Within 5-10 miles
Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Park - Operated by Pisgah National Forest, Hiking trails, terrific swimming hole in summer, RV and tent camping, tubing in the river, great trout fishing in the South Toe River.
Mount Mitchell Golf Course - Rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest one of the best public courses in the mountains, centered on the South Toe River which comes into play on almost every fairway on the back nine.
Black Mountain Campground - Within the Pisgah National Forest and along the South Toe River watershed on Mount Mitchell's eastern slope. Hunting, Fishing, waterfalls, hiking trails, RV dump station, RV and tent camping.
Setrock Waterfalls - located at Black Mountain Campground, about 1/2 mile hike, cascading waterfall of over one hundred feet.
Little Switzerland -- quaint shops, great restaurants
Roaring Fork Waterfall - only 1/2 mile from Mount Mitchell Golf Course, one of the most spectacular falls in the area, and a real hidden gem. Its 1/2 mile hike up a forest road, nearly level hike.
Within 10-20 miles
Burnsville and its quaint old town square.
Penland School of Crafts - I like to call it the 'Juliard' of craft arts. Its located between Burnsville and Spruce Pine, and has drawn many artists to the area. We may have the largest concentration of craft artists in the Eastern US.
Numerous Craft Studios scattered throughout the area
Mount Mitchell State Park - and home of four of the top ten mountain peaks in the US, including Mount Mitchell which is the highest peak East of the Rockies.
Lynnville Falls - a popular tourist destination
Mast General Store
Roan Mountain State Park - popular for its hundreds of acres of bald mountain covered in pink flowering native Rhododendrons. The Rhododendron festival is generally in late June at the town of Bakersville.
Lake Lure near Black Mountain, wonderful mountain lake with high-end mountain homes and estates
Lake James near Marion, boating and fishing, public access
Chimney Rock, now publicly owned, a natural wonder and great hiking spot.
Black Mountain, a town renowned for its small shops and restaurants, great place to spend an afternoon.
Within 45-60 miles
Asheville - One of the 'happiest' towns in America, a true mountain town with a lively art culture.
Biltmore Estate - The largest private residence in America built by George Vanderbuilt, and now open for tours, one of the premier tourist destinations in the East.
Blowing Rock, a wonderful mountain retreat with great shopping.
Wolf Laurel Ski Resort
Grandfather Mountain - biosphere and privately owned park (open to public). Excellent hiking, wildlife park, etc.
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
Penland School of Crafts
Annual (Aug) Craft Fair
Quaint antique shops
Old-timey town square
Top things to do on a budget
Appalachian Trail
Tubing down the South Toe River
Swimming at Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Park
Hiking in the Pisgah National Forest
Top things to do with a family
Grandfather Mountain Biosphere/Park
Chimney Rock State Park
Biltmore Estate
Lynville Falls and Gorge
