- Things to Do -

Banner Elk and the High Country communities of Blowing Rock, Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, Valle Crucis and Boone offer an almost limitless number of attractions and things to do for children of all ages.

Beech Mountain is host to the "Autumn at Oz" - a celebration of Autumn that takes place at the old Land of Oz on top of Beech Mountain. Every year Dorothy, Toto, the Scarcrow, Tin Man and all the gang make an appearance that entertains thousands of people from all over the Southeast.

Beech and Sugar Mountain host annual Octoberfest festivals and of course there is the always popular Woolly Worm Festival each October that ushers in Winter snows and great skiing at nearby Beech and Sugar ski resorts.

Grandfather Mountain and the Mile High Swinging Bridge is just a short drive from our location.

There is so much to do in the High Country, however here are just a few of the more notable attractions nearby.

Banner Elk is always cool (natural air conditioning), even in the summertime. Although winter is wonderful, there are so many things to see and do in the spring, summer and fall in Banner Elk.

Banner Elk, and surrounding High Country area, offers many NC hiking trails, whitewater rafting, horseback riding and hiking on the waterfall trails of the Blue Ridge are very popular activities as well. Banner Elk is within a short distance from many of the well-known family attractions, such as Tweetsie Railroad, Grandfather Mountain, Linville Caverns and more!

Banner Elk is located in the northwest quadrant of Avery County in the Appalachian Highlands 3,739 feet above sea level (Banner Elk Development Plan, 1967). High peaks and rugged ridges surround the town. The area of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in many respects has stronger historic and cultural ties with the neighboring mountainous regions of Tennessee and Virginia than with all other regions of North Carolina. The area of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is beautiful during all seasons of the year. Fall foliage produces a dazzling panorama of color. The area is famous for its flora and fauna. Rhododendron, mountain laurel, flame azalea, and wild flowers are abundant. Bear, deer, and other wildlife inhabit the forests that surround Banner Elk (Cooper, 1964).

Now days Banner Elk and Beech Mountain are known for NC skiing, golf, and four seasons of vacation fun and relaxing lifestyles. We have many summer residents as well as North Carolina Mountain vacation home owners that make Banner Elk a home away from home for a variety of reasons. Lees McCrae College offers cultural arts and entertainment and there's always the assortment of shops and restaurants to keep you busy!

Snow attracts tons of visitors to the area and our cabin rental property offers plenty of great snow sledding opportunities!
Edge of the World: White Water Rafting and Rock Climbing
Edge of the World: White Water Rafting and Rock Climbing


Edge of the World is a whitewater rafting, kayaking and rock climbing. An unforgettable destination for the whole family.
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Grandfather Mountain State Park
Grandfather Mountain State Park


Grandfather Mountain State Park is a beautiful part of North Carolina's landscape, with over 2,456 acres of land to backpack and hike around.
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Hawksnest Tubing and Zipline
Hawksnest Tubing and Zipline


Get a birds eye view of the gorgeous landscape in North Carolina when you ride the zip lines at Hawksnest.
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Sugar Mountain Resort
Sugar Mountain Resort


Over 115 acres of mountainside for visitors to ski on and explore. Snow tubing, classes, rentals, and much more are included at the Sugar Mountain Resort.
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Tweetsie Railroad
Tweetsie Railroad


Enjoy the family oriented wild west theme park. The park even has a 3 mile train ride perfect for the entire family.
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Beech Mountain Ski Resort
Beech Mountain Ski Resort


Enjoy skiing like never before at the Beech Mountain Ski Resort. Skiers of all levels can all come end enjoy the snow.
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Linville Falls
Linville Falls


Visit the falls located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This is the perfect little hike for the entire family.
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Linville Gorge
Linville Gorge


Enjoy the forest and nature like never before at Linville Gorge. Take a hike and get lost in nature and the beauty.
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Woolly Worm Festival
Woolly Worm Festival


Visit to see an entire festival dedicated to the Wolly Worm. There are tons of games and prizes all Wolly Worm themed.
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Biltmore Estates
Biltmore Estates


The luxurious family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt is a marvel of elegance and charm, as magnificent today as it was more than a century ago. Your self-guided house visit spans three floors and the basement. You’ll see displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art, furniture, and more that tell stories and illustrate the lives of the Vanderbilt family, their guests, and employees.
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Wildcat Lake
Wildcat Lake


Grandfather Home for Children’s Wildcat Lake is open for the Summer. Wildcat Lake is a place where you can swim, play in the sand, canoe, fish, and much more. Cornerstone Cabins & Lodge is located 3.3 miles or 8 minutes from Wildcat Lake.
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