The Beech sledding hill is located next to the Chamber of Commerce. It is open daily at no charge for kids 12 and under, although parents may ride with smaller children. Plastic sleds are required. Folks are encouraged to bring their own sleds, or they may be purchased at stores on the mountain.

“It’s a free and enjoyable place for children to have fun,” says Peggy Coscia of the Beech chamber. “They come from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. We get a lot of folks from Florida who are excited because it’s the first time the children have seen snow.”

The High Country is known for its winter activities, not just sledding but skiing as well. Those are two great reasons to consider Living the Dream in Beech Mountain, where there are almost 200 active listings today.

According to the High Country Association of Realtors®, which covers Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties, the average price of a home sold last year was $261,512. That’s a three percent increase in the average recorded in 2010 ($253,967) and just surpasses the average set in 2009 ($260,604).

It is also the largest year-to-year increase since 2005.
“After three years of decline, the increase in the median price of home sales should be encouraging to local property owners,” said Laurie Phillips, executive officer of the 600-member High Country Association of Realtors®.

The 2011 numbers indicate that the High Country real estate market may be poised for growth, or at least stability, in the coming year.

In 2006, the average price of a home sold in the High Country was $307,256. Then the national economy went into recession, due in large part to the sub-prime lending implosion. The High Country was not exempt. The average price of a home sold dropped for three straight years, falling 2.2 percent in 2008 and 6.7 percent in 2009. It went down another 4.8 percent in 2010, when the average price hit $253,967.

Last year that trend ended. Not only was the average price up, but also the number of homes sold increased 8 percent, from 938 to 1014. There were eight consecutive months of increased home sales, from 34 homes sold in February to a year-high 91 in September. Sells slowed going into the winter, but remained above the February mark.

The number of homes purchased with cash also increased last year, to 41 percent. It was 34 percent in 2006, before the recession began.

Other national reports show cautious optimism in the housing market. In January the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB ) reported that its Housing Market Index, which tracks builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes, climbed to its highest level since June of 2007. The NAHB also said its Remodeling Market Index, which gauges interest in remodeling sentiment, is now at its highest level in five years.

You can live just down the road from this quacks. There are almost 200 opportunities to Live the Dream in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Fearless jumpers, and disc golf enthusiasts are invited to join Ashe County Parks and Recreation for the 2012 Polar Plunge and Ice Bowl disc golf tournament. …

The Polar Plunge is a great opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support Ashe “Freezin for a Reason” by jumping, walking or slowly crawling into the frigid waters of the Ashe County Park Pond.

“The Jumpers” will have heated private area(s) to prepare/change in (Costumes are optional). Please come prepared with extra dry and warm clothes, towels, etc. A DJ, music, and EMT will be provided for your comfort and protection.

Thursday students at Appalachian State held a Polar Plunge into the cold and muddy waters of the campus Duck Pond. It benefited the Watauga County Special Olympics and always carries a festival atmosphere. The first local Polar Plunge was last month as part of Blowing Rock Winterfest.

To mark Valentine’s Day, here are three recent days of love in the High Country. Story number 1.

Today we take a journey to the beautiful NC high county, the picturesque town of Boone, NC. Bride and Groom: Kate and Jonathan held their ceremony at Mount Vernon Baptist Church and their rustic-themed reception at the Harvest House, with beautiful images by Emily Chidester Photography. Katie and Jonathan opted to do a {First Look} before they said their vows to each other, and what at GORGEOUS moment as they did it on a beautiful hilltop in Boone with nothing but the beautiful blue highlands sky and sun and nature surrounding them!

Even when there’s a nip in the air, the locale is worthwhile, as in story number 2, as described by the photographers.

In the midst of the crazy, we got a chance to go photograph a beautiful wedding in one of the most serene places ever. I credit this wedding with why I still have my… sanity (edit: questionable).

Carrie and Aaron were married at The Inn at Crestwood in Boone, NC. We had so much fun shooting them in the magical places that hid in the mountains. These two had great help from family and friends, and it turned out to be quite the production. We really like these two.. not sure if it was the love or the wind chill but they didn’t mind hugging on each other (which was a-ok with us).

Here’s one more wonderful wedding, which took place in the rustic barn during fall’s explosion of color. These are just three great examples of a gorgeous setting for just one day. Those lucky to call to the High Country home get to live the scenes every day.

For a rookie, the rink can seem daunting. That one false step looks to be a doozy! But looks are deceiving. Give it a trip or two around the rink and you’d be hooked.

After getting fitted for blades, we hit the rink, some of us more than others. The first thing I noticed was the skating boots were really stiff and put pressure on weird parts of my feet. After about half an hour scooting around like a slug on a skillet, holding onto the metal bar that circumvented the rink, I was able to almost stand up straight and give a few tentative waddles. I believe I made one complete circuit before hitting the deck for the first time. ….

Just like with my initial experience as a skier last year, I found that young people got the hang of it much faster than I did and were jumping in the air and spinning, digging in one toe and cutting a circle, and generally putting Tanya Harding (anyone remember her?) to shame. Instead of being embarrassed, I did what any self-respecting middle-aged guy would do who is not quite ready to be old: I pushed myself to the limit.

After a couple of hours, I was prepared to make ice skating a regular part of my winter routine.

See? You don’t have to be an expert, and you need not worry about the kids. They have supports to help anyone get around, as you can see at Appalachian Ski Mountain. An afternoon of ice skating, whether learning or polishing, is just one more great reason to Live the Dream in the High Country of North Carolina.

The airstrip, which runs east-to-west, currently spans more than 4,200 feet in length. When completed, the runway will stretch more than 5,000 feet, and enhance safety for pilots landing and taking off.

“We’ll be able to accommodate a wider variety and larger aircraft,” said Ashe County Airport Manager Eric Payne. …

The extra length will also improve the safety of pilots and their aircraft during takeoff and landing. Payne said the airport’s altitude, in conjunction with heat during the summer months, effectively makes the air thinner and reduces lift. Conditions resulting from high-density altitude make a longer runway welcome.

“Right now, we can get around that by taking off and landing in the mornings, or just after sunset, when temps have started to cool down,” said Payne. “But when it’s hot, it’s comparable to taking off from Denver, Colo.”

The airports of the High Country are well used (both Watauga and Avery counties also have one). They’re another amenity of High Country living, having a safe runway to touchdown when returning from a business trip or a brief flyaround to clear the mind.

The Ashe County airport is located about three miles east of Jefferson, where there are more than 90 opportunities to take off and Live the Dream in the High Country of North Carolina.

 
6.3 – Inches of snow recorded on Grandfather Mountain so far this winter. That is almost 18 inches below the average for this point in the season.

It has not been a cold winter. Statistics from the weather station atop Grandfather Mountain prove it. The January weather report lists just 3.2 inches of snow for the months, well below the 56-year average of 10.24.

Highs drifted primarily in the 40s and 50s for most of month. But that didn’t stop the local ski resorts from packing on as much of a base as possible, or skiers from coming out to take advantage of it.

Colder weather is expected to sneak into the High Country later this month.

But give ‘em some time taking lessons, then testing what they learned out of the way of the slopes, and they’re ready for action! Before parents can say “Lindsey Vonn” they have a budding Olympian staying upright all the way down the mountain. Just like this recent first-time skier at Sugar Mountain.

Some schools in the area schedule field trips for classes as young as First Grade to take in a day of skiing. Another great reason families want to Live the Dream in the High Country of North Carolina.