Summer Sips and Celebrations

We love seeing how our guests, team and followers enjoy Summer flavor and fun. We reached out to some Blackberry team members to ask two important questions for the season:

• What's your favorite Summertime drink?
• What's your favorite Summer activity?

Julie Patterson, Blackberry Mountain HUB Manager
Drink: In my opinion, nothing satisfies a summer thirst like the classic Arnold Palmer! Fresh brewed and squeezed is always a favorite as it offers the perfect balance of sweet and tart and can refresh like no other. For Summer gatherings, it can blend easily with Southern Comfort to kick any occasion up a notch.

Activity: Summer sunshine and warm breezes provide the perfect setting for a day on the water. I am a sailor at heart, but I will take any opportunity to be on and in the water! Whether smooth pulls in a kayak or the thrill of clipping along in fair winds, a day on the water always finds a smile on my face and my heart at ease.

Emily Davis, Art Studio Supervisor
Drink: I enjoy a tall cup of brown sugar boba with tapioca pearls.

Activity: I have a group of friends that gather to sit on our wrap-around porch and stitch (crochet, cross stitch, knit) from the afternoon until the sun sets and catch up/chat about our week. Stitching in any form has always been very meditative for me, but participating in this weekly ritual has brought about a calmness that soothes most stresses throughout the week until our next meet-up.

Miranda Hill, Director of HUB Operations
Drink: My favorite Summertime drink is an Arnold Palmer!

Activity: My favorite Summer activity is going to the Little River with my family. Boating, fishing, swimming and doing face paint with siltstone.

Annmarie Rinaldi, Camp Blackberry and Valley Manager
Drink: Oh, hard question on the drink. If it's NA, an unsweetened shaken espresso from Starby's. Alcoholic, I'm a red wine girly. You'll find me on my back porch at night in my pj's with a glass of red wine – dry, merlot or cab sav.

Activity: Favorite Summertime activity – kayaking. I love to be on the water!

Lora Cate Parker, Social Media Coordinator
Drink: Strawberry Margarita

Activity: Floating in the water. Pool, ocean, lake – doesn’t matter!

Adam Grigsby, Blackberry Mountain Adventure Manager
Drink: I’m a big fan of homemade Switchel (Haymaker’s punch, Swizzle, Ginger-Water, etc). It’s an old-time electrolyte concoction using water, ginger, apple cider vinegar, molasses (or honey or maple syrup). You can add some flare by tossing in other herbs or spices too. Or get bubbly with a little seltzer water! It’s delicious and easy to make all summer long! Also, can I get an AMEN on an Iced Cocomo from Dutch Bros. Coffee?!

Activity: Hands down my favorite Summertime activity (besides downtown event people watching) is a good mountain trail run up to a view, bomb down to find some cold water and take a dip. Nothing beats that. Except getting to do it with friends. You know what it’s like in East Tennessee these days – an absolute sweat fest – which I can tolerate, and even delight in, if I know there’s chilly mountain water waiting for me at the end. It is a foreshadowing of heaven to me.

Sarah Chabot, Vice President of Marketing
Drink: I love making herbal iced teas in the Summer – in particular mint because it’s the perfect way to keep my garden neat and tidy and have a refreshing beverage!

Activity: My favorite Summertime activity is walking out each morning to see my garden and what magic has happened overnight!

Travis Hylton, Production Coordinator
Drink: Iced House Latte from Towns End Coffee Co.

Activity: Floating on a kayak down the river

Kathryn Sullivan, Content Manager
Drink: It’s hard to beat a great, ice-cold lemonade in the Summer. I like it tart but not overly sweet, and it’s great as a mixer if the occasion calls for a little spike.

Activity: I love spending sunny Summer days in the water. Ocean, lake, river, pool – as long as there’s water, I’m in.

Click here to explore all the opportunities for Summer sips and adventures at Blackberry Mountain.