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For over a century, North Carolina's High Country has welcomed travelers searching for a cool retreat from city life and warmer climates. Temperatures in the High Country are usually 10 to 15 degrees cooler than in the lower elevation flatlands.
Boasting the highest average land elevation in the eastern United States, the High Country is home to a great variety of natural wonders such as Grandfather Mountain, Linville Gorge, and the New River.
The Blue Ridge Parkway winds its way through the High Country, offering spectacular overlooks, mountain forests, and a patchwork of farmland and rolling meadows.
Attractions and recreational areas directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway in this section of your travels are:
If you would like to advertise in the North Carolina High Country section of our attractions guide, then please feel to browse our advertising information page.
Attractions and Parks in the North Carolina High Country
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(Milepost 291) SEASONAL. As the Carolinas’ first family Wild West Adventure theme park, Tweetsie Railroad is a unique attraction that allows children and families to explore their imagination–and a whole lot more. Be a cowboy, cowgirl, Native American, or an engineer. Shop along Main Street, learn to clog or pan for gold. Tweetsie Railroad has amusement rides for all ages and live entertainment throughout the park.
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(Milepost 291) Founded in 1949, Mystery Hill has been enjoyed by many generations for years. You will appear “larger than life” on the Mystery Platform. After that, you can see water flow uphill, a ball roll uphill, and gravity defied in the gravitational vortex, also called the Mystery House. Then experience the optical illusions and fun stuff in the Hall of Mystery.
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(Milepost 293) As one of the most prevalent historic attractions on the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is "historic splendor at its finest." For this beautiful country estate we owe our gratitude to Moses H. Cone, a prosperous textile entrepreneur of the Gilded Age. The centerpiece is Flat Top Manor, a gleaming white 23-room, 13,000 square foot mansion.
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(Milepost 305) Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge mountain range and a globally recognized nature preserve. Stand head and shoulders above the surrounding region, marvel at 360-degree views of mountain ridge after mountain ridge retreating into the horizon, and discover sanctuary for the human spirit. The Mile High Swinging Bridge gives visitors breathtaking views from Linville Peak.
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(Milepost 305) Banner Elk Winery is the first commercial winery built in Avery and Watauga counties. Their wines have received recognition with Double Gold and Bronze Medals in the 2006 and 2007 NC State Fairs. The winery produces excellent wines featuring locally grown grapes that reflect the unique characteristics of fruit grown in the Appalachian Mountains.
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(Milepost 317.8)
Located at the base of Humpback Mountain in the beautiful Linville Valley lies a natural wonder, Linville Caverns. After remaining a mysterious secret for centuries, the caverns have been opened for safe and convenient public touring. Toiling many centuries, slowly moving ground water has been the primary artist for this creation of underground labyrinths.
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(Milepost 328.3) SEASONAL. The hundred-year old Historic Orchard at Altapass is directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway, nestled in mountain ridges that treat its visitors to breathtaking views. The Orchard is preserving dozens of varieties of old-time mountain apples and providing heritage-filled activities for its many guests. All visitors are invited to be a part of the storytelling hayrides, live mountain music and dancing, and arts and craft demonstrations.
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(Milepost 331) SEASONAL. Located in historic Loafers Glory, Loafers Glory Rafting & Tubing offers you the best in river recreation. They are close to Little Switzerland, Spruce Pine and Burnsville and are only an hour’s drive from Boone and Asheville. Included is a float down a lazy river in a tube, but you can upgrade to riding the rapids in a funyak or raft on the Toe and French Broad Rivers. These trips are for kids from 4 to 94!
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