Four Reasons To Spend Thanksgiving in the Mountains

We always have so much to be thankful for at NOC, and this November there are even more reasons to give thanks. Here's why NOC is a great place to be this November and over the Thanksgiving holiday:

1. Water all month long! Unlike in years past, the Nantahala will continue to have water releases through the month of November, making Thanksgiving an ideal time to go paddling. We're still offering rafting trips too, but we have to be flexible to catch the release times, which are only finalized three days ahead of time. If you want to add rafting to your November plans, give our reservations office a call (800.232.7238), and we'll work out the details with you. Boaters, plan your own trip using  Duke Energy's release schedule.

2. Fall offers new views for zip lining. As the leaves start disappearing from the trees, the Mountaintop Zip Line Tour takes on a whole new look. From any one of our ten zip lines you will be able to see for miles. Visit our website to book your tour.

Click here for a full-color photo album of zipping fun!

3. Relax and take in the cool mountain air. Kick back with your feet up by a fire and eat some s’mores! What better way to enjoy the holiday than under the stars by a fire in the mountains? For lodging recommendations, check out these options near our Nantahala campus.

4. Get all your outdoor gear for less! Coming to the mountains, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the Black Friday bargains. Catch NOC's Pre-Holiday Sale throughout November, and stop into any of our retail locations for major Black Friday and holiday promotions. On Black Friday shoppers will save as much as 50% off boats and paddling accessories at the Outfitter's Store, so it's certainly worth a trip to the mountains if you're shopping for a paddler.

Gear Up for Fall: Harvest Fest 2013

NOC Retail is gearing up for one of the biggest sales of the year.  From October 10th to the 27th,  save up to 30% off the latest fall styles as well as up to 50% off summer clearance at all three NOC retail stores.

 If  you are visiting Gatlinburg, Asheville, or Bryson City don't miss out on this great chance to gear up for Fall in some of the hottest styles from these highly-respected outdoor brands:

Patagonia
The North Face
Mountain Hardwear
PrAna
Columbia
and more!

To take advantage of the Harvest Fest, visit all of the NOC Retail Stores:

NOC Outfitter's Store - Bryson City, NC

NOC Asheville - Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC

NOC Gatlinburg - Gatlinburg, TN

GAF 2013: What to Expect

NOC's wildly popular Guest Appreciation Festival will finally be here next weekend (September 27-29), and will be significantly improved thanks to some changes based on feedback from the past few events.  Here is the list of some of the biggest changes you should look out for:

A scene from the GAF Used Gear Marketplace on River Left.

• The Used Gear Marketplace is Moving Back to River Left. GAF's popular used gear marketplace moves back to the middle of the festival ground, ensuring that all of the 5,000 GAF attendees will browse the marketplace.  So, grab some friends and pitch in for a booth at GAF to sell your gear fast! Marketplace applications are still available for $75 for the weekend.  Apply here.
  

• New "Gear Swap" Area will be Available - This area is for guests who just have one or two items to sell at GAF.  Instead of buying a full booth, you will be able to take advantage of a designated gear swap area for your items. While this area won't have premiere placement like the used gear marketplace, it does give individuals a venue to sell their boats. Click here for the Gear Swap guidelines.

• New "Buy-It-Now" Option - Many guests come out especially for sweet deals from the Paddling School's instructional fleet and the Outfitter's Store's demo fleet. These buyers usually have to wait until the Saturday morning sell begins, hoping that other guests don't snag their boat before they can buy it. This year, we're offering a "Buy-It-Now" option where guests can purchase one of these instruction or demo boats on Friday for an extra $99.  This gives you the security of knowing that you can get the exact boat you want without having to camp out overnight. 

• This year, every boat purchase from the Outfitter's Store Gear Sale comes with a 15% off voucher for a clinic or private instruction session with NOC's Paddling School.  This gives buyers the opportunity to enjoy improve their paddling skills while upgrading their boat.

NOC Outfitter's Store Gear Sale

So that's what's new at this year's Guest Appreciation Festival. Be sure to learn more about the deals and entertainment we have planned by clicking here. We have more than 100 boats we want to move, so expect great deals on great boats all weekend long!

Spend Your Fourth of July Weekend with NOC

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From adventurous raft and zip packages to entertaining bands and brews, NOC is the place to have fun this Independence Day! We are gearing up for a great week of festivities and adventures with these highlights:

Raft and Zip Packages
Enjoy a full day of fun with the family and save some money by booking our new-for-2013 raft and zip packages:

• River to Ridge - Save $13 per person
  Nantahala Fully Guided Rafting + Mountaintop Zip Line Tour
• Float'N'Tarry - Save $13 per person
  Nantahala Fully Guided Rafting + Zip Line Adventure Park
• All Day Air - Save $25 per person

  Mountaintop Zip Line Tour + Zip Line Adventure Park

See all of NOC's Raft and Zip Packages.

NOC Outfitter's Store Independence Day Sale
Shop till you drop at NOC's Outfitter's Store! Save up to 40% on select brands from July 1st to July 7th.  Featured brands include leading manufacturers like The North Face, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Keen, Chaco and others.

Also included in the sale, are some amazing deals for whitewater enthusiasts. The sale includes the following discounts:

• $200 in store credit with the purchase of a fully-priced boat
• 30% off on 2012 Jackson Rockstars
• 15% off on Esquif L'edge canoes
• Up to 20% off other select boat models

Kayaking Lessons and Mountain Bike Rentals
Looking for to expand your outdoor skill set? NOC's Paddling School is staffed with the top whitewater paddling instructors in the nation. If you've ever wanted to paddle a whitewater kayak there's no better place to start than NOC. Try an Intro to Kayaking lesson this summer.

NOC also rents high-end mountain bikes so you can enjoy one of the mountains best thrills. Tsali, Flint Ridge and Jackrabbit trail systems provide exceptional riding for riders of all skill levels. Stop by the NOC Bike Shop, and NOC guides will fit you with the right bike for your day on the trail.

Dining and Dancing for All
Big Wesser BBQ + Brew is hosting three great bands for Fourth of July Weekend! Be sure to hang around in the evening to dance the night away and unwind with some delicious food.


    •    July 4th - 8 to 11pm - Rick Rushing and the Blues Strangers
    •    July 5th - 7 to 10pm - Jean Ellison and the Treatment
    •    July 6th - 7 to 10 pm - The Broadcast

For more information about NOC festivals and events, click here.

So that's the plan for the 4th at NOC. We hope to see you on the river, but no matter what you do, we hope you have a wonderful holiday!