Have the Time of Your Life at Lake Lure's Dirty Dancing Festival

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the blockbuster hit movie Dirty Dancing. There's hands-down no better way to celebrate than to spend a weekend retracing Baby and Johnny's steps at the 3rd Annual Dirty Dancing Festival in Lake Lure, North Carolina.

Living the Dirty Dancing Dream at Lake Lure

Where it all began
Dirty Dancing was partly filmed in Lake Lure, NC, during 1986, and released a year later to a tremendous reception. People fell in love with the Houseman family, went "Swayze Crazy," and couldn't get enough of the late-night staff dances that gave the film its name. Now you can relive the excitement, and even meet several of the film's cast and crew, for two days at the Dirty Dancing Festival.

Perfect timing for a summer vacation
The Dirty Dancing Festival takes place on August 17th and 18th, when the summer sun and sparkling water make every day ideal at Lake Lure. This pristine and remote spot has been a summer vacation favorite for decades. Cool off in the heat of August with a splash in the cold mountain lake! Then enjoy an exclusive nighttime screening of Dirty Dancing lakeside on the big screen.

Recreate the Magic in the Lake Lift Competition

Learn to dance the Cha Cha
The daytime family dance festival features live bands and exciting choreographed dance performances. There's something for everyone in the family, from a beer and wine garden to the Kidz Zone, as well as dozens of food and craft vendors. Make sure to refine your swimming skills ahead of time if you hope to win the Lake Lift competition! Plus, dance lessons are free, so you can learn how to Salsa, Mambo, and Cha Cha!


You'll need a place for the family to stay after you dance the night away! Carolina Mornings, the area's premiere vacation rental company, has plenty of rental cabins in the Lake Lure vicinity. Give our Vacation Planners a call today to book the time of your life!

Relaxation in a Round House: Amethyst Creek Cottage

Discover Serenity at Amethyst Creek Cottage

Nestled in a woodsy setting, Amethyst Creek Cottage is an energy efficient Deltec round house with a wrap-around deck and inspirational, modern furnishings. If serenity is in your vacation plans, this destination will satisfy your quest for soul searching. Amethyst Creek Cottage is the perfect place to start a personal project or make romantic memories.

With majestic mountain views and complete privacy, comforts at Amethyst Creek Cottage include a Tempurpedic king-sized bed, WiFi for staying connected, and Eco-Friendly features such as a low flow toilet, Energy Star appliances, air purification systems, and low-VOC paint.

Modern Decor and Energy Efficient Features

Located in Fairview, near hiking trails, whitewater rafting, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the cottage is an ideal vacation home-away-from-home, just 30 minutes away from Asheville's plentiful arts, entertainment, and fine dining.

Rates start at $285 for a weekend or $785 weekly. Call a friendly Carolina Mornings' Vacation Planner today to book your wilderness escape to Amethyst Creek Cottage.

Experience the Art of Slow Living at Slow Living Cottage

Nestled on a wooded hillside near Asheville is a cabin that truly captures the zen-like essence of the surrounding natural world. Slow Living Cottage is immersed in a natural setting, making this bungalow a local paradise for bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Located just minutes from the French Broad River, there are endless opportunities for hiking, biking, kayaking, and rafting nearby. The cottage is tastefully appointed with a quaint and clean demeanor, including a cozy window seat, pebbled shower floor, modern kitchen, and numerous windows that create a bright and healthy atmosphere.

While relaxing at this tranquil paradise may be enough for some, this cottage is conveniently located 15 minutes from the shops, studios, restaurants and entertainment of Downtown Asheville. After returning home from an evening on the town, relax by a crackling fire in the outdoor fire circle or soak your troubles away beneath the stars in the spacious soft-sided outdoor hot tub.

"We had a wonderful, relaxing weekend. What a beautiful cottage - the perfect escape for some R&R," said a recent guest from Charlotte, NC.

Come escape to this serene cottage for your next getaway, and learn what slow living is all about. Rates start at $285 for a weekend or $785 weekly. 

For a limited time, book a 2-night stay and receive $50 off our reservation or $75 off a 3-night stay.* To book online, use the code 2BLOG50 for a 2-night stay or 3BLOG75 for a 3-night stay.

*Restrictions apply. For reservations booked after June 19 and checking out before August 27^th.

Top Ten Reasons You'll Love Asheville's Bele Chere Festival

Ready to get into the summer groove dancing in the streets? Bele Chere takes over Asheville from July 27th through 29th! The largest free arts and music street festival in the Southeast, Bele Chere has been drawing crowds of excited fans to downtown Asheville, NC, for 34 years. With the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, everyone enjoys three days of food and fun at this festival named for "Beautiful Living."

If you've never been to Bele Chere before, here's ten convincing reasons to take a summer break and see what it's all about.

1. Over forty bands are playing absolutely free all day and night, from local acts including Jonathan Scales Fourchestra and Grammy Award winners David Holt and Balsam Range to national headliners Los Amigos Invisibles, Dr. Dog, and BoomBox.

2. Kids activities! The Children's Area offers exciting rides, fun performances and sing-alongs, Tae Kwon Do instruction, and friendly animals from the Western North Carolina Nature Center.

3. Asheville is Beer City USA and Bele Chere gives you a taste of brews from dozens of local microbreweries, plus you can walk around town with your beer as long as you have an over-21 festival wristband.

4. Come hungry because the Taste of Asheville and the Pritchard Park Food Court aim to satisfy all of your festival cravings, from farm-to-table gourmet cuisine to funnel cakes and kettle corn.

5. Watch dogs of all breeds make a splash while attempting the "Longest Leap" in the Purina Ultimate Air Dogs competition.

6. Enjoy a unique opportunity to meet artists and watch them create their handmade works of art in the Arts Park, including jewelry makers, photographers, ceramics artists, woodworkers, and painters.

7. Asheville's finest and funniest street performers are out in full force during Bele Chere. In a city that's famous for top-notch buskers, this is the best time to see musicians, jugglers, and living statues break out their best acts.

8. Get active! Bring your running shoes and participate in the Bele Chere 5K.

9. Find one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones from hundreds of craft and merchant vendors throughout the festival.

10. Once you visit Asheville, you'll want to stay a while! Spend the whole week exploring this mountain paradise and you'll discover breathtaking views from the Blue Ridge Parkway, cascading waterfalls, picturesque fields of wildflowers, and the serenity that comes from time spent surrounded by natural beauty.

A vacation rental cabin transforms a family trip into a full-on relaxing getaway. Carolina Mornings is Asheville's premiere resource for mountain cabin rentals, offering pet-friendly properties, exclusive discounts with the complimentary Mountain Discovery Pass, private amenities, and on-staff concierge service. Call our Vacation Planners today to reserve the perfect Asheville cabin for your group!

Escape to Eagle's Crest for a Family Adventure

Perched atop one of the most beautiful mountains in the Asheville area sits Eagle’s Crest. This newly built log and glass home, leaves you breathless with its views. Sitting on over 5 acres of North Carolina woods, Eagle’s Crest is the perfect place to let the kids (and the dogs) roam.

Sip coffee in the morning on the oversized decks watching the clouds drift by or on the covered porch during a gentle rain. Eagle’s Crest has three big bedrooms, a big loft and 2 and ½ baths. Plenty of room to bring the whole family (and don’t forget the dogs). Escape to the master bedroom suite when you need some alone time and sit on the private deck, or soak in the over-sized Jacuzzi under picture windows looking out over 30 miles of views.

Like to cook? This well appointed kitchen will please even the pickiest of chefs. Granite counter tops, hardwood floors and a floor to ceiling stone fireplace will leave you wanting to come back, time and time again. Eagle’s Crest was a labor of love for the owners and they know you will be pleased with the results.

Call Carolina Mornings today to book your family vacation at Eagle’s Crest. For a limited time receive $25 off a 2-night stay or $50 off a 3-night stay. To book online, use the code  2BLOG25 for a 2-night stay or 3BLOG50 for a 3-night stay.

A Family Favorite: Doolittle Mountain Cabin

This secluded mountain cabin is the perfect setting for a summertime family getaway. Resting on 30 acres of land, it offers a rare combination of breathtaking mountain and river views, plus many hiking trails right on the property for a scenic family hike.

DoolittleMountain Cabin is inviting and comfortable, and a great size for the whole extended family. After a fun-filled day playing around the property or traveling around WNC, take advantage of the cabin's creature comforts. Enjoy a cookout on the grill, curl up in front of the cozy gas fireplace with a good book or movie, and climb into the seven-person hot tub! With plenty of activities to keep you on the go and so many ways to relax, you'll surely sleep well under the mountain sky.

A perfect location for those who want rustic, mountain privacy yet still want the opportunity to shop in Asheville (25 minutes), see the Biltmore Estate (30 minutes), and hike in Hot Springs (30 minutes). Call us today to book your summer family vacation at Doolittle Mountain Cabin.

Ever Been to the Top of the World? Come Visit Scenic Wolf Resort, a Year-Round Mountain Wonderland

Imagine witnessing a splendid sunset over the distant mountain peaks as you soak in the hot tub at your luxurious log cabin. Imagine your family and friends remarking how unbelievable this vacation has been, how they want to make visiting Scenic Wolf Resort an annual tradition. Imagine skiing right off the slopes to your cabin's front door, or diving into the resort's heated indoor pool.

The Never-Ending View from Scenic Wolf Resort

Scenic Wolf Resort is located atop a 4,300-foot pinnacle in Mars Hill, North Carolina, high up in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Everything about this resort will amaze you. The incredible view seems to stretch on forever, the mountain air tastes fresh and crisp, even the winding drive up to the resort is an opportunity to see wildlife like wild turkeys and red fox. Outdoor adventures abound, including on-site skiing and snowboarding, and nearby hiking, whitewater rafting, golfing, and horseback riding.

Over Forty Luxury Log Cabins Are Available

The ideal place for a getaway to celebrate any occasion, Scenic Wolf Resort offers treasured moments of family bonding and a memorable setting for large events. The resort boasts over forty luxury log cabin vacation rentals. Every cabin has a hot tub and many of them provide game rooms, pool tables, wet bars, and bonus entertainment options.

For weddings, reunions, church retreats, and the like, the ski lodge is available, providing plentiful parking, ample seating, spectacular views, and close proximity to the resort's heated indoor swimming pool.

Check out the log cabin and townhouse rentals at Scenic Wolf Resort, then call Carolina Mornings today to make reservations. Our Vacation Planners and on-staff concierge will assist you in planning the perfect mountain vacation. Escape to the luxury of the mountains: Simplify!

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands: A Unique Asheville Opportunity

If you treasure the discovery of a new favorite artisan, enjoy home decorating with one-of-a-kind creations, or love to wear unique handmade jewelry, you'll relish experiencing the 65th annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. From July 19th through 22nd, the US Cellular Center in downtown Asheville is filled to the brim with the work of over 200 craftspeople.

Local traditions come to life
Vendor booths feature crafts made of every kind of material imaginable, from clay pottery to woodcuts to metal sculpture. Often times you can talk with the craftsperson in person and feel their passion for their work firsthand, plus attending craft demonstrations allows you to see the artist's process in creating beautiful handmade wares. Live bluegrass music is played by local musicians on stage all weekend long.

A great place to shop for gifts
Giving someone you love a gift that is hand-crafted is always gratifying. The vendors at the Craft Fair have honed their skills to reflect the roots of Appalachia through their own individual perspective. There's a wide assortment of gifts to select from - find one that reminds you of your loved one! Amongst affordable knickknacks, creative expressions, and high-end precious stone jewelry, the one thing that everything has in common is a unique character that's bound to make someone smile on that next special occasion.

Supporting community arts
The mission of the non-profit Southern Highland Craft Guild is to promote local crafts and provide support for artisans through connectivity, shared resources, education, and conservation. With membership requiring a rigorous jury selection, the Guild's members are the best of the best craftspeople living in the Appalachians. The Craft Fairs are the Guild's main events. Through their popularity, the Guild is able to further this worthwhile charitable mission.

Find Inspiration at Doolittle Mountain Cabin

A chance to visit Asheville
The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands is reflective of Asheville's artistic spirit. While you're here, tour the River Arts District and peruse the many galleries downtown. You'll find inspiration hiding in so many places, from workshops to mountain tops!

The numerous mountain rental cabins offered by Carolina Mornings are another place to find inspiration. With tremendous views and luxury amenities, it's easy to let your worries fade and give in to the relaxed vibes that make Asheville a favored destination. Check out the wide assortment of Carolina Mornings vacation rentals, from convenient in-town condominiums to secluded wilderness cabins. Our Vacation Specialists will help you find your ideal getaway!