North Carolina Mountain Birds: Tufted Titmouse

We’ve decided to do a 12 Months of Birding at the Inn series on the blog, where we’ll talk about the kinds of birds you can expect to see at the Inn on Mill Creek (a site on the North Carolina Birding Trail) and in the surrounding areas of the North Carolina mountains. We’ve also taken lots of pictures over the years of the birds in our neck of the woods, and unless photo credit is attributed to someone else, all photos on the blog are ones that we’ve taken of our winged neighbors.

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Pet Friendly Biltmore Estate

It goes without saying that Biltmore Estate is a pretty cool place. From Biltmore House that looks like a French chateau, the Winery with complimentary tastings, Antler Hill Village and the Farm, and amazing food in the restaurants, to the fabulous blooms and shrubs in the gardens… there’s a little something for everyone. There’s even something for your four-legged family members.

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Point Lookout Greenway Trail in Old Fort

The Point Lookout Greenway is a 3.5-mile paved walking/biking trail near the Inn, in scenic McDowell County. The route used to be Highway 10, then Highway 70 {now called Old Highway 70}, and it was blocked off decades ago in this particular stretch from Ridgecrest to Old Fort. When it was the main highway, before the construction of Interstate 40, there was a gas station and restaurant, and a beautiful overlook.

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Octoberfest Fall Festival in Old Fort, October 5-7

Photo Credit: Old Fort Chamber of Commerce

Old Fort holds an annual small-town festival the first weekend in October to celebrate the coming of fall to this part of North Carolina. If you like small town festivals, this one’s for you! This family-friendly three-day event, sponsored by the Old Fort Chamber of Commerce, features scores of local arts and crafts vendors and local business booths, great food, kids’ activities and rides, a climbing wall, and live entertainment, plus the annual rubber duckie race along Mill Creek behind the Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center.

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