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If you did not sign up for a field trip when you registered, you may sign up at NOAC when you arrive for registration (in Bethea) or in the NOAC Information Office (in Harrell).
Basilica of St. Lawrence
Tuesday, Sept. 5 or Thursday, Sept. 7
https://saintlawrencebasilica.org/
Completed in 1909, the Basilica of St. Lawrence D.M. is one of Asheville’s architectural treasures and spiritual anchors. Designed by Rafael Gustavino and Richard Sharpe Smith, renowned architects on the Biltmore House, this Catholic church has the largest freestanding elliptical dome in the country. Many of the stained glass windows were made in Germany and depict the lives of Mary, Jesus, and one of Paul’s conversion.
Price $25.00 Cost includes transportation and lunch.
Arboretum of North Carolina
Tuesday, Sept. 5 or Wednesday, Sept. 6
The North Carolina Arboretum offers engaging indoor and outdoor exhibits focused around science, education, arts, and culture.
Price: $25 Cost includes transportation, lunch, donation, and parking.
Museum of the Cherokee Indian and Cherokee Village
Tuesday, Sept. 5
Join us in the 18th Century to see what life was like for the Cherokee Indians of the North Carolina mountains. Our Oconaluftee Indian Village is an experience unlike any other, offering an intriguing glimpse into the past.
As you enter the Oconaluftee Indian Village, you are swept away to the 18th century. Surrounded by lush green vegetation, your spirit is calmed by the sound of the cool mountain streams.
Guided tours will take you through craft demonstrations by award-winning artists who will explain the unique Cherokee crafting techniques. Meet historical Cherokee people in the living history section. You can also view special shows throughout the season such as “Time of War” and traditional Cherokee dancing.
Price $50.00. Cost includes transportation, combination admission, lunch, and parking.
Carl Sandburg Home and Farm
Wednesday, Sept. 6 or Thursday, Sept. 7
https://www.nps.gov/carl/index.htm
Though a Midwesterner, Sandburg and his family moved to this home in 1945 for the peace and solitude required for his writing and the more than 30 acres (120,000 m2) of pastureland required for his wife, Lilian, to raise her champion dairy goats. Sandburg spent the last twenty-two years of his life on this farm and published more than a third of his works while he resided here.
The 264-acre site includes the Sandburg residence, the goat farm, sheds, rolling pastures, mountainside woods, 5 miles (8 km) of hiking trails on moderate to steep terrain, two small lakes, several ponds, flower and vegetable gardens, and an apple orchard.
You may tour the Sandburg grounds and Mrs. Sandburg’s Goat Dairy Barn. This trip includes a lot of walking on trails and pathways. There is also a gift shop with a bookstore to enjoy.
Price $35.00 Cost includes transportation, lunch, and admission.
Graveyard Fields: Hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Pisgah National Forest – Wednesday, Sept. 6
https://www.romanticasheville.com/graveyard.htm
Follow this Graveyard Fields hike to stunning waterfalls, through fields of wildflowers and wild blueberries, and to beautiful views just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. This oddly-named area is wild, rugged and exceptionally beautiful. Sunlight streams through dense thickets of rhododendron and mountain laurel, the forest’s gnarly branches casting an array of dappled light on the trail.
The hike visits two beautiful waterfalls, the multi-tiered second falls and the tall cascades of the upper falls. And the trail winds through a stream-filled valley with a memorable knobby, mounded terrain that’s filled with wild blackberry and blueberry bushes that burst with fruit in the late summer months. It makes for one amazing, unforgettable hike.
Three levels of hiking are offered on these trails; easy, middle,
challenging. There are also many steps to reach the trails. Rugged facilities are available, but no water.
Price $20.00 Cost includes transportation and lunch.
Shopping in Waynesville
Thursday, Sept 7
One of Waynesville’s greatest assets is its unique and lively Main Street. From its local restaurants serving up local options, to its diverse stores, Waynesville offers attractions and shopping for all. There is a wide range of shops, businesses, cafes, and specialty stores. History swirls around the town. Discover what Frog Level is all about. One can also visit Mast General Store, a retailer selling a broad selection of goods, including food, apparel & outdoor gear, since 1883.
Price $15.00 Cost includes transportation. (Lunch on your own)