Points of Interest - Milepost 292 to 298

• Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway - Time spent depends on your stamina...You could spend all day! - Outlet shoppes including Gap, Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren, Geoffrey Beene, Corning, and over 30 others. Also, there's a restaurant, ice cream shop and much more. From MP 292 it's a straight shot down 321 (Shoppes will be on your right). From MP 294, take 221 to Main Street Intersection, make a left. At stoplight, make a left and Shoppes will be right there on your left. 800-720-6728 or www.tangeroutlet.com
• The Green Park Inn - Drive By or stop & have a picture made with green horse & buggy! - On the National Register of Historic Places, the Green Park Inn is rich with heritage. Overlooking the Blowing Rock Golf Course, the stately, white-framed, Victorian manor is one of the South's oldest resorts established in 1882. Such figures as Franklin Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and JD Rockefeller have graced the Green Park for opulent galas and weekends of rest and relaxation.
• Moses Cone Manor - 1-3 hrs. The Manor House was the summer home of textile magnate Moses Cone (also called the Denim King!). The home was one of the first in the mountains to have indoor plumbing. He planted orchards and had two lakes made for his fishing enjoyment: Bass Lake and Trout Lake. Today, the Cone House is home to the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, an organization that only accepts high-quality crafts for sale and display. Here you will also find 26 miles of bridle paths and carriage trails. The carriage house and main house are rumored to be haunted! FREE
• Rich Mtn. - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 3.0 miles, Moderate FREE
• Flat Top Mountain - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 3.0 miles, Moderate FREE
• Watkins - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 3.3 miles, Moderate FREE
• Black Bottom - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: .5 miles, easy FREE
• Bass Lake - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 1.7 miles, easy FREE
• Deer Park - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: .8 miles, Moderate FREE
• Maze - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 2.3 miles, Moderate FREE
• Duncan - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 2.5 miles, Moderate FREE
• Rock Creek Bridge - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 1.0 mile, easy FREE
• The Village of Blowing Rock - 1.5 to 3 hrs. - Unique shops, boutiques, antique markets and restaurants in a picture-perfect village setting complete with a Main Street Park with benches for weary shoppers. From MP 294, take Hwy. 221 into Blowing Rock, make right on Main Street and you're there! From MP 292, take 321 into Blowing Rock, make a right on Sunset and that will take you to Main Street. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com
• Glen Burney Falls - From MP 294 take US Hwy. 221 North for 2 miles to Main Street in Blowing Rock. At the traffic light, turn right onto Main Street/Hwy. 321 S and go through one traffic light. Take a right onto Laurel Lane and proceed straight through 4-way stop sign. Next left is driveway for Anne Cannon Memorial Garden (across from pond with Gazebo). The trail head for Glen Burney Trail is at far end of parking area. The Trail goes to two waterfalls. 1.6 miles. Moderate to Strenuous. FREE
• Art in the Park -All day! - Featuring unique crafts, fine art, great food, mountain music, and much more. One of the area's most popular festivals. Takes place one Saturday per month each year from May to October. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com FREE
• Blowing Rock Stage Company - Top notch theatrical and musical performances right in the town of Blowing Rock. Musicals, Comedies and Reviews featuring professional talent and children's theatre productions. Year-round productions to begin with the completion of the new Blowing Rock Community Arts Center. From MP 294, make left onto Hwy. 221, then right onto Main Street. Make left onto Sunset and Blowing Rock Stage Company is on right. From MP 292, take 321 to Blowing Rock and turn right onto Sunset Drive. Stage Company will be on your left. Be sure to call or visit their web site for a schedule and to reserve tickets. 828-295-9627. www.blowingrockstage.com $
• Westglow Spa - 1 hr. to overnight - Pamper yourself for an hour, a day...or a whole week! From MP 294, make a right onto Hwy. 221. Westglow is approximately 4 miles on the left from the turn onto 221. 800-562-0807 or www.westglow.com $
• Figure 8 Trail -A short, self-guiding loop nature trail. Milepost 294.1, .7 mile, Easy FREE
• Trout Lake - Hiking & Horse Trail One mile loop, easy. At MP 294.6 FREE
• Historic Fort Defiance- About 20 miles from Milepost 292,on Highway 321,towards Lenoir- 1792 Fort Defiance Drive, Lenoir-Fort Defiance, circa 1792, is the restored home of General William Lenoir. Considered one of the most unique restorations country-wide, it contains over 300 pieces of original furnishings and artifacts. 828-758-1671. www.FortDefianceNC.org $
• Julian Price Park - 1 hr. to overnight - 4,344 acre park with lake, canoeing, campground, picnic area, fishing, trails, amphitheater and more. Campground has no showers but does have bathrooms. Lake on premises--canoeing, fishing & trails. No reservations accepted. Cost is based on number of persons in tent space (usually around $14 or so) Dump station for RVs at office. Cold water, grills but no electricity. Great trails. Excellent fishing. FREE
• Green Knob Trail - Excellent hike that goes under a Parkway bridge, over the ridge and across many different types of terrain. Great for wildflower and bird enthusiasts. Could spot a deer. Great for winter hiking, too. 2.3 Miles, Moderate to Strenuous. MP 295.9 FREE
• Boone Fork - Trail Great trail to see stream, forest and meadows. Kids and dogs LOVE it! 4.9 miles, moderate to strenuous. Also great picnic area at trail head. MP 296.5 FREE
• Price Lake Loop Trail - Great way to explore Price Park and Price Lake. Especially beautiful when Mountain Laurel & Rhododendron are out and is breathtakingly beautiful in the fall. Also a neat hike in the winter when there is snow on the ground. 2.3 miles, Moderate. Fairly flat. MP 297. FREE