North Carolina High Country Travel Guide
I’ve been visiting the NC High Country (Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk areas) since I was little and it’s still one of my favorite areas to visit in the mountains. The area is only about two hours from Charlotte making it an easy weekend trip and we’ve even done it as a day trip. There is so much to do for families and today I’m sharing some of our favorite activities and restaurants.
Check out my High Country Guide Reel on Instagram.
Activities:
▪️ @tweetsierr Tweetsie Railroad is a wild west theme park in Blowing Rock and great for a wide range of ages and has rides, shows, a petting zoo, and historic locomotive.
▪️ @grandfathermtn Grandfather Mountain State Park in Banner Elk has hiking, wildlife habitats, nature center, and mile high swinging bridge.
▪️ @grandfather_vineyard Grandfather Mountain Vineyard and Winery in Banner Elk has delicious wine but also a great setting for kids for the shallow creek they can play in. They frequently have live music and food trucks.
▪️Memorial Park in Downtown Blowing Rock is a really nice playground right in the heart of the town. You can also grab food or ice cream right there and walk around the downtown area.
▪️The Blowing Rock is actually how Blowing Rock got it’s name. There is a beautiful lookout here with amazing mountain views. It’s a simple outing but a nice way to admire a good view.
▪️Crab Orchard Falls Trail in Banner Elk is a short 1 mile trail down to a beautiful waterfall that has a few small pool areas where kids can play. About half of the trail is uphill so keep that in mind. It’s also not stroller friendly.
▪️ @mastgeneralstore The Mast General Store in Valle Crucis is the first official Mast store. Here you can find TONS of candy plus other unique items including clothing and toys.
Family Friendly Dining:
▪️The Speckled Trout in Blowing Rock @thespeckledtrout
▪️Lost Province in Boone @lostprovince
▪️Coyote Kitchen in Boone @coyotekitchen.boone
Where to stay:
Here are three spots we’ve stayed and loved!
