Things To Do In Western North Carolina
Nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains near Linville, Marion, Boone, and Bowling Rock, our vacation rental homes are located near some of the top destinations in the state. Enjoy scenic drives, mountain trails, dozens of breathtaking waterfalls, plus fishing, kayaking, skiing and tons of outdoor activities. You will have an easy drive to award winning restaurants, breweries, shopping, historical sites and much more – everyone in your group, no matter their ages or the season you visit, will have a vacation full of fun memories.
Plan Your Trip
Ideas For Your Trip To The Blue Ridge Mountains
This area is known for its endless Hiking, Waterfalls, Biking Trails, Fishing, Festivals, and Marathons.
There is something for everyone, no matter what your interests are. We have award-winning restaurants, national treasures, museums, shopping, music, performing arts, dancing, marathons, galleries, and tours.
Please be sure to visit each of the following individual websites to see their event calendars and further information. Due to COVID-19, we suggest you contact each place that you are considering to visit to find out if they are open and/or doing business.
Nature Trails, Waterfalls and Mountains
If you love the outdoors, there are so many places to explore from your Blue Ridge mountain rentals. Go on the Blueridge Parkway or in our national forests and parks, filled with hiking trails, waterfalls, swimming holes, and spectacular mountain views. Be sure and read our blog full of ideas and descriptions of things to do, local waterfalls, and more fun you can have.
A wonderful, free app for your phone is Alltrails. This app will give a local guide to waterfalls, hiking, biking etc., with detailed description and level of intensity of each hike or event.
Lake James State Park: hiking backpacking, rock climbing, fishing, and hunting.
Linville Caverns: Just 4 miles away, it’s the only show caverns in the area providing entertainment and informative guided tours.
Linville Gorge: “The Grand Canyon of The East” – hiking areas are available into Linville Gorge if you are up for some strenuous walks.
HIKING & WATERFALLS
- Mountains to Sea Trail: North Carolina’s state hiking trail spreading 1175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks.
- Tom’s Creek Falls: hiking trail, waterfall, nature & bird watching.
- Linville Falls: Famous Linville Falls is about 6 miles north of our subdivision with several views of the waterfalls and several trails from 1 to several miles long.
- Wiseman’s View: a spectacular view of Linville Gorge which is the only US Parks designated Wilderness Area east of the Mississippi River.
- Elk River: a very nice waterfall with a swimming area below.
- Boone Fork Trail: waterfalls, creek crossings, and rhododendron tunnels.
- Moses Cone Memorial Park: a beautiful country estate with 25-miles of trails and interesting history and walkthrough of this mansion home.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway: dozens of breath taking overlooks within a short driving distance.
- Brown Mountain Lights: see what other travelers are saying about the mysterious ghost lights reported near Brown Mountain.
Outdoor Sports
Outdoor activities abound in the Blue Ridge Mountains: fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, ziplining and more are all at your fingertips; get outside!
Alpine Coaster: Year round toboggan thrill ride through the mountains!
Catawba River Outdoors: Float down the Catawba River in McDowell County NC. Tube rentals, picnic space, and fishing.
The North Cove Disc Golf & Leisure Club: World class disc golf course designed by Lee Treviño is located across the street from our community entrance and is open to the public.
WHITE WATER RAFTING
- Banner Elk: several outfitters in the event you want to do some whitewater rafting, zip-lining, or other outdoor activities.
- French Broad Rafting: rafting, ziplines, canyoneering, and climbing.
- High Mountain Expeditions: white water rafting adventures.
HORSE BACK RIDING
There are many more stables in the area, these are just a few.
- Grandfather Stables: offering lessons, classes, training, boarding and horseback/trail riding.
- Elk Mountain Riding: scenic trail rides, private and group lessons, and horse camps for kids.
- Banner Elk Stables: family oriented trail rides for the whole family.
- Blue Ridge Horse Adventures: private and group riding lessons, equestrian physical and mental awareness programs, and horse care lessons.
Fishing
Locally, there are many areas to fish for trout if you have a fishing license. If you do not have a license, there are local “trout ponds” where a license is not required and you can pay based upon what you catch. Trout ponds supply fishing rods, bait, and other supplies. We have caught enough fish for dinner every time we have gone.
Trout Fishing With A License: License required and can be purchased on the internet for $18.
- Buck Creek Trout Pond: Guided, wade fishing, float trips, Lake James bass boating and more.
- Chetola Orvis: Fly fishing instruction by experts for beginners to experienced fisherman.
- Foscoe Fishing Company: Fly shop and guided services.
- The Catawba Angler: Great Reviews!
- West Fork Anglers: Offering wade trips in North Carolina and 1/2 day clinics at our private pond.
Restaurants
Some good eats!
- Black Mountain – Fresh Pizza, Veranda Cafe & Gift, Ole’s Guacamoles
- Blowing Rock – Twigs Restaurant and Bar, Six Pence Pub, & Storie Street Grill
- Linville – Old Hampton Store & BBQ
- Linville Falls – Famous Louise’s Rock House Restaurant, The Tin Trout
- Marion – McDowel Local, Burrito Brothers, Pepperoni’s, Crabby Abby’s
- Newland — Restaurant, Kaye’s Kitchen, Puerto Nuevo
- Pineola – The Italian Restaurant
- Tyne Castle – Highlander Pub and Grill (great homemade soup!), Bella’s Restaurant
Wineries & Breweries
There are dozens more in surrounding towns, but here’s a list of a few:
Asheville – approximately 50-miles away with numerous breweries.
Blowing Rock – Blowing Rock Brewery
Boone – Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Lost Province Brewing
Lineville – Linville Falls Winery: wine tasting sessions, indoor and outdoor seating, live music, vineyard tours, and yoga in the vineyard.
Marion – offers several craft breweries: Mica Town Brewing, Refinery 13 Tap Room, Spillway Bridge AND Marion also has a Wine Meadery (mead is wine made with honey).
Morganton– Fonta Flora Brewery, Catawba Brewing Company
Shopping
These are shops with individual vendors. You will find everything from unique to antique. From furniture repurposed to must haves.
- Boone – Curiosity Mega Warehouse
- Marion – The Vintage Market
- Newland – Back Alley Pickers
- The Pickers Pantry – Be sure to look for the Vendor in each store named “The Pickers Pantry”. She has amazing things with the best pricing!
Annual Festivals & events
Festivals:
All Year Long
January – March
May – October
June – August
Other Attractions
Biltmore – Asheville: Biltmore House, gardens, winery, Antler Hill Village (dining, shopping, exhibits).
Chimney Rock: a small town experience where “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Dirty Dancing” were filmed.
English Farmstead Cheese: a 6th generation family farm making a variety of cheeses and curds, ice cream, and meats.
GEM MINING
- Emerald Village: gem stone mining, gold panning, and shopping.
- Gem Mountain: flume mining, mine trips, custom jewelry, shippable “to-go buckets, and lots of family fun.
- Rio Doce Gem: lapidary classes, gem mining, buckets, and family fun.
- Sugar Creek Mining Company: gem stone mining and professional jewelry making.
Grandfather Mountain: an on-site zoo, a mile-high footbridge, and several hiking and horseback riding trails (taste the fudge too)!
The Orchard at Altpass: one the most visited places on the Blue Ridge Parkway rich in history and culture. Offering food, hey rides, music & events, walking trails and more.
Tweetsie Railroad: a western theme park with rides, a zoo, gem mining, ropes/confidence course for the teens, restaurants and lots of family fun near Blowing Rock.
OTHER TOWNS & VILLAGES NEARBY
Blowing Rock, Black Mountain, Chimney Rock, Little Switzerland, Banner Elk, Boone, and Asheville are full of shops, boutiques, and great food!
Enjoy the Deck Right At The Home!
Browse through all the flyers in the laundry room to check all your options for ziplining, horseback riding, white water rafting, boating, skiing, snow tubing, hiking biking, festivals, and marathons near your Blue Ridge Mountain rentals. Celebrating a special occasion? Order a fresh bouquet of flowers for $89.50 ahead of time and they’ll be waiting for you when you arrive! There are plenty more things to do on our blog.
Enjoy stargazing from the deck or at other local gatherings. Private yoga, Pilates lessons, or wine and cheese at sunset or mimosas at sunrise from the deck available with Avery Community Yoga or Breathe Yoga who come to you at the home and give private classes.
Small weddings and vow renewals from the deck with Simply I Do’s – a local eloping company providing the officiant. photographer, and videographer and Anne’s Catering – a local family-owned caterer.
Cooking Classes: enjoy a fun evening of cooking hosted right at the home with a local Chef – Asheville Mountain Kitchen or Cottage Cooking.
Watermark Theater Collective: enjoy a Mystery Murder Night party, hosted right at the home or adventure out for a night of a Murder Mystery Pub Crawl.