NEBO – Forget about hauling the boat to the Great Lakes for spectacular fishing and boating. One of the best places to take in those summertime recreational stalwarts is right here in Western North Carolina. Lake James State Park, about an hour east of Asheville in McDowell and Burke counties, has just been voted No.…

[ess_grid settings='{“columns”:”3″,”entry-skin”:”1″,”grid-animation”:”fade”,”grid-layout”:”even”,”layout-sizing”:”boxed”,”rows”:”3″,”rows-unlimited”:”off”,”spacings”:”0″,”use-spinner”:”-1″}’ layers='{“custom-type”:{“01″:”image”,”02″:”image”,”03″:”image”},”use-skin”:{“01″:”-1″,”02″:”-1″,”03″:”-1″},”custom-image”:{“01″:”4268″,”02″:”4267″,”03″:”4269”}}’][/ess_grid] Sticks and Stones A fantastic article in Country Home magazine featuring the home of Susie and Jeff Noble built by Lake James Custom Homes. “Nestled in the wooded foothills of North Carolina’s Piedmont mountain range is a little house of stone and wood. It’s a structure so in tune with the ridge…

[ess_grid settings='{“columns”:”3″,”entry-skin”:”1″,”grid-animation”:”fade”,”grid-layout”:”even”,”layout-sizing”:”boxed”,”rows”:”3″,”rows-unlimited”:”off”,”spacings”:”0″,”use-spinner”:”-1″}’ layers='{“custom-type”:{“01″:”image”,”02″:”image”,”03″:”image”},”use-skin”:{“01″:”-1″,”02″:”-1″,”03″:”-1″},”custom-image”:{“01″:”4272″,”02″:”4273″,”03″:”4274”}}’][/ess_grid]   Escape to the Lake: A Classic Family Retreat on Lake James “There are some phrases that are immediately evocative of high summer. Among these, “The Country House,” “The Lake House,” and “The Mountain House” rank at the top. Cool breezes…shimmering waters…the dappled shade of old trees…easy, no-fuss living. For Susie and…