Banner Elk, NC features a wide variety of noted gourmet restaurants and excellent specialty and upscale boutiques, Banner Elk is a destination on its own. In addition, the nearby towns of Blowing Rock, Valle Crucis, Grandfather Mountain and Boone add to the unique flavor and sophisticated country charm of the area.
If you want to embrace the best of Banner Elk and the High country there are an endless array of outdoor recreational options available to you. Among the choices are:
- Blue Ridge Parkway – Just a couple of miles away, the parkway has some of most scenic views in the area, and is one of the best places to drive, road bike, or picnic in the Eastern United States.
- Golf – With over a dozen mountain courses in the area, enjoy the cool summer air while playing 18 holes on both public and private world-class courses.
- Snow Skiing and Snow Boarding – All within a close proximity- options include: Ski Beech, Sugar Mountain, Hawksnest, and Appalachian Ski Mountain.
- Watauga Lake – Just 15 miles away from Eagles Nest it is one of the cleanest lakes in the country with over 104 miles of shoreline and boat rentals available for your convenience.
- Hiking – There are hundreds of miles of trails in the region, with a varying range of difficulty and terrain, including the famous Appalachian Trail.
- Grandfather Mountain – One of the region’s biggest attractions, it is the highest peak in the area and features a wildlife habitat, campgrounds and a mile-high swinging bridge.
- Tweetsie Railroad – A Family Amusement Park, themed around Cowboys and Indians in Boone, this attraction is the perfect place for children.
- Whitewater Rafting and Tubing – There are numerous professional outfitters that offer guided excursions along some of the country’s best rivers and rapids.
- Gem Mining – A great activity for the kids and family, find the precious stones and gems of your dreams at the many mining locations
- Beyond the great outdoors, culture is another key aspect of the High Country lifestyle. Boasting various performing and arts centers, theatres, galleries and museums within an easy distance, the area showcases internationally recognized artists and performances including Broadway shows, dance ensembles, opera companies and concerts from classical to blue grass.
Regional yearly festivals, attracting thousands of visitors, include the Highland Games on Grandfather Mountain (the largest gathering of Scottish-Americans in the United States), The Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk and the Apple Orchard Festival in Valle Crucis. The Division I Appalachian State University’s Mountaineers provide championship level competitions for the avid sports fans. Noted cultural institutions include:
- Lees McRae College Performing Arts Center – Banner Elk
- Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center – Blowing Rock
- Farthing Auditorium – Boone
- George Holmes Center – Boone
- The Robert and Lillian Turchin Visual Arts Center – Boone
Banner Elk, NC is conveniently located near several North Carolina cities and airports. Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Greensboro and the Tri-Cities airport in Johnson City are an easy drive away. Key highways leading to The Lodges at Eagles Nest, including I-40, SR 421, SR 321, and SR 221, will carry you along North Carolina’s most scenic routes before arriving at your exclusive mountain retreat. Airstrips in the area provide access for private aircrafts.