Something for All Ages

Appalachian Amusement Center: Flying is fun for all ages! Home to the world's finest vertical wind tunnel. The vertical wind tunnel is very wide, smooth, fast and quiet. Located in Western North Carolina just a few miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Appalachian Amusement Center features the best Flight Instruction and environment. The staff includes the most experienced instructors. Beginners learn to fly and provide instruction for skydivers and advanced wind tunnel fliers. AAC can handle groups, parties, and whole facility private rentals. You can learn to fly! 828-926-9463. 49 Adventure Park, Waynesville, NC 28785.

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Colonial Theatre: Opened in 1932, the Colonial Theatre—located on Park Street in downtown Canton—was the first theatre in the town of Canton built specifically to house a modern motion picture facility and served as a central focus of the town's social life through the 1960s. Today, after several renovations, the 300-seat theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and functions as a fully equipped theatrical, movie, meeting and conference facility. 828-648-2363. 53 Park Street, Canton, NC 28716.

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Haywood Arts Regional Theatre: The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, founded in 1985, is a volunteer-based community theatre showcasing the talents of the people of the region. HART has grown into one of the most active theatres in the Southeast, producing a year-round schedule of plays and musicals from its home, The Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House, which opened in 1997. HART's home is a stunning facility constructed in the style of the traditional Summer Stock playhouses of the 1920s and is both grand and informal. The 2008 "Main Stage" productions—in James Auditorium, a 255-seat traditional proscenium space that operates April through November—include "Bat Boy: The Musical," "On Golden Pond," "Kiss Me Kate," "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," and more. In the winter, productions shift to the 75-seat Feichter Studio Theatre for a second season of more experimental work. 828-456-6322. 250 Pigeon Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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Maggie Valley Opry House: Come to the home of Raymond Fairchild—the five-time world banjo champion. Since 1988, Raymond and Shirley Fairchild have been operating the Maggie Valley Opry House, which features some of the best bluegrass and mountain music in the region. Raymond, a world-renowned picker himself, is a featured performer (when he's not traveling to festivals throughout the country). The Maggie Valley Opry House—a handsome but modest building set back from the road with a seating capacity of 300—is sure to delight those looking to enjoy the music of the mountains and the cultural heritage of Appalachia. 828-648-7941. 3605 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC 28751.

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Maggie Valley Rock Shop: Under a covered flume search for
emeralds, rubies, amethyst, gold nuggets and arrowheads. The shop owner can wire-wrap the gemstones found or send them off to be cut, polished and made into jewelry. The Rock Shop is a treasure trove for rock collectors of every age. Open year-round. 828-944-0295. 3894 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC 28751.

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Old Pressley Sapphire Mine: Visit the "Birthplace of the Largest Blue Star Sapphires." Sapphires are found inside the feldspar taken from the mine area. The feldspar is white to beige in color with spots of shiny mica appearing on the outside. Watch carefully as you wash the stones in the flume. You just might be lucky enough to discover a valuable gem. This is, after all, the ore where "The Star of the Carolinas" (1,445 carats), which was featured in the Guiness Book of World Records, and "The Southern Star" (1,035 carats) were unearthed! 828-648-6320. 240 Pressley Mine Road, Canton, NC 28716.

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Other venues, restaurants and bars that offer live music, dancing and other entertainment include:

    •    Stompin' Ground (home to America's Clogging Hall of Fame),
          828-926-1288;
    •    Becky & Jamie's Water'n Hole, 828-456-4750;
    •    Diamond K Dance Ranch, 828-926-7735;
    •    Headlights Bar & Grill, 828-400-0382
    •    The Mountaineer Restaurant, 828-926-1730;
    •    O'Malley's on Main, 828-452-4228;
    •    Pasquale's Pizzera, 828-454-5002;
    •    Pheasant Hill, 828-456-1796.

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Folkmoot USA: Folkmoot USA, North Carolina's Official International Festival, is a two-week celebration of the world's cultural heritage through folk music and dance. Held each summer across the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, Folkmoot features performances, parades and workshops by more than 350 performers from a dozen or so countries. Performers demonstrate cultural heritage through colorful, authentic and original reproduction costumes, lively dance and beautiful music. During its 25-year history, over 200 folk groups from more than 100 countries have shared their heritage and culture at Folkmoot USA. July 14-27, 2008. 877-FOLK-USA. 828-452-2997.

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Throughout the year, Haywood County hosts scores of Events & Festivals—from the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival to vintage car shows and motorcycle rallies to festivals celebrating arts and crafts, apples and BBQ! Check out the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds and the Haywood County Fairgrounds for a variety of music and entertainment while visiting the area.