Perched on a hillside above downtown Banner Elk, this vacation chalet offers great views of town and Grandfather Mountain.
Guests enjoy a light-filled, open-concept living and dining area, modern kitchen, two bedrooms with comfy bedding and a unique, sunken bathroom.
The private wrap-around balcony is ideal for relaxing and soaking in the fresh mountain air.
This tucked away, downstairs unit is accessed by two flights of exterior stairs and a short, rocky path. It's nestled on steep terrain, which may not be suitable for young children or those with mobility concerns.
A comfortable three-bedroom, two-bath Banner Elk condo rental in a quiet, secluded area, yet very convenient to restaurants, shopping and the ski resorts.
This unit sleeps up to seven people with two queen beds and three twin beds. The living area features an open floor plan with plenty of views through the sliding glass doors that open to a wraparound deck. Requires a four-wheel drive vehicle in winter.
Amenities include high-speed Wi-Fi, wood-burning fireplace, washer/dryer combo and cable television.
A great waterfall hike near Banner Elk can be found along the Crab Orchard Falls Trail.
There are actually two trails to the waterfall. Both start behind Johnson Hall on the campus of the Valle Crucis Conference Center, and both are open to the public.
The old trail measures about 1.3 miles and the new trail is just over 1.5 miles. They have a total elevation gain of 324 feet and are considered moderate to slightly strenuous in difficulty.
The new trail, which opened in 2024, provides a gentler slope up the mountain, as well as more sustainable surfacing and opportunities for native plants to flourish near the trail. The old boardwalk to the falls has been replaced with stone steps. Hikers can choose an up-and-back path on the new trail, or use the old trail to return to the main campus, for a total loop of 1.3 miles.
For years, Crab Orchard Falls Trail was considered a locals' secret until its popularity soared during the Covid pandemic as tourists sought outdoor experiences away from major population bases. It remains popular today.
Key Points for Visitors
--- Park in the parking area for the Church of the Holy Cross.
--- To access the trails, walk past Johnson Hall and up the gravel path. The old trail starts to the left and the new trail is on the right.
--- Wear dependable hiking shoes. The trails are known to be muddy and slippery after a rain or snow.
--- There is a portable bathroom at the beginning of the trail. No other public toilets are available.
--- VCCC is a non-profit reliant on donations to maintain/improve its trails. Please consider making a contribution via the QR code on the trail sign.
--- Those seeking an extended hike may follow the main trail another two miles past the waterfall to Bishop’s Ridge.
July 4, 2025 @ 11:00 a.m.
The Star-Spangled Banner Elk Fourth of July celebration includes one of the most popular (and fun!) Fourth of July parades in North Carolina, followed by the annual Party in the Park and Duck Race.
The day begins at 11 a.m. with a procession that makes Uncle Sam proud, featuring star-spangled vehicles, people and animals parading down Main Street surrounded by huge crowds.
It is open to all and attracts everything from classic vehicles to drum and bugle corps, to an array of furry friends -- not to mention regular appearances by alpacas from nearby Apple Hill Farm. Most participants follow the time-honored tradition of tossing candy to spectators.
The Main Street parade starts at Lees-McRae College and ends in Tate-Evans Town Park, where the Party in the Park and Duck Race begin at approximately 12 noon.
The Party in the Park includes food vendors, old-fashioned games and inflatables. Try your luck in the famed duck race, with hundreds of rubber ducks floating toward the finish line. Proceeds from the Duck Race go to the local Kiwanis Club.
Elevate your July Fourth experience in the resort town of Banner Elk in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
An updated, spacious townhouse in an ideal location. Bigfoot's Hideaway is a 5-minute walk from downtown Banner Elk's dining, shopping, parks and Lees-McRae College.
In winter, it's a short drive to both Sugar & Beech Mountain ski areas.
This attractive three-bedroom, two-level townhome has lots of space, including a game room and two covered patios with grills. There are also two gas fireplaces.
Bigfoot's Hideaway sleeps seven. All three bedrooms are upstairs. The master bedroom has a king bed with private en-suite bath, large jetted soaking tub, walk-in closet and double-sink vanity.
The second bedroom has a queen bed, while the third bedroom has both a queen and a twin bed.
Full-size washer and dryer are available to guests.
July 10-13, 2025
Experience a wee bit of Scotland in the High Country of Western North Carolina.
The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans, founded in 1956, are considered the grandest Scottish-themed games in America. The mission is to foster interest in traditional dancing, piping, drumming, athletic achievement, music and Gaelic culture, and establish scholarship funds to help local students study at American colleges and universities.
The spectacular scenery in MacRae Meadows at the base of historic Grandfather Mountain provides an ideal setting. The games include brawny athletes, delicate dancers, rousing bagpipe parades, rockin' Celtic music and plenty of kilts. Visit the heritage tent to research your family tree and then head to the merchant tents to find your family tartan.
The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games provide four memorable days of Scottish heritage in North Carolina's High Country.
The inn features condo-style suites in both one and two bedrooms, as well as one studio style suite. The suites are spacious, homey and comfortable. Amenities include: wood-burning fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, full kitchens and dining areas.
Staying at Little Main Street offers the privacy and personal accommodations of a small resort hotel, along with the charm and feel of a bed-and-breakfast inn.
All this is located just a half-mile east of Banner Elk’s only traffic light. Convenient to town, ski slopes and more.
Contact Little Main Street Inn & Suites at the links above, or call: 828-898-6109
Other lodging options in Banner Elk are available here.
Banner Elk Trading Company offers an upscale selection of fashion, accessories, home décor and unique finds.
When shopping in downtown Banner Elk, this is an excellent boutique for all things local, trendy and stylish.
Light and airy with beautiful views, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo feels happy and refreshing. This upstairs, round-house unit is tucked into the trees on a hillside, yet it's only steps from Banner Elk's charming downtown, with restaurants, shops, parks and the campus of Lees-McRae College. The wall of windows looks out upon the small town and Grandfather Mountain in the distance. The location puts you in between Sugar and Beech ski resorts.
The open floor plan allows for preparing meals in the blue-and-white kitchen, while interacting with other guests in the living and dining areas. A stackable washer-and-dryer is located in the unit. Each bedroom has a queen bed and an en-suite bathroom. One bathroom has a walk-in shower, and the other has a tub-shower combo. All furnishings and decor have a modern feel. The wooden balcony is a great place for taking in the views.
Location is approximate. Exact address provided upon booking.
The Lodge at Banner Elk, formerly the Best Western Mountain Lodge, is a 100-room hotel featuring a mountain motif and lots of amenities.
Guests enjoy updated rooms, seasonal outdoor heated pool, picnic area with gas grills and a deck, 37” flat screen televisions with HBO, meeting facilities, mountain views and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi.
The Lodge at Banner Elk is the only pet-friendly hotel in the Banner Elk area. A hot breakfast is included each morning and a two-room jacuzzi suite is available.
The hotel offers discount packages that include tickets to Grandfather Mountain or Ensemble Stage theater. Tickets also available for Tweetsie Railroad.
Ask the staff about arranging fly fishing guide service or a fly fishing lesson.
With two entire floors of artwork, The Art Cellar offers a broad selection of original works in a variety of styles and mediums.
Ninety percent of artists represented in the gallery are from North Carolina, and nearly half are from Avery and Watauga counties.
Large-scale paintings of bucolic scenes, running rivers and Appalachian peaks capture the majestic nature of the mountains, while other carvings, ceramics and photos whisk away customers to all parts of the globe.
The Art Cellar’s in-house frame shop provides museum-quality conservation framing, consultations and other specialty framing.
Art is always a unique and treasured purchase, perfect for special occasions, holiday gifts or to remember a favorite trip to the NC mountains.
Elk Mountain Riding Co. provides Western-style horseback excursions with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
A variety of rides and tours are available for beginners and experienced riders. Excursions are by reservation only, with options including community rides, private rides, half-day tours and an overnight camp & ride excursion that includes camping atop Elk Mountain.
Individualized riding lessons are offered as well.
Elk Mountain Riding places a priority on caring for its stable of horses, and all horses are chosen for their temperament, health and ability to provide a good experience for guests.
Trail dogs are also part of the experience, providing companionship and assistance during your ride.
No prior riding experience is needed. The minimum age to ride is eight years old, and there's a 225-pound weight limit per rider.
The Banner House Museum tells the history of Banner Elk and demonstrates what life was like in the North Carolina mountains during the mid to late 1800s.
Built in 1865, the house belonged to the Banners, one of Banner Elk’s founding families: Samuel Henry Banner, his wife, Jane, and their seven children.
As the Banner family grew, the area came to be known as Banner’s Elk. Eventually, the town of Banner Elk was incorporated by the N.C. General Assembly in 1911.
The Banner House Museum — purchased, restored and opened to the public in 2007 by the Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation — displays artifacts illustrating the daily lives of those early settlers.
Visitors encounter period furnishings, farm tools, hand-stitched quilts, vintage clothing, photographs and paintings. Rooms are arranged to depict the culture of the late 19th century, and volunteer docents lead daily tours.
There's an interesting collection of maps and other items from the formative years of Banner Elk, and the staff develops a new featured exhibit each operating season. The featured exhibit is located on the ground floor, which is accessible to wheelchairs.
The museum is open mid-June through September.
For rates and hours of operation, call 828-898-3634 or visit www.bannerhousemuseum.org.
Always the second weekend in OctoberOct. 11-12, 2025
Sugar Mountain Resort brings a taste of Bavaria to North Carolina's High Country each fall with its Oktoberfest celebration. This two-day, family-friendly event features Bavarian music, a Bavarian costume contest, great food, regional artists, a children's fun area and barrels of Oktoberfest beverages for partaking.
It's a weekend of beautiful fall foliage and comfortable mountain temperatures providing yodels and yodels of fun. And best of all, there is no charge for admission, parking and shuttle service.
The children's fun center includes hay rides, corn hole, pumpkin bowling, water balloon tossing, play time with Sugar and Sweetie Bear, and an array of bounce houses. Meanwhile, all members of the family can enjoy chairlift rides to the mountain's 5,300-foot summit.
The resort's bike park is open for downhill mountain biking on professionally designed trails, and shopping is available at the Sugar Mountain Sports & Gift Shop and the Oktoberfest souvenir tent.
Hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days and the event takes place rain or shine.
Book a Blue Ridge Mountain getaway at this four-bedroom, 3.5-bath cabin tucked into the treetops near downtown Banner Elk.
The three-level cottage is perched on a mountain edge with views from the decks, backyard fire pit and indoors. Amenities include two fully equipped kitchens, two living areas, a furnished deck and patio, and an outdoor dining area.
The main level’s vaulted ceilings, skylights, gas fireplace and wood accents create a cozy vibe. Another full living area, dining area and kitchen are located on the lower level.
Three bedrooms have king beds, and the fourth has twin-over-full bunk beds. Two bathrooms have walk-in showers, while the third full bathroom has a tub-shower combination.
The hot tub is a popular space to unwind in the evenings after a day on one of the two nearby ski slopes, Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain. A shuffleboard table allows for friendly indoor competition. The cabin includes a washer and dryer.
Downtown Banner Elk — with its shops, galleries, restaurants, tasting rooms, and annual events — lies within an easy walk.
Visitors must be at least 25 years old to book.
Stonewalls, a cornerstone of the Banner Elk food scene, is the perfect blend of traditional and modern.
Stonewalls has served steaks and seafood since 1985, and has expanded the menu after a major renovation by owners Scott Garland and chef Tim Heschke. The updated restaurant features a chef-driven menu that blends new entrees and long-standing favorites, like the prime rib house specialty. The salad bar was retained by popular demand.
“We created an environment where our guests can depend on the classics but have the option to venture out with our specials and nightly feature,” says Garland. “Our nightly specials are where Tim really shines and gets to be creative.”
The wine and craft cocktail list is extensive, with offerings from across the globe. Atmosphere is upscale casual.
Puerto Nuevo is known for its Mexican dishes, seafood entrees and vegetarian selections. All meals are prepared fresh daily with quality ingredients.
Menu selections range from pollo asado to tacos San Felipe to chilaquiles Mexicanos to fresh grilled tilapia. A kids’ menu available as well.
The restaurant says its biggest surprise is that the Guacamole dip tastes fresh, and tastes like avocado!
Enjoy the game or relax with friends in the bar at Puerto Nuevo, which offers a large selection of margaritas and tequilas.
Make memories in the middle of it all at this chic three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom townhouse. Take an easy stroll to the campus of Lees-McRae College and downtown Banner Elk's top-notch restaurants and shops.
Lilly's Mountain Escape is a corner unit with two wraparound decks that feature a hot tub and a gas grill. The three bedrooms all have king beds.
The master bedroom comes with a spa-like en suite bathroom with jetted tub and gas fireplace, fully surrounded by rockwork.
The other two bedrooms share a bathroom. An upscale kitchen has granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, a wine bar area and adjacent laundry room.
Banner Elk Mountain Cabins lets you choose from a selection of cozy, upscale vacation cabins that sleep from four to eight people.
Each cabin is meticulously cleaned and cared for by local management. Amenities include multi-person hot tubs, secluded locations, cathedral ceilings, lofts, fireplaces, full kitchens, satellite TV and air-conditioning.
Some cabins are walking distance to town, others are a short drive.
Banner Elk Mountain Cabins also offers Grandfather Mountain lodging packages. These packages have a two-night two-night minimum and include two adult tickets to Grandfather Mountain. Additional tickets may be added for a fee.
Ask about the packages when contacting Banner Elk Mountain Cabins at the links above or by calling 828-387-1209.
This small museum, operated by the Beech Mountain Historical Society, helps preserve the history of the mountain by educating locals and visitors about its unique history.
The museum is open seasonally during the warmer months, and occasionally during ski season. It features both permanent and rotating exhibits.
Exhibit topics include: life on Beech Mountain before the ski resort; background on its earliest known visitors, the Cherokees; logging, milling and narrow gauge railroads on the mountain; the era of ownership by the Carolina Caribbean Corporation (late 1960s to 1980); early skiing; the Land of Oz amusement park; and other interesting subjects.
Admission is free. For more information, call 828-387-4478 or click here.
Climb, swing and dangle in the treetops at Wilderness Run Adventure Course in Banner Elk.
Located beside Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, the adventure course consists of ropes, logs and planks secured to and suspended from giant wooden tripods.
The course features 28 obstacles with three levels of difficulty: easy, intermediate and hard. Activities include scrambling over cargo nets, scaling rock-climbing structures, and traversing swinging bridges and logs. Participants may advance to more difficult obstacles as they navigate the course, or stay on one level. At the highest point, approximately 40 feet above the ground, guests enjoy views from the crow’s nest and can hop in a swing to get the feeling of floating in midair.
A children’s course, recommended for ages 2 to 5, includes netted tubes, bridges and platforms.
Wilderness Run Adventure Course takes an hour and a half and guests must register online for a check-in time. Height and weight restrictions apply. When visitors arrive, they receive a harness and helmet, and the adventure starts with 10-15 minutes of ground school instruction on technique and safety.
If visitors want to book an alpine coaster ride in conjunction with their adventure course session, the adventure course registration should be arranged first.
Wilderness Run Adventure Course is open seven days a week seasonally from April through October.
Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park is a challenging playground for mountain bikers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park occupies 185 acres just east of Boone. Eight miles of custom-built trails weave through the forest, offering a one-of-a-kind way to explore the High Country.
Single-track trails accommodate all skill levels, from the moderate 1.5-mile Rocky Branch Loop to the three-quarter-mile Ol’ Hoss Trail exclusively for experts. The trails are also accessible to hikers and trail runners.
A pump track with rollers, berms and other features allows riders to learn and improve their bike-handling skills. The Rocky Knob pump track is one of the first in the country to incorporate informational signs to teach riders the skills required to master the track. Necessary skills vary from beginner to advanced, including such things as proper body position, pumping, bunny hopping, “manualing” and wheel lifts. Cyclists can practice at four skills parks on the property.
Kids enjoy the adventure playground, where they climb ladders, slip down slides and teeter across a ropes course. The park also includes a picnic shelter and bathrooms. For those who want to visit the park but don’t have a bike, two local shops in Boone — Boone Bike and Touring, and Magic Cycles — offer rentals. The park often plays host to races and special events.
In 2014, Rocky Knob Park was designated a National Recreation Trail system by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Volunteers from Boone Area Cyclists, a local nonprofit, contributed more than 3,500 hours of work to establish the park. Volunteers meet once a week for “dirty Thursday” to work on trail maintenance.
What was once a community necessity in rural Valle Crucis is now a popular stop for tourists to journey back in time. Folks come to play checkers by the pot-bellied stove, listen to bluegrass music on the back porch or just enjoy a Moon Pie and RC Cola.
Mast General Store opened as The Taylor General Store in 1883 before W.W. Mast purchased the store in 1913 and tried to stock everything local residents need from cloth and plow points to cradles and caskets. The store earned the motto, “If you can’t buy it here, you don’t need it.” Today the original store operates in the same location, with expanded space in the Mast Store Annex just down the street.
Visitors notice the creaky floorboards as soon as they step into the store, along with vintage items from long ago. Tins, signs, tools and dishes are displayed on the top shelf. If you’re looking for a piece of pottery, a washboard to hang on the wall or an oil lamp for the mantle, the store stocks plenty of home decor items. But the majority of the store’s products are functional, hardworking pieces. Many carry the “Made in the USA” designation.
The shoe department has a helpful staff ready to fit you with hiking boots or walking sandals for outdoor mountain activities. And you’ll find country-kitchen staples, such as cast iron skillets, herbs and spices, and stone-ground grits. Two-tenths of a mile away in the Annex, the clothing and outdoor-gear departments stock coats, sleeping bags, backpacks and camping supplies.
Another customer favorite is located in the Annex: Barrels of old-fashioned candy sold by the pound. Adults enjoy searching for childhood sweets — Cow Tales, Bit-O-Honeys, Mary Janes — and sharing them with kids and grandkids. Mast General Store now has multiple locations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee; the closest to the original is eight miles away on King Street in downtown Boone.
Hawksnest features four miles of zip-line cables for riders to cruise over trees, lakes and creeks, taking in panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The attraction is located just off of Highway 105 South between Boone and Banner Elk, high atop Seven Devils.
Whether you are a first-time zip-liner or you have several rides under your belt, Hawksnest is a fun place to experience the thrill of a zip line while surrounded by mountain scenery.
The most popular option is the Hawk Tour, which is ideal for beginners. The one-and-a-half-mile tour involves 11 cables; two of them stretch more than 1,500 feet and reach heights of more than 150 feet. Participants hit speeds up to 35 miles per hour. Zipping through the trees gives the feeling of riding through a tunnel. The tour also has two swinging bridges. Children as young as 5 years old can take the Hawk Tour.
The more-advanced Eagle Tour requires good physical condition due to high speeds and long distances. The nine-cable tour covers three miles and reaches speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Two cables are more than 2,000 feet long, and several are more than 200 feet high. If you’re an experienced zip-liner or an adrenaline junky, the Eagle Tour is for you.
Children must be at least 8 years old. Both tours take between one-and-a-half to two hours to complete. After your tour, enjoy the view from the observation deck at the Hawksnest mountaintop lodge.
Reservations are required for tours, and participants should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled start. Hawksnest welcomes company team-building outings and large groups of family or friends.
Memorial Day weekend, July Fourth weekend, Early August weekend, Labor Day weekendMay 24-25, July 5-6, Aug. 2-3 & Aug. 30-31, 2025
Four times each summer, the green at the Historic Banner Elk School comes to life with Art on the Greene, featuring quality, hand-made arts and crafts from select local and regional artisans.
The shows occur Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend, an early August weekend and Labor Day weekend. Festivities typically include food vendors and other entertainment.
Art on the Greene takes place in the heart of the walkabout village of Banner Elk, which allows patrons to make a day of it by visiting shops and boutiques in town and selecting from an impressive list of restaurants in the "culinary hot spot of the High Country."
Craft vendors represent a variety of media, such as metal, glass, ceramics, wood, watercolor, acrylics and oil. Attendees can find everything from hand-crafted furniture to a one-of-a-kind piece of art made in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Proceeds from the shows are used for restoration of the historic school, built in 1939 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The school is a showplace for the arts in downtown Banner Elk. It is home to the BE (Banner Elk) Artists Gallery, Ensemble Stage professional theater, a community book exchange and more.
"Art on the Greene is geared toward artists who are involved in any medium in the Appalachian tradition of hand crafters," says show director Nancy Owen. "We have metal artists, glass artists, potters, and high-quality jewelry from all types of makers. We have wood workers of all varieties from furniture to home decor wood items, as well as painters in a variety of mediums - watercolor, acrylic and oil."
Art on the Greene has no admission fee. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Special lodging packages are available that include two tickets to nearby Grandfather Mountain, one of the top attractions in the NC mountains. For details on lodging packages, click here.
In downtown Banner Elk, enjoy a rotating selection of beers on tap from more than a dozen craft breweries.
Blind Elk Tap Room is an indoor/outdoor tasting room specializing in craft beer on draft, as well as wine by the glass and prosecco on tap. The two-story space with an open-air bar out front provides plenty of room for gathering around the taps and enjoying a beverage or two with friends and family.
In addition to 15 rotating beers on tap, a fridge features 70-80 labels of hard-to-find beers, hard ciders, and hard seltzers. A snack menu offers a variety of pretzels, cheeses, crackers and nuts that pair well with a pint of beer.
Throughout the summer, the Blind Elk frequently hosts block parties on Thursday and Friday nights. Featuring food trucks and outdoor music, the events are a great way to celebrate the warm season in the High Country.
BJ's Resort Wear is one of those pleasant little discoveries in ladies' shopping: a high-end boutique with unique fashion finds. Owner Sally Breslauer opened the shop in 1978 and customers have relied on her keen eye for fashion ever since.
The shop is known for quality garments and personal attention. Breslauer regularly travels to New York to purchase the finest in ready-to-wear ladies’ attire including Bogner, Basler and Belford brands, along with jewelry accessories.
BJ’s hosts regular trunk shows from June through September.
Tee it up for a round of golf on your choice of 400 courses -- including Pebble Beach -- at The Turn Indoor Golf in Banner Elk.The Turn has three bays utilizing the top-of-the-line Trackman Golf simulator. Each bay allows you to play 18 holes by yourself or with up to three friends.In addition to providing a round on a famous golf course, the simulator tracks each golfer's clubhouse speed, launch angle, distance, spin rate and more.If you're not up for an 18-hole round, dial up the driving range to work on your swing -- rain or shine, daylight or darkness.
A full-service indoor bar awaits, along with an outside lounge overlooking the Elk River.
The Turn is open to the public seven days a week. No membership required and walk-ins are welcome.
North Carolina’s largest ski area is Sugar Mountain Resort with 125 acres of skiable terrain.
Skiers and snowboarders enjoy 20 trails and nine lifts, including a high-speed detachable six-person chairlift that is the fastest in North Carolina. Sugar Mountain’s peak elevation is 5,300 feet.
NC's Only Double Black Diamond
Ski Sugar boasts the only double-black-diamond slope in North Carolina, as well as the largest vertical drop (1,200 feet) in the state. Upper Flying Mile is an intermediate slope that connects with Lower Flying Mile for a total run of 1.5 miles long.
Recent updates to snowmaking equipment mean fluffy, white powder is now pumped more efficiently to all ski slopes. Fourteen of the 20 slopes are lighted for night skiing.
Snowboarders are welcome on all slopes, as well as the terrain park, which has a variety of features and is serviced by a handle tow.
Snow Tubing and Ice Skating
Other popular activities at Sugar Mountain Resort are ice skating and snow tubing. The skating rink and tubing park are located together in an area just below the ski lodge. That area has its own parking lot, which makes it easy to access for people coming to the resort solely to ice skate and/or snow tube.
Sugar Mountain's 10,000-square-foot outdoor ice-skating rink is the only one in the Banner Elk area. Ice skating sessions are 1.5 hours and take place multiple times each day. Skate rentals are included in the ticket price. Children ages 3-4 skate for free with a ticketed adult.
The snow tubing park at Sugar Mountain features 700-foot tubing lanes serviced by a Magic Carpet lift. The park includes excellent snowmaking equipment and lighting for tubing at night. Sessions are one hour and 45 minutes daily between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
A restaurant between the ice skating rink and snow tubing park is a great place to warm up and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or a full meal.
Ski/Snowboard Lessons
Sugar Bear Ski School offers skiing lessons for ages 5-10, while the Polar Bear Snowboard School teaches snowboard lessons for ages 7-14. Individual and group ski and snowboard lessons are offered for all ages and ability levels.
Relax in the Ski Lodge
The ski lodge is home to a large cafeteria, the Last Run Lounge full-service bar and restaurant, and Sugar Mountain Sports Shop, which sells the finest in ski, snowboard and leisure apparel. Drop-off childcare is available seven days a week.
An online equipment rental system with touch-screen kiosks at the ski lodge streamlines the rental process for skis, boots, poles, snowboards, helmets and winter apparel.
Guided one-hour snowshoe tours lead participants through a winter wonderland along the edges of the ski area.
Insider tip: Grab big savings + more slope time with midweek visits
The typical ski season for Sugar Mountain runs from mid November to late March. For more information, visit www.SkiSugar.com.
The Apple Hill Farm Outpost in downtown Banner Elk is an extension of the beloved on-site store at nearby Apple Hill Farm, a farm which raises alpacas, llamas, angora goats and other animals and is open to the public for guided tours.
The outpost presents shoppers with a wide range of alpaca fiber products — socks, scarves, hats, gloves, shawls and vests.
A Kid’s Corner features stuffed animals, engaging toys and hands-on crafts, while fiber enthusiasts should make sure to step into the Fiber Arts Room, bursting with alpaca yarns of many colors, along with high-quality knitting, crochet and needle felting supplies.
Not only does the outpost offer everything that visitors love about the Apple Hill Farm store, it carries a selection of gifts, local foods and other items not found at the farm store.
The most notable addition is the Marketplace, highlighting local agriculture. It features products from Ashe County Cheese, Liar’s Table, Old Beech Mountain Farms, Old Turnpike Farm, Shipley Farms Beef and others. Choose from a selection of ready-to-eat dips, heat-and-serve pies and specialty foods made right here in North Carolina.
Nature's Blessings at Elk Creek is a two-bedroom, 2.5-bath vacation rental just minutes from Sugar Mountain Ski Resort and downtown Banner Elk.
Guests enjoy lots of amenities, including a hot tub, gas fire table, gas grill, tank-less water heater, heated toilet seats and fire pit.
A gourmet kitchen on the main level has a six-burner gas range, stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, prep sink and multiple coffee makers.
Both king suites are on the upper level. The primary king suite has a gas fireplace, custom shower and its own deck for taking in the mountain views. The second king suite has a walk-in closet and attached bathroom with custom tile glass shower.
The hot tub is on the lower covered deck with a privacy screen that can be pulled down.
This vacation rental can sleep up to six using the sleeper sofa on the main level.
Primo is an upscale dining room and bar located inside Sorrento's Italian Bistro in The Village of Banner Elk.
Reservations are required for this elevated dining experience. Guests can choose from Sorrento's traditional Italian menu, or opt for the Chop of the Day and other specials available only at Primo.
The Sorrento's menu is shaped by the owners' family roots along the southern shores of Italy, where Italian culinary traditions are influenced by the region’s abundant seafood.
For an Italian feast like no other in the North Carolina mountains, reservations can be made here.
Elk’s Roost is a beautiful craftsman-style home located in The Farm at Banner Elk. This four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom vacation rental sleeps 12 people and also welcomes pets.
The name Elk’s Roost was chosen because of the home’s proximity to downtown Banner Elk (a three-minute drive) and the tree-house feeling the home's location and design provide.
The well-decorated home ties in mountain themes throughout with bark accents, rhododendron railings, granite countertops and detailed millwork.
Sip a cup of coffee or cocktail on one of the expansive decks while enjoying long-range mountain views including Grandfather and Sugar mountains. The covered patio off the dining room extends the home's open floor plan to the outdoors with a grill and additional seating.
This home is ideal for multiple families in need of extra space with two master suites and kitchens.
It also works well for groups that include senior members; there is a master suite on the main level with only two small steps to enter.
Ruth Ann is a master certified groomer who uses all-natural shampoos and has been grooming pets since 1986.
The shop is located in the heart of downtown Banner Elk. Walk in or call 828-260-4454 to make an appointment.
You don't want to miss your chance to stay at this adorable cabin in the trees. Gather around the large, rock fireplace in the great room or on the relaxing, secluded deck. Enjoy the well-stocked kitchen, or take advantage of the gas grill outdoors.
The two-bedroom two-bathroom cabin sleeps six with a sofa bed. Cozy woodlands decor sets the scene for your Blue Ridge Mountain adventures.
The shops and restaurants of downtown Banner Elk are only half a mile away. The greenway walking trail, which leads to a park and downtown attractions, runs right through the neighborhood.
Bearfoot Lodge is a mountain-contemporary, two-bedroom condo in The Lodges at Elkmont community. This unit offers cozy, one-level living with mountain charm and sleeps up to six.
Sleeping quarters include a king room, queen room and two bathrooms, as well as a pullout sofa.
An open floor plan offers a kitchen with custom cabinets, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. An adjacent dining room accommodates six guests and two at the bar, plus four more at the outdoor dining table. The centerpiece of the great room is a stone, gas-log fireplace with a flat-screen television.
Off the main living area is a covered patio with outdoor dining and rocking chairs to enjoy mountain views. The nearby common green space offers mountain views and rippling sounds from the creek below.
The town of Banner Elk is less than two miles away with downtown shops and great restaurants. It's approximately seven or so miles to both Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain ski resorts. Banner Elk Winery is a comfortable 400-yard walk along the creek.
Must be at least 25 years of age to rent this unit.
Minutes from its namesake waterfall (and the Blue Ridge Parkway), Linville Falls Winery rests on a 40-acre farm. The Tuscan-style tasting room is surrounded by grape vines and fields of Christmas trees.
The vineyard is located at 3,200 feet in elevation, blending warm days with cool nights. The elevation, climate and soil composition create ideal grape-growing conditions for owner Jack Wiseman, who operates Linville Falls Winery with his family.
The winery produces both sweet and dry wines, with Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon as the signature varietals. The Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in American and French oak for two years, creating the deep, bold flavor that red-wine drinkers enjoy. Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, dry white with notes of citrus.
On the sweeter side, the Rosé is light and fruity and the Trillium has a sweetness reminiscent of mountain honey. The off-dry Riesling strikes middle ground. Linville Falls also makes a blueberry wine with local berries and cherry bounce, a fortified blend of sour cherries and apple brandy.
The winery has plenty of space to sit and enjoy a glass or two with tables in the tasting room, a large covered patio and additional tables with umbrellas out in the open. Wine tastings take place daily, and local cheeses are available for pairings. The winery hosts a variety of live music, including bluegrass, jazz and swing. Food trucks occasionally make an appearance, too.
Linville Falls Winery can accommodate weddings, parties and corporate events, and keep in mind that it’s an ideal place to choose your Christmas tree each holiday season. Take a hayride through the Christmas tree fields, select a favorite, and a staff member will cut it, bale it and load it on your car for the ride home.
More information is available at 828-765-1400 or www.linvillefallswinery.com.
Grandfather Vineyard and Winery produces a variety of wines in a relaxing setting beside the Watauga River near the base of Grandfather Mountain. In fact, the property has a frame-worthy view of the profile that gives the peak its name.
The business is a family affair. Steve and Sally Tatum — who opened Tatum Galleries furniture in Banner Elk in 1978 — planted their first grapes in 2003. They completed the winery in 2011. Their son Dylan is the winemaker. He graduated from Surry Community College in Dobson with a degree in viticulture and enology. The vineyard grows vitis vinifera grapes, which thrive on the terraced land with warm days and cool nights.
Dry wines include: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rosé, Syrah, Pinot Noir and selected red and white blends.For those who enjoy sweeter wines, the winery uses North Carolina’s native muscadine grapes to produce sweet varieties. When the weather allows, the winery produces ice wine, made from grapes that freeze on the vine.
Grandfather also makes a hard cider that combines heirloom apples and Asian pears. After fermentation, the cider is dry hopped, a process often used in brewing beer.
The tasting room offers sampling flights. Visitors can purchase a glass or a bottle to enjoy inside or out on the patio. Adirondack chairs line the Watauga River that runs alongside the property. The winery doesn’t serve food, but guests are welcome to bring their own. Several spots are ideal for picnics.
Vineyard events include plein air painting, live music and trivia nights. Grandfather also welcomes weddings, parties and corporate events.
More information is available at 828-963-2400 or www.grandfathervineyard.com.
Experience a one-of-a-kind mountain retreat that sleeps up to 14 people. Originally built as a girls' camp in the 1920s, this six-bedroom, five-bathroom property accommodates entire families or groups of friends, including pets.
The interior of the three-story home is rivaled only by the expansive outdoor amenities, indulging a large yard, a stream with a bridge, a fishing pond, tennis courts, and a covered picnic area with grill and wood-burning fireplace. The home's extensive rock work, wooden shakes and manicured landscaping make you feel as if you're at a mountain resort. Beech Haven is located at the base of Beech Mountain; downtown Banner Elk is five minutes away.
The kitchen offers a large selection of cooking utensils and dinnerware, as well as a butcher-block bar and stainless-steel appliances. Beyond the kitchen is a dining area featuring a long dining table with room for 12 people. The dining area leads to a spacious living room with a wall of windows looking out to the Blue Ridge Mountains and a rock-encased gas fireplace.
There are two bedroom suites on the main level, each with a queen bed and attached full bathroom. The top floor comprises the master bedroom suite, which features a king bed and a private bathroom with a shower.
Another large gathering space is located on the lower level, with a sectional sofa, large TV, poker table, and laundry area with two sets of washers and dryers. An adjoining room has a pool table, shuffleboard table, arcade table and ping-pong table. Three additional bedrooms are located on this level, one with a queen bed, one with two twin beds, and one with two sets of built-in twin bunk beds. These three bedrooms share two bathrooms; each has two side-by-side showers in a modern nod to the house’s beginnings as a girls’ camp.
Pets require an additional fee. Location is approximate. Exact address provided upon booking.
On the snow or in the air, a thrilling winter experience awaits at Hawksnest Resort.
Hawksnest is home to the East Coast’s largest snow tubing park for those who wish to play in the snow, and a special Snowbird Zipline Tour for those who want to fly through the air.
On the ground, the Hawksnest snow tubing park has four interconnected areas consisting of more than 30 tubing lanes. The lanes are 400 to 1,000 feet in length with two moving carpet lifts that continuously take tubers back to the top for more fun. The tubing park has 100% snowmaking and lighting on all lanes, providing the best possible conditions for the whole family.
Hawksnest is open seven days a week throughout winter (weather permitting) with sessions lasting one hour and 45 minutes. There are four daily sessions Monday through Thursday, five sessions on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, and three sessions each Sunday. Tubing is open to anyone age three and older.
[Related content: Top 4 snow tubing spots in NC mountains]
Hawksnest also offers an opportunity for zip lining high above the tubing lanes. Each winter the resort operates a Snowbird Tour that traverses four cables above the snow. The four cables are part of the larger Hawk Tour, which is comprised of 11 cables in warmer months.
The Snowbird Tour takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete and participants must be five years or older.
Also, don't forget to enjoy the coffee bar, Carolina barbecue and tasty pizza before, during and after your tubing and zipping sessions.
Enjoy a spacious vacation rental in Banner Elk with this upscale three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house. The house has a welcoming floor plan with vaulted ceiling, large fireplace, hardwood floors and a covered porch with plenty of room for relaxing or entertaining.
The house sleeps up to eight with two king beds and four twin beds. There is a loft in addition to the three bedrooms. Tennis enthusiasts can take advantage of the shared tennis court on site.
Amenities include Wi-Fi, gas fireplace, washer & dryer, full kitchen and cable TV.
