We had a lot of fun doing the fire workshop with Tanner. He taught us 4 different ways to make fire…read morefrom scratch. I left feeling empowered that I had acquired a useful skill. The site is down a long and challenging driveway, so be aware of that. Don't bring a vehicle with low clearance. Once you get beyond that, you will encounter really lovely land and ideas for survival off the grid that will have you really inspired. Go. Have a ball. Everyone is REALLY nice here.

Absolutely gorgeous mine! You're free to explore on your own or get some tours set up and you're…read moreable to go and pan for some goal. Once done with the mine there's also some nearby nature trails that I suggest you check out!

I had researched places to see that are fairly close to Charlotte and this was one of the places I…read morefound. I figured my grandpa would appreciate it. He is a treasure hunter and prospector with an appreciation for mining shared by me. But I was hesitant to bring he and my grandma here due to the amount of walking and the stairs in the mine. We came anyhow and had a really good visit. We started in the museum. Just a gentle stroll learing about the history of the mine and gold mining in the region in general. Towards the end of the museum you learn about the modern uses of gold (i.e. space applications). There is also a 9 minute video which goes more into depth on the history of the mine as told by the reenactment. I didn't initially plan on sitting through that but it really was informative. After the video we made our way outside and down to the mine. I kept checking with my grandparents to see if they were ok to keep going. They insisted they were. So we entered the mine and into the cold damp darkness. It was AWESOME. As you trek deeper in, you find off shoots from the main tunnel. Each with its own stuff to see. There is one with a vertical shaft going all the way up to the surface. That is a cool perspective. Finally you reach the end and the those darned stairs. There are many of them and they are not all level. Do your best to hold on and climb your way out. Then you'll find yourself outside about half way up the hill. But wait. There's more. After you exit the mine you can still climb higher up the side of the hill. Up to the top of the shaft you saw from below and beyond. At the very top there is a big smoke stack. A chimney left over from the steam engine used during mining operations. It was an impressive site to behold. Now back down the hill side and back to the visitor center. Our visit was complete but there was more to see. There are more trails to explore. The park also offers gold panning for a small fee. We came across one small lad who was so excited that he found gold. He ran up to my grandpa to show off his treasure. None of us could actually see anything but if this kid found anything, it was the thrill of a life time. This park has that magical way about it.

The North Carolina teen driving process felt overwhelming as someone coming from another state…read more Building Confidence Driving School helped improve my understanding of the NC process and made getting my son his driver's license much easier. DMV appointments are difficult to get and availability can be months out. However, my son was able to take the road test through the school which eliminated the waiting period. Angelo was a great instructor who was patient and easy to work with. He even took my son to the DMV to get his driver's license after they completed the road test. I'd definitely recommend Building Confidence Driving School to any parents of a teenager trying to obtain their license. The school will be there to help you and your teen meet the requirements process, while also helping you avoid the hassle that comes in dealing with the NCDMV.

I can NOT express enough how relieved and grateful I am to have found Building Confident Driving…read moreSchool. I ended up in a sticky situation with another establishment I had put multiple driving hours in with but due to their road vehicle no longer being available I had to quickly find another company to help me with my DMV road test. Not only did I ace my road test but their team was professional, very knowledgeable in the requirements (learner permits, non-owner car insurance, etc.) and held my hand through the entire process. Gratitude to Angelo and Lisa.,

Mary's School is one of the best preschools in Boone. Both of my daughters are students at the…read moreschool and their time spent there has been invaluable. Mary Willis and her staff do an amazing job with the kids and sincerely care about each and every child they come across. During the year Mary writes a report on a child's progress and meets with parents to discuss it. When I have shared these reports with friends and family members, they couldn't believe how detailed it was and how lucky I was to have such a great teacher for my kids. At school, the kids learn through doing hands-on practical activities. From preparing their snacks to washing their own dishes. The children also learn from each other. Mary uses the older children as teachers to help the younger children. This fosters independence as well as raises self-esteem. Children are also encouraged to define their own boundaries by being allowed to say no to others. This also teaches them that it is okay when others say no to them and to respect their boundaries. One of my favorite things is that the kids are allowed to get dirty and messy in order to explore and learn new things. They play outside every day and learn how to socialize with peers. My kids love it at Mary's School and I have seen how much they have grown in the past years as a result of what they have learned there. I would encourage any parents to start their child's education at Mary's Montessori.

From the owner: As a Montessori classroom, we have a multi-aged classroom from 2.5-5, so that there is always…read moresomeone who is learning, someone who can teach, and the oldest children are valued, competent helpers. In the three year cycle, we get to know children deeply, and see clearly their strengths. Our staff of 3 have a combined teaching experience of 47 years!

I've traveled all over this country and used laundromats in more than 30 states. I've also used…read morelaundromats across North Carolina for the past fifteen years. I can say without hesitation that this one is the most disgusting, neglected laundromat I've ever used. I've been coming here weekly for three years, and now that I finally have a washer and dryer at home, it's time to unload what I should have said long ago. After reading past reviews, I'm sure the owner will pop in with some excuse to argue, as he always does. Prices. This place is absurdly overpriced. The owner claims prices are "competitive for the region," but that's laughable when there's only one other laundromat in the county. People here should not pay the same rates as people in high-income urban areas. Always check your change too -- occasionally you'll be short a quarter from the coin return. For comparison: in Pennsylvania, a regular wash was $1.75 and an hour of drying $0.75. Here? $5.00 for a cold load. Warm water? +$0.25. Hot? +$0.25. Heavy load? +$0.25. It never ends. Everything costs extra. Paying for machines. Bring cash if you can, but the coin machine is regularly out of service. You might try the app advertised everywhere. Good luck -- you'll need to stand outside, hold your phone up, and maybe pray for a miracle. Cell service is hit or miss here (normal for the county), but at least expect the WiFi to help. Nope. You'll see the network, but it never actually connects. Interestingly, the WiFi worked perfectly for several months after the hurricane when linemen and volunteers were using these machines. Funny how that works. As soon as they left, so did the WiFi reliability. And if you do get the app to load, half the time it charges your phone but won't connect to the machine, forcing you to pay again. Bring extra money -- you'll need it. Cleanliness. The owner claims someone is paid to clean, but it makes no difference. I've seen someone come in sometimes (I assume the owner) who rushes around sweeping and emptying a few trash cans like he'd rather be anywhere else. It happens too rarely to make a difference. Floors are always covered in dirt and debris. Powder detergent is spilled on the tops of machines. The bathroom is perpetually dirty with a barely working sink. The outside area regularly has piles of leaves and trash. The dog wash is coated in hair, smells awful, and is impossible to breathe in. Most of the time, the whole laundromat has a moldy odor. The owner even boarded up the trash cans by the car vacuums, presumably because he got tired of dealing with them. Bathroom. It's filthy, and you might not even be able to use it. It was locked for "misuse." Instead of hiring an attendant, the owner denied customers access. After that, he rented a port-a-potty, the only option for months. Recently it's unlocked, but given the history, who knows for how long. Customer service. Don't bother calling -- I tried multiple times when issues first started, and my calls were never returned. I also witnessed a woman call when the coin machine broke; she waited endlessly in a full laundromat. When the owner finally appeared, he tried to sneak away without speaking to her. I had to point him out so she could get her issue resolved. Customer service here is nonexistent. Bottom line. This laundromat is overpriced, filthy, and mismanaged. Save yourself the frustration: make the trip to Marion or set aside a little money at a time to save for your own washer and dryer. It will be a huge relief.

It's definitely the best and most convenient laundry facility in the area. The facilities are brand…read morenew, very clean and spacious. There are several different size machines for various laundry needs. I've never seen a machine out of order there, which is a big plus because the other laundromats in the area always have out of order signs on several machines. There's a change machine, vending machines, and even a massage chair like in the mall in Asheville. You can even use the app if you're like myself and don't carry cash on you; that is super convenient and helpful. The prices aren't cheap, but they are on par with the other laundromats. I've never needed to use the restroom while there, so I can't comment on the bathroom facilities or whether or not they are locked. All in all, five stars. Would recommend.

Horrible place to learn outdoor skills or any sort of leadership skills. The facilitator I had…read morecoerced me into eating foods that I'm intolerant to, didn't let me get my 8 hours of sleep since I brought sleeping medication, and would talk crap about me with others during our week in the woods. It was a horrible experience and they need to hire better facilitators and people with empathy.

Outward Bound's COVID protocol is outdated and absurd. Ten 14-15 year olds are currently in the…read morewoods wearing masks and sleeping alone because they were in close contact with another student who tested positive for COVID. The CDC doesn't recommend masking outdoors. Hospitals no longer require mask wearing and rarely test. It is 2023!! This is truly child abuse. OB calls themselves an inclusive organization yet they are literally singling out healthy kids, making them to feel like lepers. I will never recommend this organization and my younger children will not be attending this program. We need to get back to 2019. If a student is sick they don't come. If they become sick on course, they go home. OB used to be such a reputable organization. I hope they can get back to their roots.

Just amazing. My daughter went for a private training and she was so excited and happy about her…read moreopportunity to learn to sew. Ms. Shawnette is Amazing!

I took sewing classes from Shawnelle and learned so much! She is an amazing teacher and can easily…read moreconduct classes with all the students being on different levels. Never has learning to sew been so exciting!!

A studio packed full of expertise, creativity and quality instruction in dance and theatre. We love…read moreHCPAA for the opportunities available for our daughter, performing at carowinds, martinsville speedway, multiple competitions across the Carolinas, etc, and the attention to detail in classes. Ms Suzanne carefully builds each class/dance choreography- with specific attention to performance quality, technique, costume design- every detail down to the hairstyle- the perfect formula to set my daughter up for success. Not only is she learning how to perform on stage, but what to expect within herself during every class- character building that will stay with her long beyond HCPAA.

Chris was great with my daughter. She had only driven in a parking lot two times prior to doing her…read moresix hours behind the wheel with Chris. She left confident and ready to drive with us. She was able to pass her level one permit test on the first try. I was nervous about trying to make driving work with her schedule and paying for service, Chris was incredibly flexible and was able to work around her schedule with ease. Highly recommend this company.

My son and I had great experience working with Chris and Scott. The communication was quick and…read moreconsistent. Chris and Scott worked hard to schedule my son quickly. I accredit their instruction and 'quizzes' to helping prepare my son for his for his permit test. We can't thank you enough!

this town is nothing but cesspool after all it cares for none of the locals it constantly allows…read moremore students in even though it's already over flowing to the point that any local here will tell you this town sucks thanks to the college since it's constantly pushing out Lov with absorbent pricing and limiting of housing to strictly college students due to this reason here most locals hate all the college students just as much as they do the college if I had to change its name it would be almost stupid university

Beautiful campus, small tour groups (3-5 students per group) . We had beautiful weather for October…read more(67 degrees). The tour was about 1.5 hrs and the tour guide we had was terrific. I wish I took more pictures!