It is snowing right now. This brings for great joy. It can also make me a little crazy because I am singing for you all. Hold your ears and don’t laugh. Hopefully it will get you in the Christmas mood. Merry Christmas!!
Family Fun NC
First snow of the year brings out lots of smiles
We have been waiting on a big snow and it is still yet to come, so we will welcome any amount of snow we can get. We were greeted this morning as we awoke with a beautiful winter wonderland. Was it a huge amount of snow? Actually, it was not. Maybe 2 inches? The amount did not seem to matter in the sparkle of M and L’s eyes. Just watching the pure joy escape them as they put on their ever abundance of snow clothes, brought me back to my childhood. There would be no worries in the world, only fun times going down the sledding hill with my brother. Now my two girls are getting to experience the same excitement.
Hearing the laughter, seeing the smiles was pure winter delight. I escaped five minutes before they came in to create a delicious warm drink for a winter snow day. I greeted them at the door with two cups of hot chocolate and we sat and discussed their sledding stories. Now, this is the winter life!
Enjoy over 3 million lights this year at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is excited to bring the holidays to life this winter season with the return of Carolina Christmas, a spectacular drive-through Christmas light park and village located at the legendary super speedway. I had the honor of attending last year and we had an absolute blast, and now it is going to be even bigger. Who knew it could happen?
Open nightly from Nov. 23 through Dec. 31 – 6pm to 9pm, excluding Christmas Day, Carolina Christmas is returning to Charlotte Motor Speedway even bigger and better in its second year, with an expanded route of nearly five miles, more than 3 million LED lights in 600 displays and double the drive-the-track experience with a one-mile cruise around the track. Carolina Christmas also offers a Christmas Village with a realistic Bethlehem-themed village, a Festival of Trees, photos with Santa and areas with food and music.
My husband was very giddy when he was able to drive on the race track last year. He may or may not have squalled a tire. So you know this is a trip for the entire family to enjoy. Tickets start out as low as $20 per single car load up to 8 people. Incredible deal with all the activities you get to participate in.
This year, a new feature is being added to the Christmas festivities – The Inaugural Boulevard of Lights. Hotels will light up Bruton Smith Boulevard, welcoming holiday guests to celebrate the season! Perimeter lighting totaling almost 3 miles in length will adorn the hotel rooftops for the holiday season. Light pole decorations and banners will extend from the intersection of Derita Road and Concord Mills Boulevard to the intersection of Bruton Smith Boulevard and Highway 29 in front of Charlotte Motor Speedway, creating a festive Christmas corridor.
WIN – $500 Simon American Express Gift Card
For a chance to win a $500 Simon American Express Gift Card from Concord Mills Mall, guests are invited to visit any four of the seven participating holiday partners between November 23 and December 16 and get the corresponding ornament on the Christmas tree punched. The participants are the Cabarrus County CVB, Concord Mills, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sam Bass Gallery, Reed Gold Mine, Punchy’s Diner and Cabarrus Creamery.
Also don’t forget you can pair these fun festivities with a visit to Great Wolf Lodge Snowland. During Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge, the magic continues with a life-size Gingerbread house, daily snow shows inside the Grand Lobby, special appearances by Santa and Great Clock Tower Holiday Show with Rowdy the Reindeer. Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge runs from December 3-25.
What are you waiting on? Start planning your fun Christmas visit to Concord, NC. You will be glad you did. I will be back reporting on each of these festivities throughout the month of December, so stay tuned!
Merry Christmas!
President Obama Visits Boone NC Mast General Store
Discussions have been brewing for a few days that President Obama was coming into town. No one knew where he would stop here in Boone, NC… but there were lots of rumors of where he would stop. Traffic was halted across all highways here in the mountains this afternoon and we awaited to see where he would stop or if he would stop at all. He surprised everyone with a stop at our beloved Mast General Store.
Mast General Store first opened its original store in 1883. You can still visit the original store as we were just there Saturday. I grew up going to the Candy Barrel and it was a huge treat. Now, my girls love going to the Candy Barrel as well. The candy from the yesteryears is still served at Mast General. Lemon heads anyone? It looks like that the President may just be a new fan of the Candy Barrel as well.
As the President headed out of town, he took the time to give a wave to everyone lined up on the streets of downtown Boone.
Photos Courtesy – Mast General Store
Another glimpse of Fall beauty in NC Mountains
The Fall colors have officially reached their peak and we now are beginning to get bare trees. The winds have been a force to reckon with this weekend and unfortunately, is winning by taking our beautiful color with it.
I was able to capture great shots though over the weekend and wanted to share with you. Enjoy! (click on photos to see larger image)
