Lazy Bear Lodge

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

Today, Sept. 2, marks the 74th anniversary of the Mile High Swinging Bridge opening to the public!

Since 1952, America's highest suspension footbridge has offered spectacular views and connected generations with this mountain and the thrill of adventure. Hugh Morton's dream to make Grandfather Mountain accessible lives on today each time that someone crosses the bridge.

Leave a comment below and share your favorite memory of the Mile High Swinging Bridge or celebrate with us by posting your own photo of the bridge with the hashtag !

📸: Hugh Morton | GMSF

06/01/2026

Did you know you can find free live music most days in the NC High Country this summer? Find even more free music events at HighCountryCalendar.com
> WED- Caddyshack Cafe, Sugar Mountain
> THUR- Tate-Evans Park, Banner Elk
> FRI- Backstreet Park, West Jefferson, NC
> FRI- Inn at Ragged Gardens and Best Cellar Restaurant, Blowing Rock
> FRI- Jones House Cultural Center, Downtown Boone
> FRI-The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria - Beech Mountain, NC
> SAT- The Orchard at Altapass, Blue Ridge Parkway
> SUN- Village Hospitality Group, Banner Elk

05/31/2026

🧄🧀 Crispy Garlic Parmesan Cottage Cheese Flatbread – Cheesy, Golden & Packed With Flavor

These crispy flatbreads are loaded with savory garlic and Parmesan flavor while staying soft inside and perfectly golden on the edges. Easy to make and packed with protein, they’re perfect as a snack, side dish, or appetizer.

Ingredients (makes about 4 flatbreads):

1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Nutrition info (per flatbread):
~180 kcal | 10g protein | 8g fat | 20g carbs

📌 Crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside — ready in just 30 minutes!

Directions:

Step 1: Prepare the Oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Make the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, flour, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix until a soft dough forms.

Step 3: Shape the Flatbreads
Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and shape each portion into a flatbread directly on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake Until Golden
Drizzle olive oil over the flatbreads and bake for 15–20 minutes, until crispy and beautifully golden brown. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

Prep Time: 10 min | Bake Time: 20 min | Total: 30 min

Tips for Success:

✨ Shape the flatbreads evenly so they bake uniformly.

✨ Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce or alongside soups and salads.

✨ For even more flavor, add extra Parmesan right before baking.

05/27/2026

Play, joy, and love are biological necessities. 🧬

The emerging science of epigenetics shows that your environment, your emotions, and your relationships can switch genes on and off, regulating everything from inflammation to immune function to how fast you age.

Your nervous system was designed for love and belonging, and when you deprive it of that, everything downstream suffers — your hormones, your immunity, your brain, your longevity.

Think of joy, connection, and play as part of your health stack; just as essential as what you eat, how you move, and how you sleep.

So laugh more, love deeply, and stop treating joy like something you have to earn after all the “real” health stuff is done.

It IS the real health stuff.