Family Attractions
In the High Country you can find a large assortment of attractions to please the whole family. This mountainous area has been hosting visitors for over a century,
and today includes such popular attractions as Grandfather Mountain, the original Mast General Store, Mystery Hill and many others. In addition, you’ll find unique farms, wineries and orchards to tour and sample.
NC High Country
The Historic Orchard at Altapass
THE ORCHARD
The Historic Orchard at Altapass is a non-profit heirloom apple orchard, heritage music venue, and education center with a mission to preserve the history, heritage, and culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is open seasonally, May through October, and offers a variety of memory-making activities, sure to be enjoyed by the whole family.
APPLES
During the harvest season, over 35 heirloom apple varieties are available, with some varieties being available as early as mid-July, and others ripening into late October. Each variety offers something special through unique textures and complex flavor profiles. Whether you’d like to take home some bagged apples or have the full u-picking experience, fresh apples are available behind our General Store (the big red barn) in our Apple shed.
MUSIC AND FUN
The orchard offers free live music each weekend from June through October in a beautiful outdoor pavilion overlooking the Blue Ridge. Enjoy traditional mountain music, dance a bit, play a game on the back deck, and take a stroll down to the Apple Core Grill for a Jumbo BBQ Sandwich. Be sure to check our events page for details.
GENERAL STORE
Our General Store, located in the big red barn, partners with regional artisans and craftsmen to offer a curated selection of local items. There you’ll find everything from tasty treats like warm apple pie and handmade fudge to jarred preserves, jewelry, books, ceramics, and signature clothing.
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES
In keeping with its mission to educate the public about the Appalachian experience, the Orchard offers a variety of educational experiences. Visit the model train exhibit with a replica of the Orchard land, stop by our indoor Monarch butterfly exhibit, and search for the queen bee in our honeybee apiary.
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The Block North Wilkesboro
The Block is an indoor family entertainment park located in the heart of historic North Wilkesboro. The Block offers a trampoline park, roller skating rink, huge arcade, indoor climbing walls, toddler park, ninja warrior, Gellyball arena, and private party rooms along with a snack cafe!
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Horn In The West
Premiering in 1952, Horn in the West is considered one of three legacy outdoor dramas in America.
Horn in the West Outdoor Drama brings to life the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and the hardy settlers of the Blue Ridge Mountains in their struggle to preserve their freedom during the years before and during the War for Independence.
The 73rd Season will be JULY 10- AUGUST 2 and three nights a week.
July 10, 11, 12 | July 17, 18, 19 | July 24, 25, 26 | July 31, August 1, 2
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Linville Caverns
See inside a mountain...NC's only show cave. Half-hour guided tours into a natural limestone cavern featuring stalactite and stalagmite formations and an underground stream.
Open 5 days a week, Thurs-Monday 9-5 PM and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please come by and see us!
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The Children's Playhouse
Enjoy family together time at this intimate, friendly children's museum packed with indoor-outdoor fun for kids from birth to age eight.
Closed Sundays and Mondays. Admission is $8.50 per person.
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Hickory Ridge Living History Museum
Find out what life was like when the Western North Carolina high country was first being settled. Our educators and tour guides lead you in an immersive experience through our six historic cabins, complete with artifacts and furnishings. Created in 1980, Hickory Ridge History Museum strives to recreate the atmosphere of a small mountain community to show guests about the daily lives of our colonial ancestors.
Staffed with historic interpreters in period clothing, Hickory Ridge History Museums series of authentic, historic cabins give visitors a glimpse into the past and a feeling for the daily lives of early mountain settlers.
Focused on the period of 1785 - 1805, the museum provides insight into the self sufficiency of our forefathers by highlighting the skills they possessed such as hearth side cooking, spinning, candle making, and blacksmithing.
Open May-November. The museum is open for GUIDED TOURS Tuesdays through Fridays at 10:00 AM, with the last tour time at 3:00 PM. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. On Saturdays the museum is open for SELF-GUIDED TOURS at 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS & MONDAYS. During the Horn in the West season, the museum is open from 5-7:30 pm for self-guided tours.
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The Blowing Rock
North Carolina's Oldest Tourist Attraction Since 1933! The Blowing Rock is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea level, overhanging Johns River Gorge 3,000 feet below.
The current of air flowing upward from The Rock prompted the Ripley's "Believe-it-or-Not" cartoon about "the only place in the world where snow falls upside down."
Obtain amazing views of peaks in the region from the Rock and the observation tower, stroll the nature trail and enjoy a snack in the gardens by the waterfall!
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Mystery Hill
Mystery Hill, Blowing Rock, has been amazing visitors from around the world for over 72 years. Mystery Hill is both fun and educational for the entire family.
- Explore North Carolinas only Natural Gravitational Anomaly
- Experience hands-on science activities
- Create giant soap bubbles big enough to surround an adult
- Get your souvenir Old Time Photos at Professor Finnegan's Old Time Photo Parlour
- Try your hand at Tomahawk and Knife Throwing
- Visit the historic homestead of the founders of Appalachian State University
- Visit with the rabbits and chickens
- View the worlds second-largest collection of Native American artifacts with over a quarter-million artifacts
- Mine for gems
- View local fossils at the Appalachian Fossil Museum
- Stroll along the River Walk and explore the tunnel
- Grab an ice cream cone or a cup of coffee at Front Porch Eats & enjoy our Picnic area
- Find the perfect gift or souvenir in one of our five retail stores, and more.
All located just three minutes from the Parkway between Blowing Rock and Boone, NC!
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Sky Valley Zip Tours
Since 2012, Sky Valley Zip Tours has thrilled adventurous families and private groups with our ziplines. Voted Best of the Best - Zipline year after year (Watauga Democrat 2021-2025)
Sky Valley Zip Tours offers a zipline experience at our 140 acre property conveniently located between Boone and Blowing Rock. Sky Valley has three unique zipline experiences guaranteed to excite everyone!
Whistle Pig Kids Zipline Kids ages 4 & up can zip through seven ziplines, a swinging bridge, and 20-foot slide/tunnel. Parents have a covered picnic area and benches in the shade to enjoy while the kids zip as much as they like for two hours. Great for ages 4 and up. Private birthday parties available by request.
The Canopy Tour offers ten zip lines across the valley from ridge to ridge and down through the tree canopy, a 45 foot cliff jump, a 120 foot long swinging bridge over a waterfall are also part of the experience. Our famous Big Momma line is a thrilling 1,600 feet long 300 feet high!
Night Flight is our after-dark zip line adventure! Zip through the trees under the moon and stars! Scheduled every full moon and new moon (as by request on any other date). This adventure covers our first five zip lines and concludes with the cliff jump.
Sky Valley Zip Tours also host private and corporate groups by appointment, Birthday parties and any other group outing you want to take to the next level. Group rates available. Discount rates with our lodging partners Graystone Lodge and La Quinta, as well as our river partner Wahoos Adventures.
Discount for Military/First Responder/Fire/Police!
Reservations required. Kids zipline ages 4+ and weigh less than 180 pounds. Canopy and Night Flight designed for ages 10+ and those who weigh between 70 and 250 lbs.
Visit our website for more info. Call the office to schedule all private parties and group events.
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Hawksnest Snow Tubing
With over 20 lanes of snow tubing, Hawksnest is the largest snow tubing park on the east coast with 4 different areas of snow tubing. Lanes are 400-100 feet long!
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Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster Take a ride down the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster! To ride the coaster, you must be 3 y/o, 38 inches, and ready to have fun! Bring the family & come adventure!
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Ashe County Cheese
Ashe County Cheese is Carolina’s oldest cheese plant, producing quality cheese since 1930. We are located in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains.
Watch the fascinating process of cheese making from our viewing area (check cheese making schedule) and visit our cheese and gift shop. We sell over 20 varieties of original Ashe County Cheese as well as our own county butter, homemade fudge and everyones favorite, fresh cheese curd. We also offer other fine cheeses, locally made wines and a variety of gifts, souvenirs and old fashioned snacks and candies.
Open Monday-Saturday 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m.
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Mysterium Boone
Expect the unexpected at our immersive escape room experience. You’re the detective -- assemble your team!
Mysterium Escape Adventure uses the power of storytelling to immerse you in the escape experience. Our rooms are themed using incredible theatrical elements such as lighting, decor, sound, and video. You won't enter a bland, empty office room at Mysterium. Every element from the clues and riddles to the music and effects will make YOU a part of the experience.
Book today by visiting www.MysteriumBoone.com! You're the detective, assemble your team!
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Gem Mountain
Providing Family Fun for 37 Years!
At the main property, you can find your treasures at the flume mine, have your treasures made into jewelry, and also shop around for just about anything you can think of at the general store! If you would like to take your experience off-road, we do offer guided mine trips to our private mines where you can dig your own!
Gem mine at covered, comfortable flume lines rain or shine. As seen on The Learning Channel and The Travel Channel.
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Grandfather Mountain
One of the highest peaks in the Blue Ridge. Inspirational views, Mile High Swinging Bridge, interactive museum, native wildlife, picnicking, hiking and indoor restaurant. Open all year, weather permitting.
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Hawksnest Zipline
Come visit one of the largest ziplines in the country! With 20 zipline cables we have over 4 miles of zipline fun. Zip over trees, through the trees, over creeks, and lakes all with incredible views. Open year round. Ages 5 and up.
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"The Schaefer Center Presents..." Performance Series at Appalachian State
Presented by Appalachian State University's Office of Arts & Cultural Programs, this annual performing arts series features the finest in touring performances from September-April.
World-class jazz, theatre, film, dance, world music and more, designed to enrich the cultural landscape of our region.
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Original Mast General Store
Established in 1883, The Original Mast Store in Valle Crucis NC carries most everything you'd need for life in the past century and most of this one. On the National Register of Historic Places.
Next door, The Mast Store Annex, built in 1909, blends casual clothing with a mountain outfitters shop, and the original Candy Barrel.
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Emerald Village
Emerald Village is a group of gem, mining, and historical attractions nestled deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and within an hour's drive of Asheville, Boone, and Blowing Rock. Located in a spectacular mountain setting, Emerald Village is home to 12 historic REAL mines and has been featured on National Geographic TV, the Travel Channel, and many other TV programs and Magazines. Come see why we say Real Mines! Real Fun!" We have a lot to see and do! Be sure to bring your camera and take pictures to share back home. People come from all over the world to visit Emerald Village!
Explore the North Carolina Mining Museum and take an underground tour of the historic Bon Ami Mine. Learn the history of mining in this area, see the splashing Bon Ami Waterfall, and marvel at impressive collections of old mining and historical equipment.
Experience the thrill of discovery at The Gemstone Mine, and choose from a variety of gem buckets available. Keep everything you find! Have your special finds made into beautiful jewelry for a very special souvenir.
Emerald Village is Pet Friendly!
We accept all major Credit/Debit cards!
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Doc's Rocks Gem Mine & Amusements
4 Attractions in 1 location!
Featuring the state's premier educational mining experience with ore directly from local mines. Paleo Indoor Putt-putt, Cyber Strike Virtual Reality Laser Tag and the Nerf War Battle Arena.
Located in the Shoppes on the Parkway in Blowing Rock! Birthday parties available.
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High Gravity Adventures Zip Line & Aerial Park
"Welcome to the newest adventure experience in the High Country! Race your friends across ground-based elements to see who makes the best ninja. Plunge 45 feet on a Three-Person Giant Swing. Explore one of the aerial courses with 75 different challenges at heights ranging from 15 to 50 feet off the ground. Soar through the trees on a Zip Line Tour culminating in a 1,000 foot zip over the Tweetsie Railroad tracks. Free Fall 70 feet down through the center of the Blue Ridge Course. Whatever adventure you're ready for, High Gravity Adventures is ready to lead the way! Adventure options available for ages 4+."
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