Tryon, known as the friendliest town in the south, is nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the Thermal Belt region of western North Carolina. Year after year, Tryon’s moderate winters, cool summer breezes, rolling landscapes, and mountain views attract visitors in search of the perfect place to vacation and relocators looking for a retirement haven.

Spring is marked by the April Fool’s Festival.  The weekend of Friday April 1 begins with a downtown street dance Friday evening. Folks are encouraged to practice their best moves and show them off in the dance contest. Tomfoolery is king all day on Saturday with, that’s right, an outhouse race. Build an outhouse, put it on wheels and you may win a prize. Even if you lose, you win by strutting your creativity in the afternoon parade. Those who prefer fashion design and are avid about recycling have an opportunity to display their unique ability in the Trashion Show. If that outfit is definitely haute couture show it off at the evening’s Masquerade Ball!

Pearson’s Falls will be open and early spring flowers will be in bloom along the trails.  Pearson’s Falls is maintained by the Tryon Garden Club and provides visitors with the exquisite experience of a walk through a glen of falling water and mountain flora.

Equestrian events are on the calendar year round at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center.  The premier annual event is a steeplechase sponsored by the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club.  This year the 65th Block House Steeplechase festivities will take place on April 23.  This is a long- standing, exciting and equestrian learning experience.

WNC Magazine compliments the “cosmopolitan convenience” of this small mountain town. The historic downtown area boasts many quality restaurants, shops, bookstores and galleries.  This Blue Ridge locale is home to a number of working artists and craftspeople.

In earlier years the Tryon area was well known for producing a fine quality of wine grapes. The industry has revived and now many local wineries offer select wine tastings and entertainment to enhance a mountain getaway.

Tryon, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and big city fun.

For a  “Virginia State of Mind” the small town of Floyd on the crest of the Blue Ridge is wrapped in the enchantment of mountain scenery, but the true magic is revealed in the very active environment of it’s culture.  Floyd has been recognized in the February-March 2011 issue of the national magazine Mother Earth News.  It made their select list of “Great Places You’ve (maybe) Never Heard Of.”.  The magazine, dedicated to sustainable living, found the culture of the town characteristic of the community it represents. More information

A look at a single month in the website’s calendar of events indicates a lively, ongoing participation in the arts.  Month by month the calendar lists activities music, literature, art and  workshops .  More information

The Jacksonville Center for the Arts is active year round with exhibits of a variety of artistic expression and performance.  Artists continue to be inspired by the scenic location and the local appreciation of what they create.  Floyd is home to a number of galleries and shops that celebrate many different art forms.  More information

For music lovers there are jams and jamborees.  The Floyd Country Store hosts music and dancing every Friday evening, and sometimes on Saturday night.  Floydfest is one of the best music festivals in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Check out this year’s lineup on their website.

Bookworms find bookshops that keep up with the latest literature.  And for those who want to spend more time outdoors, the Blue Ridge Parkway is right nearby for a drive with spectacular views, camping opportunities and rustic relaxation.  It all goes on all the time in Floyd.

On Friday evening, March 18, 2011 at 8:00 pm, the Smallwander Club will begin its monthly presentation of Inverse Auctions, where the services and goods of participating business members will be offered for sale in an interesting and engaging format.  An Inverse Auction is so named because the starting price is the highest that can be paid for an item, and the price decreases as the auction progresses.  A complete explanation of the workings of these auctions is posted below.

The items and packages that will be offered at auction consist of services and goods provided by locally owned businesses in charming small towns. Primarily, we will offer packages consisting of stays at wonderful B & Bs and inns in small towns in combination with fine dining at excellent local restaurants, tours of local wineries, tickets to dramatic performances at playhouses, rounds of golf, guided fishing outings, and the like.  In other auctions we will offer individual pieces of fine art, jewelry, pottery, and similar unique items built by small-town artisans.

The opening prices for the items at auction will be lower than the usual prices for the same items if they were purchased directly.  And, because the prices at Inverse Auctions go down, not up, as the auctions progress, your savings will also increase.

The financial transaction is conducted through PayPal, whose 128-bit SSL servers insure the highest level of online security and privacy possible.  An auction item may be purchased securely using any credit card or your PayPal account.  Read more about it here.