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Cataloochee Guest Ranch, Maggie Valley- A Mountain Afar, But Close To So Many Hearts

 

American Press Travel News- June 27th,-Maggie Valley, Haywood County, North Carolina—Cataloochee Guest Ranch was opened in 1934 by Mr. Tom and Miss Judy Alexander. It was  moved to its present location in 1938. The Ranch is still run by the third generation descendants of Mr. Tom and Miss Judy. As their brochure rightly proclaims “The Ranch is “where the march of time slows down to a walk.”  the high mountains here really do have deep roots! Barb and I relaxed, enjoyed country buffet cookouts for dinner of steaks and taters along with all the country fixin’s you’d also love. We also sampled their country breakfast which included their wonderful homemade syrups, jams and biscuits. that you will savor in your mouth and on your mind for a very long time.

This is a wonderful place for your whole family. We watched a small boy catch his first fish in their stocked pond, which the ranch then cooked for his dinner. They have all sorts of planned activities for children as well for adults.  There are so many outdoor recreational opportunities in and around this 5000 foot elevation, cool, over 1000 acre ranch. We hiked, found and identified numerous edible mushrooms, plants and trees with a professional field guide. Their garden, becomes your garden each and every meal! Every day you can take take trail rides. When you arrive you feel like you are a member of their family with their rich local heritage. Every night their local admiring neighbors, were scheduled to come and meet the guests. We listened to local musicians and were even able to pet a real friendly wolf.

Perhaps due to the history of several generations of the Tom and Judy Alexander family, there was a feeling here that we were home, really at home again! It’s really hard to say just how comfortable we were at this ranch. It was very hard to leave and we actually stayed a bit longer than usual before we left the cool mountain air, the friendliness of our hosts and the truly serene nature of this fine resort. So, I guess one way to say it was, we had a very hard time saying goodbye!

Call 1 (800) 868-1401 119 or local 828-926-1401 cataloocheeranch.com located on  Ranch Road., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Cataloochee Ranch.com

Also, we will review so many fine restaurants in the coming days on aptravelnews.com.  We will be posting these and many more opportunities for visitors in the next day or so.   We took part in visiting the Cataloochee Valley area full of transplanted elk. The bulls were bugling their dominancy over their herd of cows-quite a display! The people we met, the dinner with the Mayor of Waynesville and his wife, the fine other folks we learned so much about them and from them, their Agri-tourism lifestyle and businesses offerings, and their goals, as well as their already fruitful successes will be portrayed as well. 

Boys first fish at Cataloochee Lodge trout pond This ranch is always making "keeper memories."
Boys first fish at Cataloochee Lodge trout pond This ranch is always making “keeper memories.”

 

Special event: Wolf Man who owns 4 wolves introduces this highly tame wolf to guests at the Ranch. A big hit with everyone!
Special event: Wolf Man who owns 4 wolves introduces this highly tame wolf to guests at the Ranch. A big hit with everyone!
A side trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway for never ending views!
A side trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway for never ending views!

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Page House Bed & Breakfast A Monument to Anyones Great Lodging Experiences

img_6201AmericanPressTravelNews.com Nov. 7th,Dublin, GA.–“Bob and Barb on the Road Again” and “Stopping to Smell the Roses”, and visit for awhile!–We stopped for a couple of nights to enjoy a real quality B&B and we were not even slightly disappointed staying at the really magnificent Page House. We first met Mono working the leaves off the driveway, just after pulling into a true early American Estate sized home from a different era and century with giant pillars and the look of what the real White House in D.C. must have looked like before the many gates and fences, additions and subtractions. This was a true Antebellum Southern home only remodeled to modernize the needs of casual tourists in all modern ways possible, but yet totally in keeping with the themes and decor of a quieter, more pastel time in American History. WE LOVED IT! We have learned that the owners make or break a B & B. Mono and JoAnn were fabulous, caring hosts and mighty fine chefs as well. This place as they say in GA. is   “The Gem of the Emerald City.” www.pagehousebb.com  ph and fax: (478) 275-4551

Yes, there are great restaurants in Dublin. See additional posts for Company Supply Rotisserie Bistro and Deano’s Italian Grille Brick Oven favorites!!!!

Mono and JoAnn, Page House Owner-Operators put together a memorable breakfast repast. Finer host will be hard to find!!
Mono and JoAnn, Page House Owner-Operators put together a memorable breakfast repast. Finer host will be hard to find!!
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All rooms and suites have modern baths and showers, TV’s and most important; comfy beds and linens.
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Formerly the only home in Dublin, GA. with a ballroom! Today it’s a “sweet” dining room area, or can be a ball room for special occasions as well!
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Mono and JoAnn putting up a sumptuous breakfast for guests!
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GA. Toast with GA. peaches-umm, umm Great!
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Omelette Greek style with Goat Cheese, spinach and LUV!

 

 

The Orchard Inn-A Place to be For Natures Colors and Great Dining

AmericanPressTravelNews–October 28th-Saluda, N.C. One of our favorite Places to be anytime, and especially in the Fall..
Treat your sweetheart or several generations of your family to a traditional and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday. Join the convivial crowd at The Orchard Inn to hike nearby trails, watch the birds, rock on the porch, and find a piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Make reservations for the chef’s finest Thanksgiving Midday Dinner and hurry – seats are filling up fast!
When visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains, there is a myriad of activities found here that can be fun in any season. One such activity is visiting our countless, sparkling waterfalls. With so many options to choose from, you might have trouble deciding which of these gorgeous natural features you want to visit first. Pearson’s Falls, one of the best waterfalls near Saluda, is a spot you don’t want to miss.
Western North Carolina offers endless opportunities for adventure in the great outdoors! If you’re looking for a great place to explore in this area, make sure to visit the Chimney Rock State Park. Located near the peaceful Lake Lure, this 1,000-acre rock is a piece of history that is not to be missed. This is an iconic part of North Carolina that offers breathtaking views of the stunning, surrounding scenery.
If you want to get out and experience the great outdoors, then our North Carolina Adventure Vacation Package is made for you! Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the morning, have your outdoor adventure during the day with a delightful picnic lunch, then come back and relax in a Jacuzzi tub!

Request Your Free Vacation Guide to Asheville, NC

If you are planning a visit to the Asheville, NC, area, you should request our free Vacation Guide. The Asheville/Saluda area has so many things to do for a romantic getaway, a family vacation or even a trip for “me time,” and we want to share our suggestions with you!
Click the link to download our complimentary Vacation Guide to see all that you can take advantage of in Asheville.Our Guide covers:

• Restaurants You Will Want to Visit Time & Time Again
• Festivals & Attractions You Don’t Want to Miss
• Outdoor Activities for All Skill Levels
• Shopping For One-of-a-Kind Items
• Orchard Inn Exclusives

Did You Have a 5 Star Experience? Our business is built on reviews and recommendations from past guests. We’d appreciate you sharing your 5 Star Review on TripAdvisor®!
100 Orchard Inn Lane, Saluda, NC 28773 | Call: (800) 581-3800 or (828) 749-5471
© Copyright 2016 The Orchard Inn. All Rights Reserved.

 

Florence, SC, So Many Ways To Enjoy a Visit and So Many Venues For Tourists and Others!

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Yes, great Kayaking and WOW do you get hungry after getting some prime, upper body exercise! SEE BELOW

APtravelnews-November 16th—Florence, S.C.—We met Holly Beaumier on a drive up  I-95 towards our ultimate goal of visiting Vermont again. We stayed and played in her dog-friendly city enjoying great foods and fine accommodations, but most importantly: very friendly caring locals.

Last week,  we had occasion to meet up with her again at the 5oth Anniversary of SEOPA held at Fontana Lake in N.C. She was in attendance to assist in spreading the word, along with other Counties CVB’s from all around the South about their respective excellent travel opportunities for tourists and other visitors.

Holly is a true professional and very passionate about Florence, S.C. and surrounding locals ability to offer great travel opportunities to everyone and anyone “stopping to smell the roses” off I-95 and from all around the USA and the world!

She introduced us to a whole set of opportunities that should encourage us all to make a reservation and head to Florence when possible. Here are some of them:

  • Farm to table and what’s in season? The SC climate lends itself to agricultural produce year round. Local restaurants (we agree having enjoyed many of them) often change menus to serve locally sourced, in season foods.
  • Middle Sparrow Ranch, SC’s only producer of farmstead cheese. Crafted on site from grass fed cows. The cheese has its own unique flavor. Other products are dairy and whey-fed pork.
  • U-Pick farms offer strawberry, muscadine grapes, blueberries are ready from April through October.
  • Tours are available at Ovis Hill Farm where they graze 250 sheep and provide high quality, natural foods.
  • Fishing in local rivers how about giant catfish? Shad are caught in Hoop nets and even drop lines for “cats.”
  • Hog Hunting on horseback? Inquire and Give it a go in SC.
  • Cooper Black Recreation Area has National Sporting Dog field trials: there are equestrian trials in endurance and runs in this 7000 rolling acres of longleaf pine forests and the fields provide the ultimate venue for these and much more events.
  • Birding: More than 100 species of migratory birds to spot at. Take your binocular to Woods Bay State Natural Area.
  • There are so many other things to see and do: Camp, be an Archeologist, check out enigmatic Carolina Bays, the Darlington Marathon races, Marsh Tacky Horses, a South Carolina Horse with stripes dating to Revolutionary times, Heart of Carolina’s 3-day horse competitions, The Kings Three Trails with great jockeys, Lancing tournament on horseback started in 1899. These opportunities and too many others are in and around Florence, SC. For more info. Go: visitflo.com  843-664-0330
    As pet friendly a city as you can find!
    As pet friendly a city as you can find!
    Lamb Chops from Colorado, Risotto, goats cheese. Unreal tastes!
    Lamb Chops from Colorado, Risotto, goats cheese. Unreal tastes!

    New York Cheesecake and strawberries. Terrific!
    New York Cheesecake and local strawberries. Terrific!