http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/travel/camping-in-the-great-smoky-mountains.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/camping-in-the-great-smoky-mountains.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500 The Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts ten large developed campgrounds with more than a thousand campsites for RVs, trailers, or tent camping, and 100 undeveloped sites.. Roanoke Mountain Campground is one of these quaint, quiet little campgrounds located at Milepost 120.4. There are no showers, no hookups, just beautiful little campsites on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Most of the developed campgrounds are open from April to October. The two campgrounds at Cades Cove and Smokemont are open year round.

Permits are required for overnight traveling within the park and can be picked up at one of the many campgrounds, ranger stations, or visitor centers.

Camping reservations are also needed for the Elkmont, Smokemont, and Cades Cove campgrounds for overnight camping from May 15th thru October 31st.

Most of the commercial campgrounds that encircle The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offer RV, trailer, and tent campsites. Amenities such as swimming pools, hot showers, and clean bathrooms are advantages you'll find when staying at one of the many reasonably priced locations. Some are open year round, some are open from April thru October.

Camping in Majestic Appalachians Great Smoky Mountains , especially those hidden sites around Wautauga Lake is a wonderful family fun filled experience that you don't want to miss while you are visiting the Appalachian Mountains!

Please do remember wild animal are not to be fed or petted. If you leave them alone they will leave you alone.

If you love nature then I'm sure you will love camping in the Great Smoky Mountains. ~Anthony Benjamin~

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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/road-to-nowhere.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/road-to-nowhere.html Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500 In the 1930s and 1940s, Swain County, North Carolina gave up the majority of its private land to the Federal Government for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hundreds of people were forced to leave the small Smoky Mountain communities that had been their homes for generations.

With the creation of the Park, their homes were gone, and so was the road to those communities. Old Highway 288 was buried beneath the deep waters of Fontana Lake.

The Federal government promised to replace Highway 288 with a new road called Lakeview Drive. Lakeview Drive was to have stretched along the north shore of Fontana Lake, from Bryson City, N.C. to Fontana, N.C. 30 miles to the west. Lakeview Drive was of special importance to those displaced residents, it was to have provided access to the old family cemeteries where generations of ancestors remained behind.

Lakeview Drive fell victim to an environmental issue and construction was stopped, with the road ending just at the end of this tunnel, about six miles into the park.

The environmental issue was eventually resolved, but the roadwork was never resumed. And Swain County's citizens gave the unfinished Lakeview Drive its popular, albeit unofficial name The Road To Nowhere. The legal issue of whether to build the road remains unresolved and The Road To Nowhere also remains.

On weekends throughout the summer, the Park Service still ferries groups of Swain County residents across Fontana Lake to visit their old family cemetaries for Decoration Days and family reunions.

There are many hiking trails in the area and is a great place to see the autumn colors!

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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/belize-jewel-of-the-caribbean.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/belize-jewel-of-the-caribbean.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The Maya civilization spread itself over Belize beginning around 1500 BC, with more than a million strong, it flourished until about AD 900.

The origin of the name Belize is unclear, but one possibility is that the name is from the Maya word belix, meaning "muddy water", applied to the Belize River.

European settlement began with British Jews, privateers and English seamen as early as 1638. The first settlement in Belize was on the Bay of Honduras growing from a few habitations Belize Town now Belize City grew into a de-facto colony of the United Kingdom during the late 18th century. In the early 19th century the settlement was called British Honduras, and in 1871 it became a Crown Colony.

Britian, taking advantage of Spain’s inability to establish control over present-day Belize, began to use slaves (abolished in 1838) to cut logwood, a dyewood greatly valued in Europe for the wool industry. By the 1770s, a second tropical exotic timber, mahogany, replaced logwood as the main export from Belize. The economy of Belize remained based on the extraction of mahogany until the early 1900s when the cultivation of export crops such as citrus fruits, sugar cane, and bananas came to dominate the economy to what it is today.

British Honduras became a self-governing colony in January 1964 and was renamed "Belize" on June 1 1973. Belize was the last colony on the American mainland of any monarchic. George Cadle Price led the country to full independence on September 21, 1981. After delays caused by territorial disputes with neighboring Guatemala, which did not formally recognize the country

Throughout Belize's history, Guatemala has claimed ownership of all of Belize. This claim is reflected in maps showing Belize as Guatemala's twenty-third province. As of March 2008, the depute with Guatemala remains quite contentious. At various times the issue has required mediation by the United Kingdom. Since independence, a British garrison has been retained in Belize at the request of the Belizean government. There is no war over this matter and it is safe to travel Belize.

The main industries are sugar, citrus, fisheries and bananas. Sugar accounts for more than 33.4% of the country's foreign exchange earnings. Belize is also home to a number of growing manufacturing companies.

There are three ways to get to Belize: air boat or car, car is the most time consuming. Many people feel best way is to take a cruse to Belize. Air is the fastest and easiest way to get to Belize one can get direct flights from: Atlanta, GA - Charlotte, NC - Newark, NJ - Dallas/Houston, TX - Los Angeles, CA and Miami, FL.

Great jubilation through Belize occurred on Friday, February 8, 2008 when the Hon. Dean O. Barrow was sworn in as Belize's first Creole Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Barrow is committed to the task of national reconstruction, steering the country away from its' long history of crimes against the people. Prime Minister Barrow wants democracy to rule so the country might stand true to its' anthem: O'land of the free and the line that states: No tyrants here linger, despots must flee this tranquil Haven Of Democracy!

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Belizean born Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/giant-pandas.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/giant-pandas.html Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500 The Giant Panda is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Scientists do not know why these unusual bears are black and white, some speculate that the bold coloring provides effective camouflage into their shade-dappled snowy and rocky surroundings. The Giant Panda's thick, woolly coat keeps it warm in the cool forests of its habitat.

The Giant Panda was thought to be a member of the Procyonidae however, it actually belongs to the order Carnivora.

Carnivora is the scientific word for carnivore however, the Giant Panda has a diet which is 99% bamboo. Giant Pandas have large molar teeth and strong jaw muscles for crushing tough bamboo. There is twenty-five species of bamboo that is eaten by Giant Pandas in the wild, such as Fargesia dracocephala and Fargesia rufa. There is only a few bamboo species that are widespread in the high altitudes Giant Pandas now inhabit. Bamboo leaves contain the higher protein levels then stems. Giant Pandas may eat other foods such as honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges and bananas, if available.

There are only a few mountain ranges where Pandas can live, all in central China namely Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. Pandas once lived in lowland areas. The Pandas have been pushed out of its habitat to higher altitude and limited available space. The timber profit gained from harvesting bamboo has destroyed a significant portion of the food supply for the Giant Panda. The population of wild Giant Pandas decreased by 50 percent from 1973 to 1984 in six areas of China. Giant Pandas can usually live to be 20-30 years old in captivity.

The Panda is an endangered species continued as a result habitat loss and a very low birthrate, both in the wild and in captivity. China has only 239 Giant Pandas in captivity (128 of them in Wolong and 67 in Chengdu NNR) plus another 27 pandas living outside the country. It is estimated that around 1,590 Giant Pandas are living in the wild. However, a 2006 study via DNA analysis estimated that there might be as many as 2,000-3,000 Giant Pandas in the wild.

Scientists use to think Giant Pandas spent most of their lives alone, with males and females meeting only during the breeding season. Recent studies show small groups of pandas share a large territory and sometimes meet outside the breeding season.

The Giant Panda is a subtropical mammal. However, unlike most bear, the Giant Panda does not hibernate.

Adult Giant Pandas measure around 5ft long and around 2.5 feet tall at the shoulder, males are 1/5 larger than females, Males can weigh up to 115 kg or 253 pounds. The Giant Panda has the longest tail in the bear family; it being 4-6 inches long.

Pandas and other wild animals are deceiving as babies; many people find these chunky, lumbering animals to be cute, but Giant Pandas are just as dangerous as any other bear.

Unlike many other animals in ancient China, pandas were rarely thought to have medical uses. In the past, pandas were thought to be rare and noble creatures; the mother of Emperor Wen of Han was buried with a panda skull in her vault. Emperor Taizong of Tang is said to have given Japan two pandas and a sheet of panda skin as a sign of goodwill.

For more information please visit: http://www.cici-online.com



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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/bombay-cats.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/bombay-cats.html Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500 The are two different kinds of Bombay cats, The British Bombay and The American Bombay.

The British Bombay: is the name given to black cats of the Asian group which are like the Burmese.

The American Bombay was intensionally breed in 1958 in Louisville, Kentucky, by a lady named Nikki Horner who wanted a cat that looked like a wild panther nick named: Baby Panther.

Ms. Horner began breeding the Burmese for its` black coat, toes, nose, copper to greenish eyes, along with American Short Hair. Ms. Horner called her creation the "patent leather kid with the new penny eyes."

The offspring of this breeding did indeed resemble the black leopard of India and the name came from the Indian city of Bombay, now known as Mumbai.

The Bombay is a muscular yet agile cat. The heads of Bombay cats are rounded, wide with a short tapered muzzle and the wide set eyes are rounded. The ears of Bombay cats are broad, slightly rounded, medium sized and, like the eyes are set wide. The Bombay cat has a coat that is satiny and tight to the body. Bombay cats do not require grooming.

I have a Bombay cat that is quick to run and hide from strangers, yet is extremely loyal, loving to its' owner and is friendly toward those it trusts.

Fore more information on cats, dogs and other pets please vist : http://talking-about-pets.info



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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/music/harps.html http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/music/harps.html Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Harps, all different, but still a part of the harp family, can be traced to just about every continent on earth.

Asia has very few types of harps, there are still some native harps, however, only in limited production.

Egyptian, Persian, and Greek harps are some of the oldest dating back some 6000 years.

South American harps are derived from harps brought from Spain in the early 1600's. The most popular of South American harps is the Paraguayan harp, the national Instrument of Paraguay.

There are many different kinds of harp in Africa. They do not have forepillars and so are either bow harps or angle harps. As well as true harps such as Mauritania's ardin, there are a number of instruments that are difficult to classify, often being labeled harp-lutes, another term for them is spike harps. The West African Kora is the best known of African harps, the strings run from a string arm to a 'spike' and the resonating chamber is attached to the base of the spike.

Europe has many harps if not the most from Greece to Ireland dating back 3000-5000 years: the Cross Strung Harp, Irish Harp and Double Harp are just a few. There are only a few surviving harps from medivel times like the Waterburg Harp and Queen Mary Harp. Harps are still a big part of European culture. Pictures of harps can be found on wine and whiskey bottles, money and even Coat of Arms.

Like South American harps modern American harps are also derived from European harps imported in the early 1600's. The kind of wood used to make harps varies by region. Harp wood must be a strong wood, like Ebony or Mahogany, as a harp needs to hold a great amount of string tension.

The strings of harps are made of nylon, steel or copper. Old harp strings from around the world where made of catgut "sheepgut," hide or in Asia they used silk and in Africa antelope hide.

Catgut is the name applied to cord of great toughness, prepared from the intestines of the sheep or goat, and occasionally from those of hog, horse, mule, pig, and donkey. Those of the cat are not employed, however it is supposed that the word is properly kitgut ("violin string"), kit being derived from the ancient word "citara" or "kitara" from which comes the modern word "guitar." The present form may have arisen through confusion that kit = cat. Another explanation of the origin of the cat in catgut is that it is an abbreviation for cattle which originally denoted not only cows, but all types of livestock.

Harps produce calm music. It is said: If if one can play a Piano one can also play a harp.



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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/international-travel-tips.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/international-travel-tips.html Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600 Just traveling anywhere presents a certain amount of challenges to make sure that all goes well,
but international travel introduces even more variables into the mix that require advance planning to successfully navigate.
Of course, traveling in other countries can constitute some of the most memorable
times of our life so the rewards are often worth the extra work needed in preparation.
Here are some international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations:

The first thing you need to do before you can even leave the country, is your passport and/or a visa.
If you have to get/re-new a passport you need the following:
birth certificate.
name first/last of parents and since 9/11 you mite need you grandparents names.
social security number.
You can get/re-new a passport at any fair-sized post office.
If you are getting a visa you need all of the above and passport, you must have a passport to get a visa.

For more information visit:
http://www.agape-internet-marketing.com/websites/airlines

Find out if any vaccinations will be needed before you travel to that country. If you use medications, find out if they are they considered legal there.
Don't forget you mite not be covered for any medical emergency that may arise while traveling in that country!
Many health insurance policies do not extend beyond the borders of the US,
so additional trip insurance may be required to be adequately covered.

If you ever use your computer while traveling internationally you must make sure you have the right equipment.
Voltage converters or electrical plugs will be required in order to plug in and safely use your computer.

Also along with different electric systems there are also different metric systems. So bring along a metric conversion table.
The metric system abroad can be very confusing for Americans if they aren't prepared.

~Anthony Benjamin~ http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/moses-cone-house.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/moses-cone-house.html Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600 The company he created with his brother, Ceasar Cone, established in 1891, was called the Cone Export and Commission Company.
The Cone Brothers Company focus at the turn of the century was on consolidating their assembly line.
The Cone brothers moved their headquarters in 1894 from New York to Greensboro, North Carolina, where cotton fields, warehouses, and trains were all close at hand.

Inside this beautiful mansion is a unique Gift Shop featuring arts and crafts made by local Western North Carolina artists.
For more information on art and culture of the Appalachian Mountains visit:
appalachian-treasures.com

The increasing pace of commerce in Greensboro conflicted with the peaceful and natural existence desired by Moses and his wife, Bertha Cone.
So, handing the presidency of Cone Export to his brother, Moses Cone and his wife, Bertha, purchased a huge 3,500 acres of land north of Blowing Rock, N.C. and settled there. Their new estate included Flat Top Mountain and Rich Mountain.

Blowing Rock, N.C., was, at that time, already becoming a resort town, which Cone sought to promote and develop through his own private contributions.
Cone and his wife had no children, and philanthropic work kept them busy and content.

Cone donated generously to the public schools in Blowing Rock, N.C., quadrupling any monetary donations that the schools received.
His generous contributions to the State Teacher's College, which would later become Appalachian State University, were instrumental in promoting higher education in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Cone wanted to be a good steward of his estate. For every tree that was cut down, Cone planted another.
He also planted extensive pine forests and hemlocks, and had a passion for orchid cultivation.

In 1908, Moses Cone died at the young age of 51. His wife lived on the estate for another 39 years.
Both are buried on a hill across the street from the manor, and their tombstones can be viewed by visitors.

At the time of her death, Bertha's will donated the Moses Cone Memorial Park to the Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, N.C.
Later, in 1950, the Moses Cone Memorial Park was donated to the U.S. Government and has since been meticulously maintained.

The Moses Cone House Estate is open to the public for walking, hiking and mountain biking.
There are stables on the property, along with 27 miles of carriage trails.

Craftsman's Trail is a 20-mile loop around the estate, which the Cones are said to have walked together every morning.
A visitor might spend a nice leisurely afternoon wandering around the estate which encompasses vast fields and forests.
A bass and a trout lake, both built by Mose Cone, are also on the estate. Flat Top Manor is the large, white house where the Cones use to live.
It is beautiful and well preserved.

~Anthony Benjamin~

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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/the-history-of-papillons.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/the-history-of-papillons.html Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600
 The Papillon has its roots in the dwarf spaniels that were vary popular throughout Europe from at least the 16th century.

 These little dogs were extremely popular with the nobility.
 As time went on Spain and Italy became the centers of dwarf-spaniel breeding and trading.
 The court of King Louis XIV of France and his wife Queen Marie Antoinette was particularly fond of Papillons and imported many of them.  It is said that Marie Antoinette gave them the name Papillon.

 At one time the Papillon was known as the Squirrel Spaniel because it carries its tail over its back in the same way a squirrel does.

These early dogs had drooping ears called Phalenes which is French for moth, but through some unknown event, some dogs now have erect ears.  Some say they bred them with the Chihuahua.

 Now days both dropped eared Phalenes and erect eared Papillons can be found in the same litter.  Even today both ear types are equally correct, but the erect-eared dog is much more popular in America.

For more Information visit:
http://papillons-r-us.com

In Europe the Papillon is sometimes called the Epagneul Nain or the Continental Toy Spaniel.
 By the early 1900's the Papillon was well represented at French dog shows.  The Papillon was being shown in England and America around the 1920's.  These earlier exhibits tended to be larger than those seen today, and featured mostly solid-colored dogs, usually of some shade of red.

Selective breeding has resulted in a smaller dog that is distinguished by its striking colors broken by patches of white.  A symmetrically marked face with white blaze adds to the butterfly appearance.

The Papillon has become one of the more popular toy dogs, functioning equally well as a loving and carering dog making great pets. ~Anthony Benjamin~

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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/festivals-of-the-appalachain-mountains.html http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/festivals-of-the-appalachain-mountains.html Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600 The first National Storytelling Festival started in 1973 at the Washington County Courthouse Square in Jonesborough, Tenn. Since that time, usually in October, a faithful crowd of about 10,000 people from all over the globe make Jonesborough’s National Storytelling Festival one of the most successful weekend events in the Appalachian Mountains. It has spawned the revival of storytelling across the country. There was not another event dedicated to the art of storytelling.

It has also since spawned similar events like the Cave Run Storytelling Festival, held in September at Morehead, Ky.

All over the Appalachians, festivals sprout like wildflowers, especially during summer with happenings like the West Virginia State Folk Festival. Usually held June 15-18, the West Virginia State Folk Festival dates to 1950 at Glenville, a small college town on the Little Kanawha River. Most activities take place on Main Street and include workshops in old-time fiddle, banjo and mountain lap dulcimer. You can toss horseshoes. You can also attend a nightly square dance on the street.

Later in the year the West Virginia Black Walnut Festival is held Oct. 12-15 at Spencer.

One of the South’s biggest events is The Kentuck Festival, held Oct. 21-22, with more than 250 artists at Northport, Ala.

And one of the biggest events in the North Carolina High Country is the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair, held Aug. 4-5 at the Town Square of Burnsville, N.C., near the shadow of Mt. Mitchell - the highest mountain in the Eastern United States.

At the edge of Virginia’s coal fields, St. Paul throws its annual bash called Clinch River Days on the first weekend of June. St. Paul festival’s wine-tasting, fishing tournament, magic show and country music concerts.
St. Paul’s event attracts about 2,000 people each year. Clinch River Days boasts what every other great summer festival serves in the Appalachians - food, music and crafts.

The Best Friend Festival at nearby Norton is also held in June. The mainstay of the Steppin’ Out Festival in Blacksburg, Va., is held in early August.

The Mountain Heritage Day Festival at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., is held in September.

The emphasis shifts slightly - if you go from a festival to a county fair.

Fairs feature more agricultural contests plus four-wheeler racing, rodeos and demolition derbies. Also, carnival rides light up the nighttime sky at the Rich Valley Fair near Saltville, Va., the Virginia-Kentucky District Fair at Wise, Va., or the Appalachian Fair at Gray, Tenn.

FunFest in Kingsport, Tenn., runs July 14-22, with children’s activities, food and games. Events envelop nearly every corner of the industrial city near the Tennessee-Virginia line.

One of the biggest - and newest - festivals in the mountains celebrates eclectic musical tastes at Floyd, Va.

Dubbed FloydFest, this three-day World Music Festival is held annually with bluegrass, reggae, folk, African and Appalachian music running July 28-30. Performances by Iris Dement, Eddie From Ohio, Los Lobos, Appalachian Roots, The Lee Boys, Sun Dried Opossum, Blue Mule and the Celtic Air Band (shown here) that has been featured on national T.V.'s Today Show.

Also in July, the Tazewell County Old Time & Bluegrass Fiddlers Convention runs July 14-16, with Friday night performances, Saturday instrument and band competitions plus a Sunday morning gospel sings.

In August, check out Galax’s Old Fiddlers Convention, held since 1935. Now, the contest featuring banjo players, guitarists and other musicians attracts thousands. There’s also just as much a concert happening off stage - in parking lots or campgrounds - as there is on stage at Felts Park.

If there is a trend to festivals, it might be the explosion of new mountain music events. Part of that success could be owed to the promotion and popularity of various mountain music trails, such as Virginia’s The Crooked Road, stretching from the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum College to the west at Breaks Interstate Park on the Kentucky border.

Near the center of The Crooked Road lies Bristol, TN, the home of the Rhythm & Roots Reunion. This festival - on the third weekend of each September - regularly attracts thousands to the downtown corridor of Bristol’s State Street with a mix of bluegrass, acoustic, country and Appalachian tunes. Performers have included Dave Loggins, a Mountain City, Tenn., native who grew up in Bristol, had a Top-10 hit with “Please Come to Boston,” and later wrote songs for Alabama and Wynonna Judd. The festival has been a surprising success for the city situated on the Tennessee-Virginia line.

Once, in the 1990s, Bristol hardly had luck gathering a festival crowd - unless it had something to do with its massive NASCAR track on the southside of town. Bristol’s Autumn Chase Festival simply withered away, for lack of interest, and bad weather plagued Bristol’s short-lived Racefest until, finally, the city just stopped having festivals.

Now, Rhythm & Roots Reunion goes to Bristol’s roots. It capitalizes on the city’s tradition as a bluegrass mecca and its fame as the “Birthplace of Country Music” - a claim made for being the place where both Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family were discovered in 1927.

Burke’s Garden Fall Festival, held near Tazewell, Va., in September, is a must see.

Other large festivals are beautiful and exciting too, like the Virginia Highlands Festival, stretching for two weeks in early August at Abingdon, Va.

Originating in 1949, the Virginia Highlands Festival was founded by Robert Porterfield, who also started the town’s Barter Theatre. In its early years, the festival was simply a great way to promote the theatre’s summer season. Now, the Virginia Highlands Festival includes Barter Theatre performances plus a Celtic music weekend, art shows, and an antiques market.

In recent years, an increased number of outdoor activities have also been scheduled for the festival, including hikes to Mount Rogers, the Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve, the Great Channels near Hayter’s Gap, and the Virginia Creeper Trail.

At Whitetop, Va., the Maple Festival in March, the Ramp Festival in May
and the Molasses Festival in October. All three are fundraisers for the Mount Rogers Volunteer Fire Department.

One of the most memorable experienes is to attend a Majestic Appalachian Festival. Don't miss your experience!

~Anthony Benjamin~

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Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>