Ann’s guidebook
Things to do
Sooo many things to do and see in this beautiful area of the High Country. Check out some of our favorites, not in any particular order.
Banner Elk Winery & Villa
60 Deer Rununwind with a wine tasting in a wonderful setting
Beautiful and scenic, their horses are gentle and and the owners are amazing, ask for Robyn
17 locals recommend
Elk Mountain Riding Company
161 Johnson RoadBeautiful and scenic, their horses are gentle and and the owners are amazing, ask for Robyn
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in America!
82 locals recommend
Linn Cove Viaduct
3218 Blue Ridge PkwyThe Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in America!
For gifts, clothing, local art and great restaurants, walk the quaint and rustic town of Blowing Rock
398 locals recommend
Blowing Rock
For gifts, clothing, local art and great restaurants, walk the quaint and rustic town of Blowing Rock
Grandfather Trout Ponds
10767 NC-105You WILL catch dinner!
Wildcat lake is 5 mins from the house where you can swim, canoe or catch a fish
37 locals recommend
Wildcat Lake
Wildcat lake is 5 mins from the house where you can swim, canoe or catch a fish
Love this winery. They also have choose and cut Christmas trees for the holidays.
184 locals recommend
Linville Falls Winery
9557 Linville Falls HwyLove this winery. They also have choose and cut Christmas trees for the holidays.
Ski, snowboard, tubing, golf, extreme biking, ice skating, concerts and events.
199 locals recommend
Sugar Mountain
Ski, snowboard, tubing, golf, extreme biking, ice skating, concerts and events.
Skiing, snowboarding, tubing in winter and extreme biking in summer. You can take the lift to the bar at the top and take the lift back down again.
190 locals recommend
Beech Mountain
Skiing, snowboarding, tubing in winter and extreme biking in summer. You can take the lift to the bar at the top and take the lift back down again.
For a small fee, visit Buckeye Recreation Center on Beech for indoor fitness gym, tennis, canoeing, paddle boats, summer camps, playground, hiking and so much more.
10 locals recommend
Buckeye Recreation Center Walking Path
Buckeye Recreation Center Walking PathFor a small fee, visit Buckeye Recreation Center on Beech for indoor fitness gym, tennis, canoeing, paddle boats, summer camps, playground, hiking and so much more.
Rent a canoe, go fishing, hiking or picnic by the creek right off the Blue Ridge Parkway
70 locals recommend
Julian Price Memorial Park
297 Blue Ridge PkwyRent a canoe, go fishing, hiking or picnic by the creek right off the Blue Ridge Parkway
Boone, home to Appalachian State University is a hot spot for local eateries, shops, local crafts, events, a great walking town
285 locals recommend
Boone
Boone, home to Appalachian State University is a hot spot for local eateries, shops, local crafts, events, a great walking town
See Cheese being made and buy the local cheese in West Jefferson. My favorite little shopping town for local arts and crafts, and very pretty too!
125 locals recommend
West Jefferson
See Cheese being made and buy the local cheese in West Jefferson. My favorite little shopping town for local arts and crafts, and very pretty too!
Must go to Valle Crucis, it is a beautiful area and home to the Original Mast General Store, truly a one of a kind mountain shopping experience
102 locals recommend
Mast Store Annex
2918 Broadstone RdMust go to Valle Crucis, it is a beautiful area and home to the Original Mast General Store, truly a one of a kind mountain shopping experience
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
3265 Tynecastle HwyDo it! It is so much fun for young and old!
Hawksnest Snow Tubing and Zipline
2058 Skyland DrAll around great adventure and fun.
Check out The Chamber in Banner Elk for area information and local Christmas tree farms.
Banner Elk NC Information
100 Main Street WestCheck out The Chamber in Banner Elk for area information and local Christmas tree farms.
Grandfather Vineyard & Winery
225 Vineyard LaneSip along the river!
It is about 45 minutes but worth the trip. Continue to Little Switzerland for dining or shopping. Check websites for hours and opening dates.
68 locals recommend
The Orchard at Altapass
3 Orchard RdIt is about 45 minutes but worth the trip. Continue to Little Switzerland for dining or shopping. Check websites for hours and opening dates.
Visit the farm and see the Alpacas, shop for crafts and yarn. The scenery is beautiful, the folks are nice and the animals are super cute!
74 locals recommend
Apple Hill Farm - Alpaca Farm
400 Apple Hill RdVisit the farm and see the Alpacas, shop for crafts and yarn. The scenery is beautiful, the folks are nice and the animals are super cute!
Sightseeing
Beautiful views and a swinging bridge plus multiple hiking trails.
716 locals recommend
Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock HwyBeautiful views and a swinging bridge plus multiple hiking trails.
Linville Falls
My most favorite waterfall and hiking area.
Wonderful mansion with local arts and crafts shop and beautiful mountain scenery, lake and hiking and riding trails
138 locals recommend
Moses Cone Manor
Wonderful mansion with local arts and crafts shop and beautiful mountain scenery, lake and hiking and riding trails
Historic and beautiful park right across NC, Tenn state line famous for it's Rhododendron Festival in June
111 locals recommend
Roan Mountain State Park
527 TN-143Historic and beautiful park right across NC, Tenn state line famous for it's Rhododendron Festival in June
Food scene
A destination restaurant not to be missed! My favorite. Exceptional!
85 locals recommend
Artisanal Restaurant
1200 Dobbins RdA destination restaurant not to be missed! My favorite. Exceptional!
Another favorite, across from The Original Mast Store in Valle Crucis is the Over Yonder farm to table restaurant. May want to make reservations as it does get busy! Love the shrimp and grits and craft cocktails. Ask to sit by the fireplace.
82 locals recommend
Over Yonder Restaurant and Fresh Market
3608 NC-194Another favorite, across from The Original Mast Store in Valle Crucis is the Over Yonder farm to table restaurant. May want to make reservations as it does get busy! Love the shrimp and grits and craft cocktails. Ask to sit by the fireplace.
An upscale yet casual atmosphere restaurant great for special occasions.
73 locals recommend
Louisiana Purchase Restaurant
171 Main St EAn upscale yet casual atmosphere restaurant great for special occasions.
Great for any apres ski or day of adventure place to grab some great food and drinks. A very lodgey atmosphere, laid back feel. My favorite is the local pecan crusted trout, ask for lite on the pecans.
191 locals recommend
Banner Elk Cafe & Tavern
324 Shawneehaw Ave SGreat for any apres ski or day of adventure place to grab some great food and drinks. A very lodgey atmosphere, laid back feel. My favorite is the local pecan crusted trout, ask for lite on the pecans.
Laid back, great comfort food and atmosphere, warm up with some spice to your food and a shot of Fireball to warm yourself after a long day of skiing
73 locals recommend
Bayou Smokehouse & Grill
130 Main St ELaid back, great comfort food and atmosphere, warm up with some spice to your food and a shot of Fireball to warm yourself after a long day of skiing
A local favorite known for it's great steaks, seafood and salad bar.
146 locals recommend
Stonewalls Restaurant
344 Shawneehaw Ave SA local favorite known for it's great steaks, seafood and salad bar.
Another destination restaurant well known for it's wild game, ambiance and service. Farm to table, fabulous food in a rustic old mountain home.
105 locals recommend
Gamekeeper Restaurant
3005 Shulls Mill RdAnother destination restaurant well known for it's wild game, ambiance and service. Farm to table, fabulous food in a rustic old mountain home.
BBQ, cocktails and local crafts and folk art, and music too!
37 locals recommend
Old Hampton Store & Barbeque
77 Ruffin StBBQ, cocktails and local crafts and folk art, and music too!
The Tin Trout
176 Maple StreetGreat local farm to table restaurant, bring your own wine.
Bistro Roca
143 Wonderland TrailMy go to place in Blowing Rock after a day of shopping.
My other go to place for dining in Blowing Rock.
55 locals recommend
The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop
922 Main StMy other go to place for dining in Blowing Rock.
The Best Cellar
203 Sunset DrThis is an upscale dining experience in Blowing Rock.
This is my go to Italian place in Banner Elk. Very popular with the locals, great food at reasonable prices.
112 locals recommend
Bella's
3585 Tynecastle HwyThis is my go to Italian place in Banner Elk. Very popular with the locals, great food at reasonable prices.
Oh my, if you are in Boone, best wood fired pizza, mussels and beer!
131 locals recommend
Lost Province Brewing Co.
130 N Depot StOh my, if you are in Boone, best wood fired pizza, mussels and beer!
The view and the food, and the drive along the Parkway make this a nice day trip. They also have some cute shops. Check times and opening.
20 locals recommend
Switzerland Inn
86 High Ridge RdThe view and the food, and the drive along the Parkway make this a nice day trip. They also have some cute shops. Check times and opening.
Shopping
Take home a beautiful woven shawl or scarf hand woven by some wonderful ladies. There is a fantastic art gallery upstairs as well.
Crossnore Weavers & Gallery
Take home a beautiful woven shawl or scarf hand woven by some wonderful ladies. There is a fantastic art gallery upstairs as well.
Open seasonal on Fridays and Saturdays, local handmade cheeses. Close to The Linville Falls Winery.
21 locals recommend
English Farmstead Cheese
19456 US-221Open seasonal on Fridays and Saturdays, local handmade cheeses. Close to The Linville Falls Winery.
So much to see here and grab a coffee and a sweet, also close to Linville Falls Winery.
Snowy Mountain Christmas Shop & Sweets
4699 Linville Falls HwySo much to see here and grab a coffee and a sweet, also close to Linville Falls Winery.
Cute, creative antiques with a twist in Banner Elk
7 locals recommend
The Twisted Twig Antiques And Accents
100 High Country SquareCute, creative antiques with a twist in Banner Elk
So many talented artists on display in the Historic old School in Banner Elk.
Banner Elk Artists Gallery
185 Azalea Cir SESo many talented artists on display in the Historic old School in Banner Elk.
Spruce Pine
Get your gem on in the Gem capital of America!
The Liars Table in Elk Park at 8060 us 19E has fresh baked goodies, produce and more.
8060 N US Hwy 19E
8060 North US Highway 19EThe Liars Table in Elk Park at 8060 us 19E has fresh baked goodies, produce and more.
These ladies find the most wonderful items and artist Pat Glenny displays her beautiful acrylics paintings here!
Banner Elk Consignment Cottage
414 Shawneehaw Ave SThese ladies find the most wonderful items and artist Pat Glenny displays her beautiful acrylics paintings here!
Back Alley Pickers
111 Estatoa StLove, this place! I always find great decor items and antiques here.
Fred's General Mercantile
501 S Beech Mountain PkwyA must visit if winding your way up to Beech Mountain!
87 Ruffin Street Gallery
87 Ruffin StFolk Art and crafts next to The Old Hampton Store and Barbecue. Love it!
Lots of vendor booths and some really cool finds. There is one in Boone and another annex in Banner Elk.
11 locals recommend
Curiosity & The Marketplace at Curiosity
3100 NC-105Lots of vendor booths and some really cool finds. There is one in Boone and another annex in Banner Elk.