Blue Ridge Parkway :
The high country area offers over 100 miles of Parkway to travel and enjoy. Scenic stops along the parkway provide travelers with picnic tables and many hiking trails. The serene beauty of forests, farmlands, ponds, and creeks awaits you at every turn. Other interesting places; Brinegar Cabin a mountain homestead preserved as a memorial to traditional mountain living. Sheet's Gap, a small cabin built around 1815. Northwest Trading Post offers homemade food and crafts. Cascades Nature Trail offers a hike to a waterfall. Moses Cone Memorial Park- Cone Manor, a lovely Queen Anne style home that has been turned into the Southern Highlands Craft Guild’s Parkway Craft Center. Julian Price Park offers 4,200 acres, an amphitheater, picnic area, campground and canoe rentals. Grandfather Mountain has a mile high bridge, awesome views, and hiking trails. Other stops, Alligator Back, Jumpinoff Rock, Mt Jefferson Overlook, Jeffress Park, Thunder Hill, Linn Cove Viaduct, and many more.
Biking:
EIGHTEEN MILE ROAD–16.0 miles, moderate dirt road. GREENWAY TRAIL–6 miles easy, paved, and dirt trails. HOWARD’S CREEK ROAD LOOP–3.3 miles, easy dirt road. JUNALUSKA ROAD RIDE–14 mile loop, moderate, dirt road. LINVILLE GORGE LOOP–49 miles, extremely strenuous, dirt & paved roads. LOWER WILSON RIDGE TRAIL–8.6 miles moderate to strenuous, single track, old logging dirt road. LOWER CHINA CREEK LOOP–3.9 miles, easy, dirt road. RAILROAD GRADE ROAD–10 miles, scenic, easy, flat road along the New River. ROSEBOROUGH-GLOBE ROAD–14.1 miles moderate to strenuous. SUGAR MOUNTAIN TRAIL LOOP–5.9 miles, moderate to strenuous. TABLE ROCK LOOP–26.2 miles, strenuous, dirt & paved roads. VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL–The Virginia Creeper Trail stretches 35 miles. WATAUGA RIVER ROAD RIDE–8 miles easy dirt road. WILSON’S CREEK AREA–8.2 miles, moderately strenuous. WISEMAN’S VIEW RIDE–8.2 miles, fairly tough out and back trail dirt road.
Hiking :
•APPALACHIAN TRAIL – This trail crosses several mountains. Mountain. •BEACON HEIGHTS TRAIL AND FLAT ROCK NATURE TRAIL – Both are within 4 miles of Linville on the Blue Ridge Parkway. •BLACK ROCK CLIFFS CAVE TRAIL – Located at Grandfather Mountain. •CASCADES ON THE PARKWAY – A trail about half a mile leads to these series of beautiful cascading waterfalls. •CRABTREE FALLS – Located off the Blue Ridge Parkway about six miles north of Little Switzerland. •DOUGHTON PARK TRAILS – Located in Ashe County near Laurel Springs, has over 30 miles of hiking trails. •GRANDFATHER TRAIL – Located at Grandfather Mountain. It begins at the Mile High Swinging Bridge. •JULIAN PRICE PARK – Near Blowing Rock on the Parkway.
•LINVILLE FALLS – Located off the Parkway. •LINVILLE GORGE – Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
•MOSES CONE MEMORIAL PARK – Near Blowing Rock on the Parkway. The park offers 25 miles of easily graded paths. •MT JEFFERSON STATE PARK – Located in Ashe County.
Ski:
• APPALACHIAN SKI MOUNTAIN – Located in Blowing Rock, NC – Elevation 4000 feet, 8 slopes, 6 lifts, lessons, ski rentals and ice skating.
• HAWKSNEST SKI RESORT – Located in Seven Devils, NC – elevation of 4819 feet, 10 slopes, 4 lifts, snow tubing, lessons and ski rentals.
• SKI BEECH – Located in Beech Mountain, NC – Elevation of 5505 feet, 14 slopes, 11 lifts, snow tubing, lessons, ski rentals, and ice skating.
• SUGAR MOUNTAIN – Located in Banner Elk, NC Sugar Mountain has an elevation of 4000 feet, 8 slopes, 6 lifts, snow tubing, lessons, ski rentals, and ice skating.
Golf:
• BLUE RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB – Located in Linville Falls, NC, it has 18 holes, yardage: 6862 feet, par: 72, lessons. Phone: 800-822-HAWK
• BOONE GOLF CLUB – Located in Boone, NC – 18 holes, yardage: 6401 feet, par: 71, lessons. Phone: 828-264-8760
• JEFFERSON LANDING – Located in Jefferson, NC – 18 holes, yardage: 6500 feet, par: 72, pro shop, lessons and packages. Phone: 800-292-6274
• MOUNTAIN AIRE GOLF CLUB – Located in West Jefferson, NC 18 holes, yardage: 6200 feet, par: 71, lessons and packages. Phone: 336-877-4716
Other Activities:
hiking, rock climbing, zipline, Appalachian arts & crafts, farmers market (handmade and homegrown), Tweetsie Railroad,
