food and events going on in the area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, High Country Host has seen a major increase in tourism throughout the High Country. “We are the idyllic location to go to for vacation during a pandemic, because you can spend time outdoors away from lots of other people,” said Candice Cook, marketing director of High Country Host. While there has been a slight decline since the height of the pandemic, many people are still traveling to the mountains for the fresh air and nature. For visitors of the High Country, High Country Host can assist them in many ways when planning their trip – from lodging to dining to events. “A lot of people are really overwhelmed when they start looking online for lodging,” Cook said. “They don’t know where the different towns are, or how close they are to the attractions they want to visit.” 12
PHOTO SUBMITTED North Carolina High Country Host operates the Official Regional Welcome Center located on Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, within view of N.C. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost Exit 291.
On weekends with big events going on, such as the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain, finding somewhere to stay can be quite difficult. High Country Host maintains a list of cancellations at various hotels and cabins in the area, so they can help find somewhere to stay in
last-minute situations. High Country Host also makes a list each week of all of the events that are happening in the area. Cook said that even locals stop by their office to pick up a copy of the list. If you stop by the High Country Host office, you can find a large variety of brochures and maps.
“We have regional maps, free State maps, which people are shocked still exist,” Cook said. “And we also have a very good selection of hiking maps.” With so many hiking trails all over the High Country, these maps certainly come in handy. According to Cook, time management when it comes to planning a trip is something that High Country Host can help tourists with. She said that many people don’t realize
how close or far away different attractions are from one another, and how much time they need to spend there to get the full experience. “It’s really beneficial that people come in here at the beginning of their vacation and not the end,” Cook said. Naturally, the number one attraction in the High Country is the Blue Ridge Parkway, according to Cook. “The Blue Ridge Parkway is what created the High Country region,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know that because it connects all of these towns together.” In Cook’s opinion, the most underrated place in the High Country is Beech Mountain. “They have more hiking trails up there than anywhere else in the High Country,” Cook said. “They also have the great little lake up there where you can rent a canoe and they have free fishing poles.” During this summer, there are going to be several Blue Ridge Parkway closures visitors should look out for. High Country Host is open seven days a week, and you can call them to find out more information on the closures and details on the detours. With so much to do in the area, High Country Host can help everyone with their mountain getaway. “We learn something new every day here,” Cook said. For more information, call (828) 264-1299 or visit highcountryhost.com. SUMMER TIMES 2022
