Lots to do this July 4th weekend in the north Georgia mountains: http://ping.fm/aASos

Pigeon Forge Seeks 75 Families for $75 Gas Giveaway

Pigeon Forge, Tenn., has gone wild for 75. It’s a project called “75 Ways To Celebrate, from the Parkway to the Park.”

To help celebrate the 75th anniversary of neighboring Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this gateway city is seeking 75 families so it can give them $75 in gas, $75 of attraction tickets and a challenging list of 75 fun activities. The 75 families will get a Dolly Parton Smoky Mountains CD, too, the sound track from her “Sha-Kon-O-Hey!” musical at Dollywood.

“Pigeon Forge has 10 million visitors each year, and the national park is a large part of why today’s Pigeon Forge is here,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. “Our ‘Parkway to the Park’ idea makes the connection between the attraction-filled parkway that goes through the middle of town and the treasure that is Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”

The giveaways are designed help travelers recognize the significance of the 75th anniversary. Registration for the “Parkway to the Park” packages is online at http://www.PF75.com

Registration ends July 15.

“Pigeon Forge really is a gateway to the Smokies,” Downey said.

One of only a handful of free national parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited of all (nine million visitors in 2008). The park, by design, is a major economic engine for the region, and many of its visitors land for a while in Pigeon Forge.

Pigeon Forge, one of the country’s top tourism destinations, is located within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population east of the Mississippi River.

“Parkway to the Park” registration and complete information about Pigeon Forge travel itineraries and attractions are available at http://www.PF75.com

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Affordable Cabin Rentals in the Smoky Mountains

From one to five bedroom cabins and chalets in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Tennessee. We are located minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and all area attractions such as Dollywood, Splash Country, Dixie Stampede and dinner shows and shopping. From honeymoon to family vacations, budget to luxurious... our fully furnished cabins feature all the comforts of home including jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, kitchens, pool tables, theater room cabins, hot tubs and more. Ask about our honeymoon and wedding packages and PET FRIENDLY CABINS, because we know pets are family TOO! Visit our web site for great online booking specials! http://www.floridahalfbacks.com/Tennessee/Eastern-Tennessee/Pigeon-Forge/Affordable-Cabins-in-the-Smokies.htm

Free Fun Ideas in the NC Mountains

Did you know that there's no admission fee to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? It's true, America's most popular park is free, but it is only one of many NC attractions and events that visitors can enjoy without spending a cent. VisitNC has provided a list of some fun free things to do in the North Carolina mountains. Find your favorite freebie:

Sliding Rock (near Brevard)

Heat getting to you? Come slip down this renowned 60-foot sloping slide into an eight-foot deep mountain pool near Brevard, NC. Lifeguards supervise the fun during the summer, so bring the family. Enjoy 11,000 gallons of water flowing down over the rock face each minute, and it’s just a few strokes to shore. Where else can you get that kind of thrill? Okay, it’s not quite free. Cost to enter the recreation area is $1.00 per person.



Dancin’ In The Streets – Lake Lure
Thanks to the Lake Lure Hot Summer Nights Street Dance Series, you can dirty dance where Johnny and Baby did… for free! The dances will be held right at spectacular Lake Lure, where much of Dirty Dancing was filmed. This is part of Lake Lure and The Blue Ridge Foothills’ Endless Summer Event Series. 828-625-2725

June 8 Beach Motown
July 13 Rock and Roll
August 10 Swinging Big Band
Sept 14 Country Bluegrass

The Create-Your-Own Art Tour
A D-I-Y art tour can turn into an adventure – it costs you nothing to look! Homegrown Handmade Art Roads and Farm Trails let you create your own free driving tour of authentic folk artisans, handicrafts, farmers and creative entrepreneurs rooted in our North Carolina’s rural countryside. Or how about looking into the artistry of traditional and not-so-traditional patterns on a Barn Quilt Tour? Free tours, each featuring between 30-100 quilts, can be found in three western North Carolina counties:
Avery
Watauga
Ashe

Shindig For The Price Of None –Asheville
Starting in July, Asheville’s Shindig On The Green goes into high gear as crowds with lawn chairs and blankets gather on summer Saturday evenings to enjoy Appalachian mountain music and dance traditions. (Saturday evenings July – September)

Are You The Stovepipe Type? – Valle Crucis
Midday rush? Not in Valle Crucis, thank you. The Mast General Store has music on the back porch each Saturday and Sunday from noon until 2 p.m. at the Original Store in Valle Crucis. Sometimes groups start a little earlier; sometimes they play a little later. Musical selections include bluegrass, old-time, Celtic and Appalachian performed by local talent. On occasion, cloggers, flat footers and shufflers come along to dance a bit, too.

Hospitality Reigns at Mountain Inns

Heading to the mountains of North Carolina provides a high-elevation getaway from flat Florida. The bar is raised even higher when the trip includes a stay at a unique mountain inn. Mountain inns have a long tradition in North Carolina, where hospitality starts at the welcome mat. The Windover Inn in Waynesville provides elevating experiences.






Within walking distance of downtown shopping and Waynesville, NC attractions, and a short drive to Asheville and the Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Maggie Valley, this Waynesville, NC bed and breakfast allows you to connect to all of the western North Carolina attractions that abound in the area and more, while providing you with a warm and cozy sanctuary to return to at the end of the day. Built in 1910, this late Victorian home with its original tiger oak woodwork and heart maple hardwood floors provides an atmosphere of comfort from the moment you enter our front door.

Blairsville Scottish Festival

Ceud Mile Failte (100,000 Welcomes)!!! Blairsville Scottish Fesitval and Highland Games is held the second weekend in June at Meeks Park in Blairsville, Georgia, the "Land of Scenic Beauty and Friendly People". Brought to you by the Blairsville-Union Chamber of Commerce, the festival offers fun for the whole family.

Featuring a Kilted Golf Classic at beautiful Butternut Creek Golf Course, a Ceilidh Dinner at the First United Methodist Church Activities Center, and a variety of festival activites, it's no wonder that the Blairsville Scottish Festival recently made the Southeast Tourism Society's Best Top 20 Events list.

Plan on attending the Blairsville Scottish Festival and Highland Games. There are lots of things to see and do including clan gatherings, genealogy tents, athletic competitions, pipe and drum bands, concerts, Highland dancing, children's activities, the kilted mile (race), the bonniest knees contest, Scottish food, Scottish merchancise, an Opening Ceremony with Massed Bands and the Parade of Tartans, Kirkin of the Tartans, workshops, exhibits, demonstrations, falconry, sheepdog herding, Highland Cattle, ancient weaponry, historical re-enactors, and a Closing Ceremony.

Visit http://www.blairsvillescottishfestival.org/ for more information and lots of photos! For lodging and area information visit http://www.blairsvillechamber.com/. (Pets and alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the park.) We hope to see you at the Blairsville Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Come catch the excitement!

Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) 2009 Flex Pricing

We won't let the economy keep you off the river—especially not with the best water levels we've seen in seasons—so we're offering special Flex Pricing to get you on the most popular trips on the most popular days:

No More Saturday or Holiday Pricing Raft when you want to raft. This season, there's no premium for enjoying our busiest days, even on premium trips like the Chattooga River. You can bring all your friends too since there won't be group pricing restrictions.

Save up to 45% on Ocoee River rafting: Raft earlier or later in the day and pay as little as $25 for a fully-guided trip on America's most popular stretch of whitewater with America's most popular outfitter, NOC. Offer available:

Saturday, June 27

Sunday, June 28

Saturday, July 4

Saturday, July 11

Sunday, July 26

Sunday, August 2

Sunday August 9

Save 35% on Pigeon River rafting Raft later in the afternoon and pay as little as $25 for a fully-guided trip on the Smokies' best thrill ride.

Things To Do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Whether you delight in the challenge of a strenuous hike to the crest of a mountain or prefer to sit quietly and watch the sun set, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a myriad of activities for you to enjoy. The hardest part may be choosing which auto tour, trail, waterfall, overlook, or historic area to explore!

Auto Touring- An auto tour of the park offers a chance to see panoramic vistas, rushing mountain streams, weathered historic buildings, and majestic forests stretching to the horizon. Inexpensive booklets are available to serve as your personal tour guides along many park roads.
Bicycling - Ride through Cades Cove on a misty summer morning for a truly memorable way to experience the park.

Camping - Escape into the Smokies wilderness for a backpacking adventure or opt for a tamer excursion in one of the park's developed campgrounds.

Fishing - Anglers can match their skills against wily brook, brown, and rainbow trout on over 700 miles of fishable streams in the park.

Hiking - Choose from over 800 miles of trails ranging from quiet walkways to multi-day backpacking treks through the backcountry.

Historic Buildings - The park has one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Nearly 80 historic structures—homes, barns, churches, schools, and grist mills—have been preserved in the park.

Horseback Riding - The park has hundreds of miles of horse trails and five drive-in horse camps. If you don't own a horse, four rental stables provide mounts and guides.

Picnicking - Craving hotdogs, potato salad, water melon... and ants? There are eleven picnic areas to choose from in the park—many have pavilions that can be reserved in advance.

Waterfalls - Waterfalls can be found on nearly every river and stream in the park. Here's your guide to some of the best.

Wildflowers - Great Smoky Mountains National park is known as the "wildflower national park." You can find blooming plants year-round here, but spring and summer are renown for spectacular displays of wildflowers along roads and trails.

Wildlife Viewing - Hoping to see an elk, white-tailed deer, or black bear? Read some tips to improve your chances of spotting animals during your visit to the park.

Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official online store for books, maps, and guides to the park. Operated by the nonprofit Great Smoky Mountains Association, proceeds generated by purchases at the store are donated to educational, scientific, and historical projects in the park.

Folkmoot USA Celebrates 26 Years!

Folkmoot USA, North Carolina's Official International Festival, is a two-week celebration of the world's cultural heritage through folk music and dance. Held each summer across the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, Folkmoot features performances, parades and workshops by more than 350 performers from a dozen or so countries.

Performers demonstrate cultural heritage through colorful, authentic and original reproduction costumes, lively dance and beautiful music. During its 25-year history, over 200 folk groups from more than 100 countries have shared their heritage and culture at Folkmoot USA.

Countries expected to perform in 2009 include India, Serbia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Kenya, Spain and Israel. This year's Folkmoot Festival takes place throughout Western North Carolina in the towns of Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Highlands, Bryson City, Cullowhee, Asheville, Columbus, Burnsville, Marion, Mars Hill, Flat Rock and Franklin.

Be sure to see the Folkmoot Festival Parade of Nations on Friday, July 17 at 1 pm and enjoy crafts and entertainment at International Festival Day on Saturday, July 25 from 10 am - 5 pm. Both events take place in downtown Waynesville.
Buy performance tickets by clicking on the link below (starting May 1, 2009).
Buy your Folkmoot tickets online now!

Nature Conservancy 4th Annual Photo Contest Announced

The Nature Conservancy invites you to enter your stunning nature photos to our 4th annual digital photography competition.

We're looking for beautiful nature photography representing the diversity of life on Earth. Your own original digital images of our lands, waters, plants, animals and people in nature are all eligible for the competition.

We are especially interested in images that showcase the wide range of habitats across our planet, including all types of forests, grasslands, lakes and rivers, deserts and arid lands, rainforests, marine habitats and coral reefs in all seasons and around the world.

The winner's image will be printed in the 2011 Nature Conservancy calendar - reaching nearly 2 million households worldwide.

The Best Nature Photo winner's image will be featured on The Nature Conservancy's website, nature.org, which is visited by more than 3 million people annually.

How to Enter:
To enter one or more images, upload your photo(s) to the Conservancy's Flickr™ group and tag them with PhotoContest-TNC09 ... it's that easy. Not familiar with Flickr? Find our more about this easy way to enter. Or, if you prefer, you can complete our online form and email each photo, one at a time.

The Fine Print:
The contest is open to all participants age 18 and older regardless of residence or citizenship, so long as the laws of their jurisdiction allow participation. Photo submissions must be uploaded by 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time on September 30, 2009. Please review the full rules before entering. And good luck!