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Those of us who live in the mountain towns in North Carolina understand the simple beauty of exploring the wilderness—whether taking advantage of a scenic hike enhanced by blowing rock elevation, rushing down one of the many fast-flowing rivers, or searching for a hidden waterfall…these are just a few of the obvious reasons Blowing Rock real estate is increasingly popular. 

There’s nothing that rivals a little natural adrenal rush in the great outdoors.  No matter what gets your heart beating fast or provides you will a little jolt—white water rafting, mountain biking, caving, or zip lines—this region in western NC is where you will find it all.  No wonder National Geographic Adventurer named NC as #1 Vacation with a Splash!

Here are a few top outdoor adventure outfits to suit your adrenaline fancy:

• High Mountain Expeditions–located in Banner Elk, Boone, and Asheville NC

For more than 25 years, this popular outfit has been committed to safety; professional guides with CPR, First Aid, Swift Water Rescue, food handling and Leave No Trace to tend to the needs of your entire family.  Word of mouth and top quality are what makes HME so successful in the mountain towns in North Carolina.  What’s your pleasure—river or creek rafting, tubing, hiking or caving through tunnels and underground rivers?  HME has it all! For a slower pace, the HME New River tubing outpost is located only minutes from Boone, North Carolina.

The equipment at HME is up-to-date with safety in mind.  You will travel in style in their vehicles as you journey to the trail heads or river.  And, if you want to enjoy amazing culinary fare alongside your outdoor adventure, HME will not disappoint.  Their menu is chock full  of fresh and natural selections—meats, cheeses, breads, locally-grown produce and scrumptious homemade sweets.  This is a family friendly operation, with children from three to nine years of age permitted to take part in the adventures, and the menu will satisfy even the youngest and pickiest eaters.

• Edge of the World—located at 394 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk, NC 28604

Edge of the World is convenient to Asheville and Boone and is the place to have your whitewater, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing and rappelling adventures!  This is a family-owned and operated tour company that’s been providing adventures to families for nearly four decades.  You will get the best value at Edge of the World, since they encourage free re-runs!  You get to re-run the rapids as many times as you want.  What’s more–they prepare home-cooked meals from April’s kitchen–fried chicken, honey-basted biscuits, trail mix and dessert alongside freshly-squeezed lemonade to quench your thirst.  Vegetarian menus are also available.  It’s obvious why TripAdvisor gave a 5-star rating to Edge of the World and the 2016, 2017, 2018 Excellence Award.

The most popular adventures made possible by blowing rock elevation and Edge of the World—white water rafting–$74—down the scenic Watauga River. “We’ve got everything covered from gear to professional whitewater guides to photos of your family to a real home cooked lunch, straight from April’s kitchen.”  And don’t forget rock climbing and rappelling–$129—to quicken your pulse.

• Northwest NC MTB Alliance, part of SORBA, the largest nonprofit mountain biking organization in the southeastern US.

The commitment of this organization makes it possible to bike in the mountains and foothills of northwest North Carolina by promoting land access, preserving trails, as well as developing new ones.  No wonder the mountain communities of Boone, Hickory, Lenoir, Marion, Morganton, and Wilkesboro are so grateful.  Due to their hard work, we have more public lands and trails in this region than most places in the southeast.

Some of their amazing trails to explore:

–Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest—over 192,000 acres—popular riding areas include Wilson Creek, Boone Fork, Woods Mountain and Old Fort.

–Kerr Scott Trails—a rollercoaster trail that runs between the Brushy Mountains and the Blue Ridge, historically tied to Daniel Boone, the Overmountain Men and moonshiners.

–Lake Hickory Trails (Hickory Springs Loop, Broyhill Trail, Skills Park and Rock n’ Road Pump Track) “With some punchy climbs and great views of the lake, you’ll earn your post ride beers!”  These trails are perfect for getting your heart rate up and keeping you on your toes both after work and on weekends.

–Lake James State Park—Tindo Loops, West Wimba Loop, East Wimba Loop.

–Riverbend Park—450 acres along Catawba River with 8 miles of trails.

–Rocky Knob Park—185-acre park with 9 miles of trail—some of the most scenic and unique sights and terrain; this park lives up to its name with scree, boulders and slabs of rock!

–Zacks Fork Mountain Bike Trail in Lenoir, only five minutes from Highway 321—perfect for all levels.

If soaring through the refreshing air of North Carolina is your thrill, zip line adventures abound.  This an exciting way to see the High Country. Zip lines are also known as eco tours since they allow folks to observe nature without harming flora, fauna or the wildlife. Here’s just a few zip lining outfits to put on your summer and fall list while you’re visiting the area looking for Blowing Rock real estate:

• Hawksnest Ziplines; 2058 Skyland Drive; Seven Devils, NC 28604; 20 zip lines, 4 mega zips, 2 over 2000 feet, 2 over 1500 feet; 4 miles of zip line with heights over 200 ft and speeds up to 50mph.  This is the place to zip over trees, lakes and creeks while surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Relax on the spacious observation deck when your feet are back on the ground.
• Sky Valley Zip Tours; 634 Sky Ranch Road, Blowing Rock, NC; 10 zip lines, cliff jump, swing bridge, 140 acres with a waterfall; max of 10 with 2 trained Zip Rangers take you on a 3-hour adventure; moonlit zip lining new this summer!
• High Gravity Adventures Zip Line and Aerial Park; 215 Tweetsie Railroad Lane, Blowing Rock, NC 28605; 75 ft. Blue Ridge Course tower with 70 plus elements, including climbing stations and rappelling stations; ninja ground course, 3-person giant swing, 2-hour zip line tour with a 70 ft. free fall.

Life at The Coves allows folks to grab a little excitement while also tending to their wellbeing and fitness. There’s just no better combination. The weather of the mountain towns in North Carolina, partly due to the Blowing Rock elevation, allows these exciting adventures to happen in both the summer and winter seasons. Locals love basking in the sunshine, breathing in that fresh clean air, and in the warmer seasons, paddling, swimming, and fishing in the most perfect and inviting water. 

While you’re exploring Blowing Rock real estate, be sure to put The Coves first on your list—you will find there’s no need to search any further. Share an adventure or two with friends and family, a little white water rafting on a crystal clear river that winds through the granite mountains,  or zip high over the pristine wilderness.

The Coves is more than a neighborhood. It’s a community of friends who appreciate the grandeur of its location in the foothills. Here families play together and care for one another in the good old fashioned way.

1.87 acre homesites begin in the high $30’s.

If you’ve wanted a sense of belonging, you will find it and more at The Coves Mountain River Club.

Come visit! Call 828.754.0700 to schedule a tour.