Western North Carolina Summer and Fall Guide for Families
Focused on Avery and Watauga counties
Western North Carolina is such a special place, and we are so fortunate for our home to be only 2-3 hours away. In the fall, the foliage is stunning. In the winter, you can go skiing, tubing and soak up the small town, festive holiday atmosphere. The spring may not be a popular time, but we actually went skiing in mid-March earlier this year and had no lines, great snow on the slopes and 50 degree temperatures - ideal conditions if you ask me! And summer is amazing because even though it is only a few hours from our house, it can be about 20 degrees cooler. This made for perfect weather for our recent 4th of July trip!
Western North Carolina has been in the news a lot lately because of Hurricane Helene in 2024. This storm devastated many rural communities that rely on tourism revenue, and it was heartbreaking to witness. While there is still work to be done, WNC is open for business and I encourage everyone to visit - not just because these communities need support but because they are wonderful places to visit that we continue to go back to year after year.
One final note before we get into it: a lot of people only think of Asheville when they think of WNC. While Asheville is awesome, there are many small towns in WNC that are also great to visit and also more affordable! This guide is going to focus on areas around Avery and Watauga counties, where there are many awesome places to stay including Beech Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, Blowing Rock, Sugar Mountain, Banner Elk and Linville. I’m also going to focus on activities to do in the fall and summer (winter guide coming soon).
Tweetsie Railroad
Tweetsie Railroad is family-friendly Wild West theme park with a historic steam locomotive that you can ride (bring headphones for little ones - the whistle is loud). The train ride is combined with a live entertainment show and classic amusement rides and more! We actually went here for “A Day out with Thomas,” and the steam train was turned into Thomas the Train! They had other Thomas attractions such as a meet and greet with Sir Topham Hatt. I would definitely recommend this to any train-loving kid in your life! Their Christmas festival is also a popular time to visit.
Grandfather Mountain State Park
We finally made it here last week over July 4th week and it did not disappoint! There is so much to do here and I can see us returning again and again. The most popular attraction is the the Mile High Swinging Bridge, but we actually didn’t even make it there because there were so many other activities to keep us busy.
After we arrived, our first stop (after the Grandfather Mountain overlook) was the Wood Walk, a .4 mile loop that was a perfect easy nature walk for my 3 and 5 year old, and 70 year old mom. After that, we headed up to the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, where we had a decent lunch at the cafe. Considering it was a crowded holiday week, we got in and out very smoothly and quickly. However, you could definitely bring your own lunch. There were tons of scenic spots to have a nice picnic!
After lunch, we explored the wildlife habitats which were right behind the nature center. Be sure to check the schedule when you walk in the nature center because about every hour, the zoologist does “animal talks” where you get a little information about the animals and then they feed the animals a snack right in front of you. We got to see the cougar and elk animal talks, and also got to see the otters, bears and a bald eagle!
Next, we headed inside to a small but well done nature museum. At this point we were tired and headed home, but you could continue to the Mile High Swinging Bridge or one of the other family-friendly hikes. We will catch those on the next trip!
Grandfather Vineyard
Grandfather Vineyard is one of our favorite places to visit in the area. It was damaged during Hurricane Helene but am thrilled that they are back up and running! It may seem odd to take kids to a vineyard, but this is an activity that both kids and parents will enjoy! Check their website or social media before you go because they will often have live music or food trucks on site. We will usually go in the afternoon, enjoy some wine and music and have an early dinner from the food truck before heading home. It is mostly outdoors (so make note of the weather), and kids can roam around the hills with grape leaves or play in the stream that runs along the the picnic tables. The vibes here on a lovely summer or fall afternoon are unmatched!
Downtown Blowing Rock
I would say Blowing Rock has the best downtown atmosphere in this area. There are charming shops, an ice cream and fudge store and a playground to keep kids entertained. Our favorite restaurant in town is Bistro Roca. This is a nicer restaurant but I’d say you could get away with an early dinner with kids there. Their pizzas are delicious!
Downtown Banner Elk
Banner Elk has a cute downtown with charming restaurants and shops. They oftentimes will host festivals, such as their art festival over the July 4th weekend and the very popular Woolly Worm festival during peak foliage (note: there will be traffic during this time). We love to drive into town for lunch, pop in a few of the shops and grab some ice cream! Some kid-friendly lunch options include Banner Elk Cafe & Lodge and Bayou Banner Elk (which has a great patio). If you’re looking for a nicer meal, Stonewalls, LP on Main, and Sorrento’s (also with a great patio) are popular choices. Probably the most famous restaurant in the area is Artisanal, which is open seasonally. You’ll definitely want to get a babysitter so you can enjoy this one!
Beech Mountain
When traveling to WNC, we usually use Beech Mountain as our home base because we have a family home there. In the summer and fall, families can enjoy scenic lift rides, hiking, mountain biking, live music, pickle ball and more. Honestly, when we go in the summer, we simply enjoy taking our kids to the playgrounds without worrying about a heat advisory (ha)! Beech Mountain is the highest town on the East Coast (elevation 5506’) so you can usually count on cool summer temps. I have a whole guide for families visiting Beech Mountain in the summer and fall!
I know I’m missing some spots, so I’ll update this guide as we continue to explore the area. I know we’ll be visiting for years to come!
Have you ever been to WNC? What are you favorite towns and activities?