Category Archives: Asheville Attractions

Inspired by Ireland

Mulling potential topics throughout his coursework, Czarnosmki unexpectedly found inspiration abroad.

Hiking Ireland for 2 1/2 months last summer, he stopped at various tourist locations and visitor centers where simple requests for information regularly turned into in-depth conversations about the area.

Also at these spots were wonderfully illustrated printed maps packed with details on why hikers may want to traverse a particular area. Typically free or for a small charge, the handouts presented insight that those back in the Smokies rarely afforded and appealed to his passion for cataloging plants in the field.

“Here, if you go hiking or backpacking, most of the trail info will say its difficulty, but not what’s so special about the trail that would make you want to walk it,” Czarnomski said.

Returning home, he researched available guides at local outfitters, libraries and bookstores, and though he came across some wonderful books, the presentation was largely dry.

“Out biodiversity is more special than that, but how do you explain it to people coming to the area for the first time or even for locals?” Czarnomski recalled.

In nearby Purchase Knob, Czarnomski found an

Article source: http://www.blackmountainnews.com/article/20131129/LIVING/311290025/The-art-of-the-trail-map If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

Once close to eradication worldwide, the dreaded disease polio is resurfacing in Muslim-majority countries where vaccinations are hard to come by due to war, religious edicts and ignorance, experts say.

The latest example comes this week in Syria, where a strain of polio originating in Pakistan has crippled more than a dozen children, according to doctors for the Kurdish Red Crescent. Cases have also been showing up in Somalia, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

The problem is prompting some polio-free countries to demand that visitors from high-risk countries take oral vaccines at the airport upon arrival if they cannot prove they’ve gotten the vaccine.

“The Saudi government has introduced restrictions for all those traveling to the Holy Land from polio-affected countries,” said Mazhar Nisar of Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Regulations and Services.

“Every pilgrim is to take polio vaccine before traveling to Saudi Arabia and also upon arrival at any of the international airports in the Kingdom,” Nisar said.

Polio is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus in the throat and intestinal tract that can cause paralysis, crippling and even death. It was once the leading cause of disability in the United States and infected millions of people worldwide until the introduction of

Article source: http://www.citizen-times.com/usatoday/article/3591683 If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s 2013 Christmas tree crop promises to be one of the best in recent years, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “There was plenty of rain this year, which helped Christmas tree growers across the state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler in a release. “Consumers can find locally grown Christmas trees at choose-and-cut farms, tree lots and farmers markets across the state.”

Growers traditionally start selling Christmas trees the day after Thanksgiving, but because the holiday falls later this year, many growers are already open for the season.

“No matter where you live in the state, it won’t be hard to find a fresh North Carolina tree,” said Bill Glenn, a marketing specialist with the department. “Even most of the trees you find at retail and grocery stores were grown in the state.”

To make the search for the perfect tree easier, the department offers an online directory at www.ncfarmfresh.com. Visitors can search by location to find Christmas trees near their home or close to where they might travel over the holidays.

Choose-and-cut directories are also available at the four state-operated farmers markets in Asheville, Charlotte, Colfax and Raleigh, as well as all of the state

Article source: http://www.ncnn.com/edit-news/8829-growers-expect-joyus-christmas-tree-season If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

Feel like taking a holiday drive? How about checking out a place that’s been dubbed one of the happiest and prettiest places in the United States?

No, not Disneyland; Asheville, N.C. This small city (not all that much bigger than Lancaster) is called a great place for artists, hipsters, musicians, those looking to reinvent themselves, retirees, those who love the outdoors, those who love good music, and beer connoisseurs.

The outskirts have starred in movies like “The Hunger Games” and “Dirty Dancing.”

And it’s actually been attracting folks of all stripes since the frontier days of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.

So what is it about this place?

That’s what I wanted to know, as I headed out for a couple of days from Charlotte, N.C., where I was visiting relatives.

In Charlotte, the highest elevations are a handful of skyscrapers.

Two hours later, the interstate starts climbing, and the man-made heights give way to natural highs — the Blue Ridge and Smoky mountains. It’s clearly a different stratosphere, and another world.

So, as they say, it’s location, location, location.

Asheville is tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, almost at the Tennessee border. It’s on a plateau, surrounded by both mountains and rivers.

It’s what happens

Article source: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/924509_Asheville--N-C---is-a-city-for-all-occasion.html If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

User Score

Article source: http://www.mountainx.com/article/54554/NC-novelists-fund-rocking-chairs-for-Thomas-Wolfe-Home If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

The museum will be filled with decorations and activities where learning comes into play in December. The center also is offering winter and holiday-themed programming focusing on science, literacy, math, health, music, art and cultural/religious festivals.

Admission to the gallery is $5 per person, and the museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Hands On! is closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The mission of Hands On! is to provide children and families with “hands on” educational experiences that stimulate the imagination and motivate learning in a fun, safe environment.

Special classes are offered in the facility all year long, and teachers can call Hands On! to learn about traveling programs available in schools. Call 828-697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

The following special events are planned for December:

Dec. 3

10:30-11 a.m.: Mad Scientists Lab — Snow! For ages 3 and up. Join Dr. Bunson and Dr. Beaker in the Mad Scientist Lab as they make crazy concoctions.

Mad Scientists Lab will take place at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday morning through Dec. 17.

Cost is $7 non-members or free for members. Space is limited. Please call to register.

On Dec. 10, create snow paint. On Dec. 17, winter animal tracks and exothermic

Article source: http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20131128/articles/131119881 If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com

NIGHTLIFE

620 STATE: Bristol, 620 State St. Nov. 29, 9:30 p.m., The Nomadz band. 423-652-0314.

ACOUSTIC COFFEEHOUSE: Johnson City, 415 W. Walnut St. Nov. 29, 8 p.m., Brandon Green and Goat Whiskey; Nov. 30, 8 p.m., The Rickshaw Roadshow and A Great Disaster. 423-434-9872.

BIGGIES: Kingsport, 417 Stone Dr. Nov. 29, 9 p.m., The Catfish Frye Band. 423-765-9633.

CAPONE’S: Johnson City, 227 E. Main St. Nov. 29, 9 p.m., Lovely Goodbye and Teeth Like Keys. www.caponesjohnsoncity.com or 423-928-2295.

COUNTRY CLUB BAR AND GRILL: Bristol, 3080 W. State St. Dec. 28, 8 p.m., Acoustifried. 423-844-0400.

DAMASCUS OLD MILL: Damascus, 215 W. Imboden St. Nov. 30, 8 p.m., James Meadows. 276-475-3745.

DOWN HOME: Johnson City, 300 W. Main St. Nov. 29, 8 p.m., Robinella, $16; Nov. 30, 8 p.m., Trey Hensley, $12; Dec. 2-3, 7 p.m., ETSU Bluegrass night, $10. www.downhome.com or 423-929-9822.

THE HANGAR GRILL: Wise, 6104 Airport Rd. Nov. 29, 9 p.m., The New Conspirators Band; Nov. 30, 9 p.m., Southern Breeze. 276-328-9699.

HIDEAWAY: Johnson City, 235 E. Main St. Nov. 30, 9 p.m., Deanimator, Manic Scum, Bacalou, Shadowed Grave and Graverat. 423-926-3896.

LOUIE’S: Glade Spring, 12295

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