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!
