Hickory, N.C. – 50 minutes from Lake James

  • Nicknamed the Furniture Capital of the World, tHickory has many shops that showcase the area’s tradition of creating some of the nation’s best furniture
  • The Hickory Crawdads, Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, offers baseball action in the summer
  • Host to the annual International Spring Fest, Friday Night Family Concert Series and more
  • Home to Lenoir-Rhyne College, a private liberal-arts college

Boone/Blowing Rock, N.C. – 60 minutes from Lake James

  • Blowing Rock offers charming restaurants, upscale stores and community parks
  • Art lovers will enjoy Blowing Rock, home to the annual “Art in the Park” events, the Blowing Rock Stage Company, private galleries, Hayes Performing Arts Center and Winterfest
  • Boone is home to Appalachian State University, the reigning champions of NCAA-Division I Football Championship Series
  • Each July, Appalachian State University organizes a one-month summer festival featuring a variety of music and arts events
*Photo courtesy of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and Todd Bush