Top Things to do in North Carolina Mountains
Top Hotels in North Carolina Mountains
- 1. Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
- 2. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Asheville Downtown, an IHG Hotel
- 3. Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville Biltmore Area
- 4. Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville Biltmore Village
- 5. Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
- 6. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Asheville Downtown Tunnel Road, NC
- 7. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Asheville Westgate, NC
- 8. Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
- 9. Courtyard by Marriott Asheville Biltmore Village
- 10. Best Western Asheville Tunnel Road
10 Things to do Good for Big Groups in North Carolina Mountains That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in North Carolina Mountains, United States including Blue Ridge Parkway, Dry Falls, Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum, Elijah Mountain Gem Mine, Crystal Mountain Gem Mine, GSMNP - Deep Creek Trail, Biltmore, Grandfather Mountain, The North Carolina Arboretum, Museum of the Cherokee Indian.
Restaurants in North Carolina Mountains
1. Blue Ridge Parkway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6,921 reviews
This 469-mile scenic drive links Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, while protecting the cultural and natural features of the Blue Ridge.
Reviewed By cynthiap259 - New Britain, United States
Where do I start? What an awesome drive from Skyline Drive all the way to the Smoky Mountains ... through the magnificent BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY! It was in my bucket list and it sure delivered. The blue mountain ridges and colorful fall colors...seen in every overlook, just amazing! We stopped at Mabry Mill, the Blue Ridge Music Center, multiple overlooks, stopped and hiked the Natural Bridge trail and Graveyard Fields trail and saw a whole herd of elks in the Oconaluftee area! Ate real southern food and experienced their hospitality especially at Clyde’s in Waynesville. Didn’t get to explore Asheville and Biltmore Estate due to time constraint but will be coming back for it hopefully soon to see the rhododendrons blooming!
2. Dry Falls
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,566 reviews
Following paved walkways from the parking area, you can walk directly underneath the tumbling 75-foot waterfall.
Reviewed By dontchange - Tampa, United States
This is one of the best falls in the area and the walk to get to the falls is a short one that requires very little effort. This is a 65 ft. tall waterfall in the Nantahala National Forest that flows over a cliff, allowing you to walk behind the falls and stay dry. You will get a nice mist from the falls when you stand behind them and the rocks do get wet so it can be slippery. They do have an overlook just steps away from the parking lot if you’re unable to manage steps that offers a pretty great view of the falls. The parking is limited and fills up pretty quickly. If the lot is full go to the Bridal Veil Falls up the road about a mile or so. The parking was $2 or $3 if I recall and they do have an outhouse type bathroom.
3. Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,397 reviews
Reviewed By wvsjr - Bessemer, United States
My wife and I love the show what’s in the barn so we decided to visit this museum of old motorcycles it is very interesting and a lot of history and old bikes to see it was awesome
4. Elijah Mountain Gem Mine
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 779 reviews
Covered outdoor and Indoor gem mining all season. #1 gem mine in the Carolinas on TripAdvisor. No reservations needed. Come pet and feed our goats and see our chickens. We double all competitor’s coupons and we’ll even buy you a coke! At Elijah Mountain Gem Mine, in Hendersonville, NC, you become a prospector from the 1800's and mine for real gem stones that you can keep! Gems that are found daily include Rubys, Sapphires, Emeralds, Quartz crystals, Citrine, Amethyst, Garnets, Adventurine, Sodalite, Opal, Fluorite, Aquamarine Crystal geodes and many more! We have covered outdoor and climate controlled indoor mining for your comfort! Find something really special and have it cut into a pendant for a necklace right here! Sometimes while you watch! You can even bring a picnic and relax at one of our picnic tables by the creek! Our Rock Shop is the best around and no one can beat our prices! See 400 million year old fossils.
Reviewed By konacoast24k - Cocoa, United States
Elijah Mountain Gem Mine in Hendersonville is a great place for a family to visit. Whether you are an amateur rockhound like my husband and I, or just out for a unique adventure, this is a fun experience! They have indoor and covered outdoor sluice runs to hunt for your gemstone treasures, and even a spot where you can walk down and see what there is to find in a small creek bed (you would be surprised at what is under that sand!!). The rock shop is full of interesting gem and mineral specimens, and you can even visit the many goats that live at the site! The weather was not cooperating when we visited which cut our time short (I would have enjoyed lingering at the creek a while longer-so relaxing!). If you are looking for something different and fun to do, visit Elijah Mountain Gem Mine - you won't be disappointed!
5. Crystal Mountain Gem Mine
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 299 reviews
Brevard, NC's Crystal Mountain Gem Mine brings you the unique experience of engaging in your own Gem Mining adventure! By joining us in our downtown Gem Mine - full of precious gems from private mine shafts around the world - you're able to mine for your own gemstones and try your luck at striking it rich! Just like a real prospector from the 1800's! You get to keep everything you find!
Reviewed By joboszko - Pendleton, United States
Wow! We are beyond impressed with the service and selection of gem stones here! Holden and Liz were SUPER friendly and the gem mining experience was so much fun for the little ones. Thank you!!!
6. GSMNP - Deep Creek Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By seekingpeace - Ohio, United States
This is an easy hike if you just want to go to Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls. They are fairly close together with a short walk in between. Our favorite was Tom Branch Falls because you have a bench and a couple places you can just sit and enjoy the falls. The Indian Creek Falls is a little further up the trail with a slight incline to walk up. The path is made up of dirt and gravel but it is very easy to walk on. The Indian River Falls has steps you have to walk down to get to them and you have to stand on a small flat ledge that could possibly hold perhaps 7 to 8 people at a time. This water fall was our second favorite. The Juney Whank Falls are a much steeper and harder path to hike to get to them and it is mostly uphill. My husband has bad knees and he struggled to make it up the steep incline. In our opinion these falls were not worth the climb but we were able to say we made it to all three falls!
7. Biltmore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26,629 reviews
George Vanderbilt's historic country estate in Asheville, NC; Biltmore includes Biltmore House--America's largest home--plus gardens, winery, Antler Hill Village, historic farm, 4-star Inn on Biltmore Estate, shops, restaurants, branded products, and outdoor adventures. This National Historic Landmark is an amazing destination offering a wide range of activities for all ages.
Reviewed By travelerfromsj - San Jose, United States
We did the self-guided audio tour of the house early in the morning, with tickets bought on-line a month earlier. While the house itself was fascinating, I have to say the audio part of it was a little corny and overacted at times- all about guests going to a party, and not much about the history or architecture of the house; but I liked seeing the period clothing. The tour ended appropriately with a tour of the servants quarters, at the bottom of the house. After that we walked around the gardens, to the Bass pond and back. The highlight was definitely the Conservatory, which was stunning; make sure to stop in there to see the orchids. After a quick lunch we took the Legacy of the Land tour, which is a shuttle tour that makes a few stops for guests to get out and look around. I think our tour guide was Jim, and it was absolutely fascinating. I was expecting a tour of the Farm, but it was more about Vanderbilt’s decision to build the Biltmore, how he acquired the land, Olmsted’s design of the grounds, the beginnings of the US forestry service… It was definitely a nice counterpoint to the house tour, and I highly recommend it. We ate at Antler Hill Village twice while here, and sampled wine at the winery. I have to say this place is HUGE; it’s about 5 miles between the Biltmore House and Antler Hill Village, so you’ll definitely want a plan and a car. Plan on spending at least a day. The only negative we ran into is that parking for the Biltmore House tours was confusing and not well signed, especially if you’re looking for the park and walk lot. Pretty much every car that came in ended up driving all the way up to the lawn in front of the house, where a guard told them to do a U-turn and go back. More signs or a couple of folks directing traffic in the morning would be really helpful.
8. Grandfather Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,128 reviews
Grandfather Mountain’s pristine scenery and sweeping vistas rejuvenate mind and spirit. At an elevation of 5,946 feet, Grandfather is recognized as one of the world’s most diverse nature preserves. Be exhilarated by the altitude and panoramic views from the Mile High Swinging Bridge; stand eye-to-eye with bears, cougars and otters in natural habitats. Dine in the restaurant or find a scenic picnic spot, browse the nature museum, wander the trails, go behind the scenes of the animal habitats, visit with knowledgeable naturalists, and stop for a treat at the fudge shop. Fill your day with family memories at place where wonders never cease.
Reviewed By speedsister - Fareham, United Kingdom
There is a $22.00 entry fee (per person) to enter Grandfather Mountain park but there is plenty to do when there so think this is good value for money. There are picnic areas, stunning vistas, hiking trails, wildlife habitats with multiple animals, and the Swinging Bridge so more than enough to keep you entertained for most of the day! We stopped first at the wildlife habitat and while I do have a problem with animals being kept in enclosures I understand the reasons for doing it and it was great to see bears and eagles in close proximity. The staff do talks at various points during the day and they were really friendly and informative so its worth timing your visit to make the most of each of the talks. At the top of the mountain is the amazing swinging bridge which is accessible for everyone as there are some steps but there is also a lift for the less able and the views from the bridge are fantastic. There are also numerous hiking trails (which we didn't have time to explore) but all in all this is a great value experience!
9. The North Carolina Arboretum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,603 reviews
Nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains just south of Asheville, The North Carolina Arboretum offers acres of cultivated gardens and groomed trails featuring some of the most beautiful, botanically-diverse plants in the region.
Reviewed By SeniorTravelTales - Oldsmar, United States
We have visited the Arboretum previously initially just ourselves, seniors, touring this magnificent arboretum and gardens and another time with our grandchildren to thrill at Winter Lights. Having our grandchildren visit again and since they love “LEGO’s” we were excited to visit the Lego Exhibit at the Arboretum. Specifically this is a very popular traveling exhibit that has 500,000 Legos. The exhibit is called Nature Connects: Art with LEGO bricks by Sean Kenney. Our grandchildren were so excited to stroll the gardens locating the 16 larger-than-life-size sculptures. Amazing how each sculpture is carefully placed in an appropriate location. This created excitement to find each sculpture and get a picture with each one. These Lego sculptures are just magnificent with design, color, depth and imagination. Additionally, the scale train was exciting for them to watch. They loved the “eyes” on each engine searching the tracks. A fun afternoon. There is much more to do at the Arboretum with hikes, creeks, and more. We plan to check into on our next visit
10. Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,484 reviews
This site tells the history and culture of the Cherokee Indians through displays and modern computer images.
Reviewed By 79shirleyj - Boones Mill, United States
You'll need an hour or two to do this fine museum justice.It is a very well done and accurate telling of the history of Cherokee people.. You have headphones and can take as much time as you like touring.The exibits and artwork are very well done.History lovers will thoroughly enjoy it.I think the $11 fee for seniors is fair and well worth it.The gift shop is large and has a really wide selection of books as well as other items.
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