Blue Ridge Country November/December 2021 - 27

which are spaciously built with cathedral
ceilings. Enjoy modern kitchen facilities,
full baths and cozy living areas. Two cottages
are pet friendly; and, there's a wine
bar onsite to gather with friends and family.
(theredhorseinn.com)
Several antique/collectible shops and
boutiques await in the town where you
can find that unexpected treasure. Take
a self-guided day excursion in the area to
visit a historic covered bridge, see waterfalls,
stroll a quaint Victorian mountain
village or enjoy wine tasting.
NORTH CAROLINA
Ruby City Gems & Minerals. (Franklin).
Add this free museum to your " mustsee "
list while in the gem-mining-rich
mountains of western North Carolina.
Since 1958, this family has amassed
thousands of specimens while building
a business visited by gem hunters and
" rockhounds " from around the country.
On display are fossils, petrified wood,
Native American artifacts and the largest
private collection of pre-Columbian
pieces in the world. On the retail side,
rough and polished stones from agate to
unakite are sold by the pound. Also, they
have a full selection of tools and kits for
stone identification, mining, panning
and polishing. Be sure to ask about the
founder whose life began as the son of a
" poor dirt farmer. " (rubycity.com)
While in the area, join a ghost, mystery
or history guided tour. Take a break at local
breweries, coffee shops and bakeries.
Talk to locals at the visitor center and historical
society for tips on sights of interest.
Tweetsie Railroad. (Blowing Rock).
For an indoor adventure in the outdoors,
book a ride at the state's oldest western
theme park. Two narrow gauge locomotives
(the last surviving steam engine from
the ET&WNC railroad and the other from
Alaska's White Pass & Yukon Railway)
carry passengers through the mountains.
The rides have themes such as a Wild
West Adventure and a Can-Can Revue.
You can also travel at night on a ghost
train complete with spooky activities; or
celebrate the holidays on a nighttime excursion
through lighted scenery. For fairer
weather, this destination has a traditional
amusement park with rides, fairs and a
petting zoo. (tweetsie.com)
In Blowing Rock and its neighboring
town of Boone, shop at the outlet stores,
watch glassblowers create beauty and taste
handcrafted treats at chocolate shops and
coffeehouses. See a living history museum,
mine for gems or tour Linville Caverns
during your stay.
Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian. (Asheville).
Taste the culinary diversity growing
by leaps and bounds across this metropolitan
city at this Italian eatery. Authenticity
guides the homemade cuisine at this restaurant
whose owner grew up in Brooklyn
where family-run neighborhood restaurants
filled the air with delicious aromas.
During the past 11 years, Vinnie's (named
for a family friend who owned pizzerias in
Manhattan and Long Island) has earned
customer loyalty with its " Old School "
dinner menu: antipasti - arancini, garlic
knots, calamari fritti; pasta-seafood lineyou
Get
your FREE visitors guide at DestinationDawsonville.com or call 1-877-302-9271 #Dawsonville
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 27
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http://www.tweetsie.com http://www.theredhorseinn.com http://www.rubycity.com http://www.DestinationDawsonville.com

Blue Ridge Country November/December 2021

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