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Summer time is officially here. The 90 degree weather says so.

It’s vacation time, and people are taking vacations; many are traveling to the beach, others to festivals, races, sporting events, etc. However, there is no rule that says vacationers must travel hundreds of miles for fun. Good vacation experiences are actually very close to home.

The carnival has been in town which means a fun time out with the kids. Local car enthusiasts gather downtown Elizabethton every Saturday evening to show off their cars. They bring their lawn chairs and spend the evening looking at the cars and chatting with each other.

The Elizabethton River Riders have begun their summer baseball season and will be playing games until August. 

And, of course if you want to cool off, there is always the opportunity to go rafting down the Watauga River, or spend a day boating on Watauga Lake.

“There’s nothing to do around here” is an old complaint that doesn’t hold up when one considers the activities and venues available in the region. Carter County alone has Roan Mountain State Park and Sycamore Shoals State Park, and each of these parks offer activities ranging from hiking to fishing. The highlight of June activities at Sycamore Shoals State Park is the outdoor drama, “Liberty!” Performances of the outdoor drama will continue through Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week.

Venues like the Covered Bridge Park offer concerts every Saturday evening during the summer, Food trucks are also located nearby.

There are opportunities close by for hiking, fishing, boating, water skiing, and bicycling. The Tweetsie Trail is popular with both walkers and bicyclists.

If you have not tried rafting or canoeing on the Watauga, this just might be the summer to do it. The Watauga River offers excellent opportunities for kayaking, rafting, and canoeing. Also, located nearby is the Appalachian Trail. Laurel Falls at Dennis Cove, the Blue Hole Falls, and Roan Mountain State Park, which provides many opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

There’s so much to see and do in Carter County. You just have to take time to do it.

Also, supporting local vacation venues helps the local economy and eases the strain on summertime budgets. Day or weekend trips are less expensive than traveling hundreds of miles, especially when the activities closer to home are just as enjoyable as the ones being offered from far away.

We invite you to spend your vacation at home this summer and see how much fun you can have.