As a travel blogger and a self-confessed lazy adventurer, I like to combine equal parts thrill time and chill time when planning my days.
It’s kinda like taking a nap on vacation without actually taking one and wasting precious travel minutes, although rumor has it that I personally feel naps are a wise time investment… allegedly.
So if you want to combine thrill time and chill time like me, when you’re choosing things to do in Jackson County, NC you may want to include a day (or a stay) at Sapphire Valley. Between the zip line course (which is open to the public), boating, swimming, paddleboarding, tennis, golf, fly fishing and even skiing during the winter season, there’s something for the entire family to enjoy.
Sapphire Valley NC – Vordach Zip Line
Start with the Vordach zip line canopy tour and sail through the treetops and valleys as you enjoy the 12-station course and (optional) rappel station. Kids ages 8 and up can zip line, and ages 12+ can participate in the full experience.
The whole tour takes about 3 hours, and that includes getting outfitted and going through instruction. There are also two practice runs before the actual zip line course begins to help you get the routine down pat. The guides are awesome, and they’re with you the whole time doing safety checks.
And I’m off…
I’m pretty fearless up in the air, so I did it all, including the rappeling. Here’s a 20-second sneak peek of my Vordach experience!
After your Vordach zip line tour, grab some lunch or take a picnic over to Fairfield Lake with its stunning view of Bald Rock Mountain.
Fairfield Lake – Bald Rock Mountain
Enjoy an afternoon of fishing, boating, swimming or just relaxing on the beach. Snacks, drinks and all kinds of rentals are available at the boat house too.
For more information on Sapphire Valley NC, visit SapphireValley.com and for more info on Jackson County, visit mountainloversnc.com
Comments & Reviews
You are so brave. I have always wanted to go ziplining. I was at a place in NH last summer and had my chance, but I chickened out LOL.
Isn’t it wonderful! We don’t have to go across the ocean to see beautiful countryside. We have it here right in the good ol’ US of A! Although I must say you’re a braver man than I gunga dinn… lol Gives me the chills just watchin’ ya! Such wonderful pictures though absolutely love them and thanks for sharin’ your video too!
North Carolina has some gorgeous countryside! I haven’t been there in many years, but there are so many fun things to do there that make me want to go back.
Oh my friend you are brave, you did zip lining wow! This place looks fantastic I hope I can visit soon!
wow, that place looks so lovely and relaxing! I would love to hang out by that lake with my kids! thanks for sharing these pics!
I went zip lining at Wild Cat a few years back and it was so scary. I will never do it again. Ever.
It looks like the ziplining was a lot of fun. I couldn’t imagine doing this in a prettier locale. I want to give this a try very soon.
I have always wanted to go ziplining! That lake looks beautiful too. What a fun trip!
So many adventures to do! I love NC and my family would love Sapphire Valley, NC and all the things to do there!
I would like to make my first ever zip lining experience the one in Las Vegas by Sam’s Town, that would be so fun! Looks like you had a blast! Was this your first time zip lining?
Wow that looks like a lot of fun but I’d probably never have the guts. That’s got to be an amazing feeling and a bit scary at the same time.
Definitely heading to check it out. If it’s in NC it can’t be to far from me. I’ve been wanting to do a zip line!
I think I would love that lake and taking out a rowboat-rowing to the center-then docking the oars and dangling my feet in the water–reading–where no one could bother me!! Then I would row back in and take a nice leisurely swim before getting something to eat! As for the zip lining–I’m not that courageous!
This looks like such a fun outing. I like your description of being a self-confessed lazy adventurer. I think I fit into that category.
Sapphire valley NC has a lot of activities I would enjoyed. Place looks serene and the water so blue like the waters in the Caribbean.
That’s exactly what appeals to me. It looks very peaceful.
That looks like a ton of fun! I have yet to zip line but so want to.
How fun. Ziplining is on my bucket list of things to do. I want to go with you next time
It really looks like you had a great time. I have always wanted to go zip lining!
That looks like it was a fantastic time! Zip lining is SO much fun.
This looks like such a fun place to take the family!! I think my kids would love the ziplining experience and the lake looks relaxing!
I have never zip lined before. I think my fear of heights would get in the way.
Naps are definitely wise investments!! Bald Rock mountain! *insert love heart eyes* That’s going on my list of things to see once I graduate!
Yes I agree on the napping! There’s always a good reason for a nap!
This looks like so much fun. I have always wanted to go on a zip line.
it seems uhad lots of fun.. Would love to have a similer experience ! Its a graat way to have fun 😉
What a beautiful place. Looks like so much fun to visit and explore!! My husband wants me to do a zip line next month on our trip to Utah…not sure yet. :/
What an awesome adventure! I love ziplining!
It looks like a great time! I love zip lining it is so fun. I can’t wait until my boys are a little bigger so I can take them zip lining.
I’d love to be brave enough to try ziplining. This place looks beautiful. I’d love to build a house on a lake like that.
Good for you for doing the zip line. Although I consider myself adventurous, and I love things like white water rafting, zip lining is not something that is on my list to try.
That looks like so much fun. Just recently I watched a bunch of people zip lining in Wisconsin. Can’t wait to go someday.
Now that is some zipline. How fun!! That one makes the one I was on look like a sissy zipline. I want to try the one you did!!
It looks like you had a wonderful time! My kids have been begging me to take them ziplining. I am not quite sure I am brave enough though 🙂
It takes some courage the first time, but you’ll be hooked once you try it.
The zip lining looks so fun! I’ve been to a mountain area in NC and it was so beautiful – definitely need to spend more time in the state 🙂
It’s gorgeous, isn’t it? We are still going through crazy heat waves, so seeing pictures of beautiful wooded areas makes me even more anxious for fall.
Look at you repelling down that tree! (Is that the right word?) I tried zip lining once and enjoyed it. This sounds like a great place to get away.
What a gorgeous place! I’d love to spend time with the family there.
I’ve only done a short zip line in my life, but would LOVE to do one like what you did. What an amazing experience!
How fun!! I also like trips to be a mixture of thrill and chill. Zip lining is a lot of fun, but I get A little scared when I have to leave the platform!
Looks like so much fun! I can’t wait until all of my kids are old enough so we can do this as a family.
This looks like a great family adventure! It’s nice that they have options for younger kids as well as older. I know my family would LOVE this! I think I’d find enough gumption to try ziplining?! lol
My kids have all done ziplining and love it! I am such a chicken. It really looks like fun.
Oh boy you have such a fabulous and exciting life! I would love to go ziplining one day. Looks like a beautiful place to do it too! How fun!
This looks like so much fun. I would love to go on the zip line and also try fly fishing.
Wow, Sapphire Valley looks like such a neat place to visit! I don’t know if I would have the courage to try the zip line, but I bet hubby would!
This looks like such a great place to visit, I think I would have chickened out at the zipline. LOL
What a gorgeous place! My youngest will be 8 next summer, so we’ll have to check this out!
Wow that zip line looks like fun! Such a pretty place for it.
What an awesome experience! I have always wanted to zip line. The views are stunning!
It looks beautiful. I’d be a little scared at first, but would like to try zip lining.
What fun you had at Sapphire Valley NC. It looks like the weather was great and you had plenty of opportunity for chills and thrills (and relaxation).
Oh my goodness. This looks like a complete blast and something I would truly enjoy doing myself.
I could handle the lakeside chillin’ but to be completely honest, ziplining scares me. Sapphire Valley is beautiful, though, and I’d love to visit!
I went zip lining a few years ago, and it still is one of my favorite memories. It looks like all of you had an awesome time!
I wanted to do the zip line when we were on vacation in Belize last year, it’s still one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t give it a try because this looks like tons of fun!
I have always wanted to zipline! This looks like a blast!
What a gorgeous area! I you had not shared where you were I would have guessed ziplining in Costa Rica from all the foliage. Ziplining is so much fun. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Did this once and that is all is required from me! LOL Seems like a fun time was had by all! 🙂
Zip lining is so much fun. It looks like you guys had the perfect weather for doing it.
This is lovely – I bet you all had a fantastic time. We are just back from vacation and I am pining more for it.
Wow this looks like such a beautiful place! I love ziplining!
I also love doing ziplines. This views here also look magnificent.
I would love to do ziplining but I haven’t mustered enough strength to actually do it! My kids have experienced the thrill of it. Maybe in a few years I would, if there would be a zip line that would be closer to the ground. LOL.
OMG that looks stunning and exciting. My mom went zip lining a few years ago and raves about it. I need to do this
Oh wow! This looks like SO much fun, Liz! What a great experience!
Looks like a very fun outdoor experience! Sapphire Valley has a nice view as well.
I wanna experience it too, Im so glad that you had a fun experienced.
Wow! what a fun place! Nature has so much to offer us.. love all the greenery and the water too..
I have always wanted to try this. It looks so fun!
Looks like a fab place to go and a lot of fun. You are much braver than I am doing a zip wire.
I’ve never experienced any outdoor adventure.. I think you are so brave!
It looks like a fun outdoor activities. I want to experience it with my hubby and my cousins.
That zipline looks exhilarating! I always think those look like fun but I chicken out if I have the opportunity to ride one!
Im jealous, I wanna experience this too. This is looks fun and exciting.
It is so nice to plan a trip like this, being close to nature and all. I’d love to sit and have a nice little picnic by the lake shore. That would be so relaxing!
Ow wow, that looks so much fun. I hope I get the chance to do this. Sapphire Valley looks like a lovely place to visit.
Wow… This looks so much fun!! I want to be there!!!
Glad to know you had a great time. I wish I had as much confidence as you to try the zipline. My knees would have turned to mush if I were to try that kind of stunt.
Wow! That looks so idyllic and peaceful and fun! What a wonderful trip it must have been.
That looks like so much fun. I don’t think we have anything like that near me, it would be an experience worth traveling for though.
This looks like a great place. I’d love to try ziplining, but I’m a little bit scared ;).
I have only ziplined once and that was in Ecuador. It was a lot of fun.
I’d love to try the zip line some day! Looks like a ton of fun. Sapphire Valley look like a wonderful place too
What an awesome experience at a gorgeous location! I have actually never ziplined but my mother in law has done it over ten times in numerous places.
So pretty. I am from NC and have never been to this area of the mountains. Will have to keep it in mind for a future vaca!
Very cool!! Ive never been zip lining but it looks like a lot of fun!
I did zip line these summer… And totally loved it. Nice photos
I am a weird combination of adventuress and lazy with a huge heap of I’m not sleeping outside! So I would do the zip lines and kayaking, etc. but we driving to a hotel afterwards.
how fun! beautiful pictures, would love to check it out one day!!!!
I am a big chicken but I would love to try ziplinging. It looks like you had soooo much fun.
This sounds like something I would have loved doing once upon a time, amazing experience. x
I have ALWAYS wanted to go zip lining! TThis has me feeling inspired! And what beautiful views!
This loos like so much fun. I have always wanted to go zip lining but I don’t think its possible now with my health problems. 🙁
Wow, you are so brave! I would have never done a zip line in a million years, lol. My kids would love it though.
I’ve experienced the zipline, it’s really fun but a little bit nervous.
This might be a bit more of a challenge for me because I’m afraid of heights. I love that it’s fun and run carefully and that every safety measure is in place. 🙂
|I wanna try the zipline, looks like really fun experience.
I’ve always wanted to try zip lining but I wonder how safe it is. You make it look so fun and easy.
We live about 4 hours from here, so this would be a nice vacation spot. It looks just beautiful.
This looks like an amazing time, My kids would love to try this. I would love to do the Vordach zip line canopy tour.
Zip lining is so fun! I usually get scared when it’s time to jump off the platform, but once I’m moving it’s fun! Great pics!
I would love to go zip-lining one of these days. It just looks like it is a lot of fun, and something to accomplish to get over a fear of heights.
I have always wanted to do this <3
This looks like so much fun! Love all the pictures. I’d like to do this one day.
Awesome capture of zip lining ! And those mountains! What great photos! Thank you for sharing your adventures! 😀
Your pics are so much fun!! I have always wanted to go zip lining!!
The zip line course looks like so much fun! I think my kids would be in heaven here. And I think naps are wonderful, it’s not really a vacation if you can’t take a nap!
What a stunning adventure filled location I would love to swim there it must feel so tranquil!
I would love to go ziplining! I haven’t done that since I was a kid
My heart was racing just watching the zipline experience. I want to do it though. It seems amazing!
This looks like such a fun place to visit. Who knew that this was in my home state.
I would love to try ziplining and I am sure my husband and son would be right there with me. The scenry is also so beautiful; the perfect place for thrill time and chill time.
Wow, what a fun time! I would love to take my kids ziplining. I don’t really like heights so I would just sit back and watch, lol.
Trips like these make the best memories! When my kids get a little bit older we will be taking as many trips like this as possible. I love family adventures!
I can’t wait till my 3 boys are big enough to do fun activities like this with me and my husband. Zip lining sounds like a blast and I love a thrill!
Looks like so much fun! My son would love a place like that! Love your pictures, looks like you had a blast!
That looks amazing! My husband is terrified of heights but I would do this in a heartbeat!
This looks like a very fun place. Plus it is gorgeous! I would love to check it out!
Wow! It seems like I’m gonna have the adventure of my life at Sapphire Valley! I’d like to try that zipline.