Attractions

Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina, Virginia
Write to: 199 Hemphill Knob Road / Asheville, NC 28803 / Recorded Park Information: 828-298-0398

Known as “America’s Favorite Drive” and hosting over 20 million visitors a year, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited ‘park’ among America’s National Park System. The iconic 469 miles of asphalt stretch from the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive in Virginia to the Cherokee and the Cherohala Parkway in North Carolina. The High County of North Carolina is home to 125 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway and contains some of the most photographed and visited sections. One of the favorite Blue Ridge Parkway Attractions is Linville Falls, situated at Milepost 316.3, just down the road from Little Switzerland NC. Linville Falls NC features a visitor center and trails that lead to some of the most famous waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Upper Falls is accessed by the Linville Falls Trail and plunges 10-12 feet while the Lower Falls plummets more than 80 feet into the Linville Gorge below. Linville Gorge is the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River and contains 10,000 acres of federally protected land. For rugged hiking and exploring, Linville Gorge is one of the most untouched areas in the High County. The Linn Cove Viaduct, at Milepost 304 near Linville NC, was built to protect the fragile environment on Grandfather Mountain and is regarded as one of the most complex concrete bridges ever built. Marvel at the engineering and views afforded at the Viaduct on the trails leading from the Linn Cove Viaduct Visitors Center. Further down the road, explore the 25 miles of carriage trails at the Moses Cone Manor, at Milepost 294, in Blowing Rock North Carolina. For information on Blue Ridge Parkway NC Hiking Trails, visit our recreation page.
 

Dellinger Grist Mill
1211 State Road / Hawk, NC / 828-688-1009

Dellinger Grist Mill, in Mitchell County NC, is a historic grist mill on the banks of Cane Creek. The Dellinger Grist Mill was built in 1867 by Reuben Dellinger and has remained in the Dellinger family for over 146 years! After extensive restoration in 1997, the mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Uniquely, this North Carolina Grist Mill is still in operation and offers tours and group packages starting every third Saturday between May and September. Visitors can watch and learn the historic process of grinding corn into cornmeal and then purchase cornmeal and grits made on site from the finest USDA approved mountain grown corn. Goods from the Dellinger Grist Mill are also available at the Orchard at Altapass shop.
 

Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock Highway / Linville, NC 28646 / 800-468-7325, 828-733-2013

Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The park is an internationally recognized biosphere with 16 diverse ecosystems and 70 endangered species. Grandfather Mountain features 11 hiking trails and 7 wildlife habitats housing animals like black bears, river otters, cougars and bald eagles. Mile High Swinging Bridge, a 220-foot suspension bridge atop Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Peak, is also a highlight of Grandfather Mountain and spans an 80-foot chasm!
 

Linville Caverns
19929 US 221 North / Marion, NC 28752 / 800-419-0540

You can also trek down into a mountain at Linville Caverns, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 317.4. Linville Caverns NC takes visitors inside Humpback Mountain to see the natural work of stalactites (pointed formations hanging from the cavern) and stalagmites (thicker, rounded formations on the ground) and cool streams running deep underground. The great thing about the Linville Caverns is that at a constant temperature of 52 degrees, it is open 10 months out of the year! Linville Caverns NC is one of the most popular North Carolina Caves and is North Carolina’s only cavern with a fully underground trail.
 

Mt. Mitchell
Parkway at Highway 80 / 2388 State Highway 128 / Burnsville, NC 28714 / 828-675-4611

At 6,684’, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. With 1,727 acres of land, Mount Mitchell State Park is a Appalachian wonderland with 8 hiking trails, picnic areas and observation tower. From the summit parking lot, visitors can take a short hike to the summit or observation tower for outstanding views of the surrounding Black Mountain Range. For a more difficult summit hike, start at the Black Mountain Campground and take the Mt. Mitchell Trail 5.6 miles up to the summit of the mountain. Other trails in Mount Mitchell State Park lead to the peaks on Mount Craig, Big Tom and Balsam Cone, all topping 6000’ in elevation. Camp Alice is a historic logging camp used by the Civilian Conservation Corps and features its own trail that follows logging roads and rail tramways at 5,800’. The longest trail in the park is the Black Mountain Crest Trail, at 12 miles in length, which starts at the parking lot and crests four mountains before descending into Deep Gap at 5700’. For more North Carolina Mountain Hikes in the Little Switzerland area, visit our recreation page.
 

Emerald Village
331 McKinney Mine Road / PO Box 98 / Little Switzerland, NC 28749 / 828-765-6463 / FAX: 828-765-6329 / www.emeraldvillage.com

Mitchell County Gem Mining NC is recognized as the Gem and Mineral capitol of North America, and Emerald Village is the center for gem and mining activities. Visit the North Carolina Mining Museum and take an underground mine tour of the historic Bon Ami Mine. See old mining equipment and displays, and enjoy the splashing waterfall! Tour the Company Store, re-creating an old mining town. Visit Discovery Mill, with free displays, including the Music Museum, the Homestead Museum, the Blue Ridge model railroad display, and gift and snack shops. Spend time at the spectacular Gemstone Mine where you’ll have “buckets” of fun searching for real gems. Find colorful gems and keep them all! Have your gems identified by experts, who can also cut, polish, and mount them into exquisite jewelry. You’ll remember your visit and will want to come back again!





 

Orchard at Altapass
Altapass Hwy / Spruce Pine, NC 28777 / 828-765-9531

Offering “family fun by the bushels,” the Orchard at Altapass is a 100 year old North Carolina Apple Orchard located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway just down the road from Little Switzerland NC. With an intriguing history and beautiful majestic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Altapass Orchard is a unique and well preserved Appalachian heritage attraction. Enjoy “front porch pickin” on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons during the Orchard at Altapass’s open season from May 16 to October 31. Other activities at the Orchard at Altapass include storytelling hayrides, craft demonstrations, nature walks, Monarch butterfly conservation area, and of course, picking the Altapass Orchard apples! Picking season is from September through October, but The Altapass Orchard Shop offers delicious goods including apple butter and blueberry jam during other times of the year.
 

Penland School
67 Doras Trail / Penland, NC 28765 / 828-765-2359 / 828-765-6211 (gallery)

Penland School is located in the Mitchell County community of Penland North Carolina. Just 10 miles from Little Switzerland, Penland School of Crafts is a nationally and internationally recognized center for education in traditional and contemporary craft. Originally founded in 1923 as The Penland Weavers and Potters craft group to teach Appalachian women various crafts such as weaving, The Penland School has grown to offer spring, summer and fall classes in the medias of books & paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking, textiles and wood. Now an icon of Appalachian heritage, the school hosts teachers and artists from colleges, universities and studios around the world. Penland School offers classes from beginner to professional. Enroll in a class, tour the historic campus, or stop by the Penland Gallery to purchase a one-of-a-kind piece of craft made by students, resident artists and instructors.
 

Click on the links below for more area information:
Attractions	Yancey & Mitchell County Communities	Recreation	Relocation

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call us at at 828-765-7729, send us an email, or fill out our online request form.