High Country Kid Friendly Summer Things to Do

There are plenty of Family and Kid Friendly activities in the Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Wilkesboro and West Jefferson Area (known at the High Country)! Here are our favorites:

**BONUS: Rainy Day Friendly activities are in blue

BANNER ELK

Take a farm tour at Apple Hill Farm. Meet and learn about the alpaca, donkeys and other animals on the farm. *Tot tours available M,W,S am.
Have a picnic, play in the water and walk the trails at Tate Evans Park.
Visit the beach at Wildcat Lake. Go for a swim, fish or play on the playground.
Schedule a time to visit Grandfather Mountain. See the animals, walk over the mile-high swinging bridge and have a picnic.

BEECH MOUNTAIN

Rent a free canoe, kayak, boat (even a fishing pole!) at Buckeye Lake, through the Buckeye Recreation Center. For reservations, click HERE
Take a family friendly hike or mountain biking ride in the Emerald Outback
Take a scenic chair lift ride or go mountain biking at Beech Mountain Resort
Grab a pizza from Brick Oven Pizzeria and enjoy a picnic in the kite field behind the pizzeria. Be sure to visit the new playground next door!

BLOWING ROCK

Visit the gravitation anomaly and the kid-friendly science exhibits, try Axe Throwing or archery at the outdoor Tomahawk Hill, get an old-timey photo and more located at Mystery Hill.
Go ziplining with a scheduled trip just for your family at High Gravity Adventures or Sky Valley Zip Tours.
Take a canoe, kayak, boat or paddleboard ride at Price Lake Boat Rentals.
Find gems at Docs Rocks and visit the Fossil Museum next door.
Explore the mountains with a family hike on the Moses Cone Carriage Trails.
Take a picnic to the Price Park Picnic Area and let the smaller kids play in the water.
Attend a kids art class at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum.
Visit the Downtown Memorial Park playground and grab an ice cream from Kilwins.

BOONE

Take a tour of Hickory Ridge Homestead and Living History Museum and the Daniel Boone Native Gardens located next door.
Go on a sculpture walk around the campus of Appalachian State University.
Take a walk on the Boone Greenway Trail.
Go mountain bike riding or hiking at Rocky Knob Park.
Go for a hike on the Kids in Parks trail at Elk Knob State Park.
Take a canoe, kayak or tubing ride down the New or Watauga River.
Visit the Watauga County Recreation Center for indoor swimming and basketball on rainy days. Visit the tot lot playground next door for sunny day play.
Go fishing or play in the water at Valle Crucis Park.
Visit the Candy Barrel at Mast General Store.
Visit The Children's Playhouse for indoor fun or safe outdoor water table and playground-style play
Try your hand at an escape room with Mysterium Boone

SEVEN DEVILS

Take a zip tour scheduled for just your group at Hawksnest Zipline.
Go fishing (where you are guaranteed a catch!) at Grandfather Trout Farm.
Take a hike to Otter Falls.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN

Take a scenic lift ride or go mountain biking at Sugar Mountain Resort.
Play a friendly family game of tennis or golf at Sugar Mountain Municipal Golf Course.
Take a thrilling ride down a mountain at Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster.
Try your hand at gem mining at Sugar Creek Mining Company.

WEST JEFFERSON

Walk around the downtown Mural Trail (pick up a map at the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce). Grab a snack from Ashe County Cheese or Whole Lotta Doughnuts on your tour.
Play disc golf at Ashe County Park.
Look at the large train diorama at Ashe County History Museum.
Go fishing at the Lansing Heritage Trout Waters.
Pick blueberries at Old Orchard Creek farm
Go out on the New River with Zaloo's Canoes, Kayaks and Tubes.

WILKESBORO

Visit the town splashpad in front of the Wilkes Heritage Museum.
Play on the playground, have a game of baseball at Cub Creek Park.
Have a day at the beach at Fort Hamby Park at the Kerr Scott Reservoir.
Bike or fish on the area's largest greenway, Yadkin River Greenway.
Mountain bike, fish or get out on the water at Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir.
Camp out, fish and hike to the old homestead at Stone Mountain State Park.
Go on a family horseback ride at Leatherwood Mountains.
Rainy (or too hot!) day? Visit the indoor entertainment park The Block, featuring roller skating, arcade, trampoline & ninja warrior park and much more.

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