Blowing Rock and Banner Elk trip guide!
This has become one of my favorite destinations for a fun and cozy trip in the mountains. It includes; Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and Boone. All three locations are within about 30 minutes of each other. I've been up there twice now, just having come back a few weeks ago my second time, and there is SO much to do so I decided to create a blog post about it. There's fun for you, your partner, your friends, your dog, or your whole family.
Blowing Rock
Visit Downtown Blowing Rock
This is just the cutest, quaintest little town located right in the mountains. There are many boutique shops, antique stores, cafes, taverns, a brewing company, a wine bar, and more.
Where to stop:
- Sunset & Vine Wine Bar
- Blowing Rock Brewing
- Town Tavern Blowing Rock (we got french onion soup here and it hit the spot!)
Banner elk
Grandfather Mountain
Experience hiking with spectacular views, a mile-high swinging bridge, and wildlife habitats. The swinging bridge is definitely something you'll have to see. Keep in mind, you will need to make an online reservation for this. Each guest that enters the park will need a ticket.
Grandfather Vineyard and Winery
They don't do any tours here, but the wine is great and the views are gorgeous! There's a river that flows right next to the winery and there is plenty of seating. They also serve some cheeses and other foods. It's honestly the cutest place and was very well worth it.
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
This was so much fun! And it is fairly new. You will also need to reserve tickets online for a registered time but once you get there you pay for them. It is pretty pricey for what it is, to be honest. You can get a bundle of 3 rides for $35 or one ride for $16. I recommend doing 3 rides and just spending extra because the ride itself, as fun as it was, was a lot shorter than I anticipated. They say the ride is about 5-7 minutes... maybe about 5 I would say. It takes maybe 2-3 going up and then about 2-3 going down. They have a souvenir shop and coffee shop inside as well. Parking gets taken up quickly so get a ticket for the morning!
Beech Mountain Resort / Sugar Mountain / Appalachian Ski Mountain
All three of these places are nearby and great for skiing or snowboarding. I originally had planned on going to Sugar Mountain but when we stayed at an AirBNB our first time, the owners suggested Appalachian Ski was better and I loved it! It's great for beginners too because they have a nice long (but not super steep) beginners mountain on the side. I've been elsewhere and the beginners mountain at another place was so tiny, cramped and you couldn't even practice without running into someone. But I've heard good things about the other two mountains too! Sugar mountain also does snow tubing, where Appalachian Ski does not.
Apple Hill Farm
Cutest little farm in Banner Elk. You go on a tour to see all of their farm animals including Alpacas, llamas, goats, chickens, and more. This was honestly such a cute experience. We got lunch in Banner Elk after our visit at this this next destination....
Banner Elk Cafe and Lodge Expresso Bar and Eatery
Stop by for some great food and cozy cabin vibes. You'll definitely need to grab a latte or hot cocoa.
Beech Mountain Brewing Co.
Located on a ski resort but open to the public, this is a great place to visit if you like craft beer, local beer. or just beer in general!
Jerky Outpost
They have their own local jerky as well as others; if you like beef jerky you need to check this place out. They give some samples too!
Downtown Boone
This is another adorable mountain town that is also home to Appalachian State University. This is about 15-20 min away from Banner Elk. They have antique stores, boutiques, a crystal store, ice cream, other quaint little stores, and restaurants.
