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Grandfather Mountain Highland Games bed and breakfast

Tom — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:05:59 +0000

There is an ancient connection between the Scottish Isles, The Baird House bed and breakfast and these Appalachian mountains. John Baird left his ancestral home in Scotland in 1650 and sailed the Atlantic to New Jersey. 135 years later John’s grandson, Ezekiel Baird, traveled from New Jersey with his wife settling in what is now Valle Crucis building their home which is now the Baird House Bed and Breakfast inn ( the oldest house in the county ) near Boone, NC. As time progressed more people of Scottish & Irish ancestry settled in this area bringing with them a culture rich in music and tradition.

Probably the most influential family in this part of the Blue Ridge is that of Hugh MacRae who, in the late 1800’s bought & developed land in and around Grandfather Mountain. Following his death his family was instrumental in starting what is now one of the largest gathering of the Scottish clans in the world. The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is a 4 day celebration of music, food, sporting events and dancing beginning Thursday July 8th. Make your plans to attend the games and make your reservations to stay at the Baird House, a Grandfather Mountain bed and breakfast, a 20 minute drive from the games. Grandfather Mountain is close to many an Asheville bed and breakfast, about an hour and a half drive.

A Valle Crucis bed and breakfast

Tom — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:57:20 +0000

Video tour of the Baird House, near Boone, NC bed and breakfast

Lots of “freebies” to enjoy near a Boone bed and breakfast

Tom — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:26:54 +0000

After a brutal winter of ice storms, frigid winds & 3 continuous
months of snow covered ground we welcomed Spring with open arms. The
snowy wet season resulted in a lush green season & cool evenings
around the firepit. Deede is readying her garden, preparing to plant
some vegetables and herbs.

Before telling you about some of the FREE events & activities in the
area here’s a reminder that we offer bed and breakfast gift certificates. These make
great presents for Mother’s Day, Christmas, birthdays,anniversaries,
weddings, for pastors & their wives, employee appreciation, to some-
one for their help or friendship. We can customize a certificate for
you to provide a night or 2 during weekdays or weekends or it can be
based on a dollar amount. Feel free to call us to discuss what you
have in mind for someone. 1-800-297-1342.

LOTS OF FREE MUSIC EVENTS THIS SUMMER

From Friday May 28th through September “Music in the Valle” begins.
Local musicians & bands perform FREE CONCERTS in the Valle Crucis
Park behind the Mast Store Annex starting at 6pm. Bring your own
chairs ( or you may use ours ) or a blanket and food if you like.
Some guests stop by the grocery store for cheese,breads,chips,
crackers wine or other adult beverages then go to the park to listen
to some good music prior to checking in.

Also, every Friday @ 5pm starting June 4th, at the Jones House in
downtown Boone, the FREE “Concert on the Lawn” series begins. Bring
a chair or a blanket. Visit joneshousecommunitycenter.org for more
info. Bring food & drink if you like or have your evening meal at
one of the many restaurants on King Street.

On Monday nights in Blowing Rock (June 7th, June 21st and July 5th))
begins the FREE “Monday Night Concert Series” held at the gazebo in
Broyhill Park off of Clark Street.Visit amymarieproductions.com for
more info. The Baird House is a Blowing Rock area bed and breakfast.

Always exciting is” Art in the Park” located in Blowing Rock.This is
a juried art & craft show featuring 100 artists starting May 15th
through October & held on Saturdays from 10 am ’til 5pm. Admission
is FREE & the shuttle service is FREE from the Tanger Outlet to
Blowing Rock. Visit blowingrock.com for more info.

Be sure to see the most recent Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower Report
at virtualblueridge.com. The Baird House is a Blue Ridge Parkway bed and breakfast.

If you are on Facebook please become a fan of the Baird House at our
FB page ( you know how to do it .

Finally, please visit our Visitor Information/ blog at
bairdhouse.com where we recently posted a video about our ride down
the Virginia Creeper bike trail. Also, see photos & a brief write-up
of a recent tour of Raffaldini Winery at exit 267 at Hwy 421 near
the Hwy 421/I-77 interchange. That is a great place/way to spend 1-2
hours on your way here or home.

Stay tuned for video of us riding the new zipline at Seven Devils.

A Sunday afternoon at Raffaldini Winery & Vineyard

Tom — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:15:20 +0000

Overlooking 43 acres of vineyards

[caption id="attachment_799" align="alignleft" width="533" caption="Inspecting young vines"][/caption]

At Villa Raffaldini, Ronda, NC

Our great friends, Lisa & Keith Carter, join us at Raffaldini for a tour of the vineyards and wine tasting which is located off Hwy 421 at Exit 267 between Winston-Salem and Wilkesboro, NC ( approx. 30 minutes from Winston and an hour and 15 minutes from the Baird House bed and breakfast) .The Raffaldini family dates back to the year 1348 in the town of Mantua, located in the Northern Province of Lombardy, Italy. The family made a decision to share centuries-old winemaking experience with the New World. After a long and exhaustive search for land that would reflect this experience, Raffaldini Vineyards was established in the Swan Creek area of the Yadkin Valley. There are 43 acres of beautifully maintained vineyards and property. Wine tastings are $5 per person ( you keep your glass); cheeses, breads, crackers, olives, tomatoes can be purchased in their store and there is an upstairs room with great views with tables & chairs to enjoy your wine and food. The staff is very pleasant and helpful. Our wine choices were the Fiori and Oneotria. A very nice way to spend 1-2 hours.Montepulciano grapes.

Click below for video of an early Spring ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail

Tom — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:49:40 +0000

An early Spring ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail
In late March we drove to Damascus, VA ( a 50 minute drive from the Baird House bed and breakfast into Tenn. then into Virginia, pretty close for a Boone bed and breakfast ), rented bikes & helmets from Adventure Damascus & took a van shuttle up to White Top Mountain to bike down the Virginia Creeper Trail. The trail is a former railroad line from White Top to Abingdon, VA.The ride down the mountain ( there is little pedaling because of the downward grade of the trail), which is 17 miles from White Top back to Damascus, took us 3 hours but we took our time. One can finish it quicker but why hurry? The trail goes down the mountain, through pastures, by huge rock formations, across the Appalachian Trail and across rivers & streams via restored train trestles. Take a picnic lunch & drinks in a backpack then stop along the way for lunch. Clean restrooms are located along the trail and a cafe or 2. We were really hungry after our ride so we ate at Quincy’s restaurant wh/ is right next door to our bike rental place. Burgers & pizza were our choices which were really good.
Riding the Creeper is a highly recommended activity, is reasonably priced & a great way to spend a day. A noontime departure gives one plenty of time to enjoy the ride.

Spring sprouts wine, music and trout

Tom — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:57:09 +0000

Even though Winter is not over ( and it has been a SERIOUS Winter
up here )it is on its way out so thoughts of Spring get us excited
and so do some upcoming local events. Before mentioning the events
let us remind you of our Spring Special when all room rates on any
day of the week are $129 nightly per couple ( there are NO 2 night
minimums ). This special starts March 7th and ends April 28th
( except March 19th & 20th, Bristol Race ).

Trout Fishing
Fishermen are eagerly anticipating the upcoming trout season.
Thousands of Brook,Rainbows and Browns are scheduled to be stocked
on the Watauga River very soon. The Baird House bed & breakfast is
the only inn located on the river which is why many flyfishermen
stay here. To read a local fishing blog see
http://www.foscoefishing.com/blog/.

The 5th Annual Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival….
kicks off April 15th in Blowing Rock. This 3 day event celebrates
the enjoyment of wine, explores the art of winemaking, offers
tastings & cooking classes. The “Fire on the Rock” Chef Challenge
will be held as well as late night entertainment & music. For more
information see www.blueridgewinefestival.com.

MerleFest…
is one of the largest, if not THE largest, folk music festivals in
the U.S. This 4 day long celebration begins April 29th in Wilkesboro
NC just 45 minutes from the Baird House. MerleFest mixes Bluegrass,
folk, jazz, Gospel, rock, Cajun and other other styles. Overall, the
music of MerleFest is considered as “traditional-plus”.
Here is a partial list of featured artists:
* Doc Watson
* Steve Martin ( comedian and banjo player )
* Taj Mahal
* Elvis Costello
* Sam Bush Band
* John Cowan
* George Hamilton IV
* Little Feat
and there are dozens more. See www.merlefest.org.

Congratulations to the winners of our email contest. Gina & Kent
of Winston-Salem, Kathy & Eric of Matthews and Lisa & Gary of
Mooresville will receive champagne & truffles upon their next stay
here. Many thanks to all of you who participated in signing up last
month.

If we may be of any service to you then please call or email us.

Deede & Tom
www.bairdhouse.com

Snowfall at the Baird House B & B

Tom — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:05:26 +0000

Our guests’ 6 favorite places on the property

Tom — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:08:58 +0000

We moved here in October 1997 & officially opened for business April 1, 1998. We’re blessed to have many returning guests who, upon checking in, go to the first favorite place which is the dining room table. It is here where they find the famous and cherished homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Favorite place #2 would be the dining tables where we serve a large hot breakfast daily. We really do try to serve a breakfast big enough so that guests won’t have to eat lunch somewhere. Not only are Deede’s breakfasts out of this world delicious but people genuinely enjoy meeting & socializing with others at the table(s).

The third favorite place ( during Spring, Summer & Fall ) are the porches which overlook the pasture into the river or directly into the river or overlook the barn and the upper pasture. This is the only Boone bed and breakfast on the river. It is common for people to sit in the rockers or cushioned chairs to read, watch the river go by, look for deer beside/in/crossing the river right in front of the inn. Newly made friends from breakfast also gather for more socializing. It’s not uncommon for guests to enjoy their fav adult beverages there (porch medicine).

Next is the hammock, out front,in the shade,under the cedar trees. That says it all.

The #4 place is anywhere along the river ( which actually is our front yard )especially directly in front of the main house. Gabby, our 1/2 Golden Retreiver and 1/2 Yellow Lab, loves it when people throw rocks into the river … she jumps in and finds a rock then brings it up on the bank then waits,tail wagging, for another rock to be thrown in. This is the only Valle Crucis bed and breakfast on the river.

Finally, the firepit. We keep lots of firewood on hand and when guests request a fire we can get one blazing in 10 to 15 minutes. Nights are often cool in the summer and a lot of wood goes up in smoke during June, July and August. Like moths to a flame are people to the firepit when we light it up. A good spot to close out the day, especially with a glass of wine.

We tell people that we can keep them as busy as they want to be or as relaxed as they want to be. These 6 places definately fall under the “Relaxed” category.