If you’re seeking outdoor destinations in North Carolina that are versatile enough to be enjoyable in any season, then you can’t beat the charm of Banner Elk. No matter the season, this tiny town set in a mountain valley in the Highlands is laden with ways to enjoy the great outdoors.

With only one major crossroad in the middle of town, Banner Elk has a very walkable retail district featuring shops, galleries, and many restaurant options - most of which have outdoor seating.
Google/Becky French
Within only minutes away, a number of attractions dole out scores of ways to bask in nature, like Banner Elk Winery.
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Google/Karla Markus
Located just outside the town limits, the winery has both indoor and outdoor seating options. A great big, cozy porch plus seating out in the wild (such as the cabana by the pond) offer glimpses of the beautiful surroundings while you sample wine from grapes grown right here on the property. Learn more here.
Only 15 minutes from downtown Banner Elk awaits a view you won't soon forget from high atop Grandfather Mountain.
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Trek across the Mile High Swinging Bridge on this mountain peak for a one-of-a-kind attraction you're sure to love. Learn more here.
Take a UTV tour to explore the backwoods all around the High Country of Banner Elk and surrounding communities.
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The UTVs make for a memorable day trip for everyone in the family, and if it's rained recently, then trekking around in the mud makes it all the more fun! Learn more here.
Want to go for a hike? You cannot beat the short .75-mile hike in to the enormous Elk River Falls.
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For perspective, see the humans standing at the top right of this grand waterfall (pictured) and get ready for one of the best waterfall adventures around. (Just remember, this is also one of the deadliest waterfalls in the state, so please do no stand at the top as the folks in this picture are doing!) Learn more here.
Banner Elk also has it's very own alpaca farm!
Google/Shannon McDonald
Any visit to Apple Hill Apple Farm is sure to be a highlight of any trip to the High Country. The farm has many alpacas that are eager to make new friends, plus several other animals (a donkey, for instance) that you can meet as well. And the view from this mountaintop farm is, well... you will see! Learn more here.

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North Carolina's very first mountain coaster is located on Tynecastle Boulevard on the way into town.
TripAdvisor/management
Screech down the mountain at speeds exceeding 25 miles per hour on your very own car - or share a car with a loved one. Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is a must if you love a good thrill! Learn more here.
Wondering if all of these activities are available in the winter? Most of them are! And so is a world of snow activities.
Google/Gabriel Aure
From skiing at both Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain to snow tubing over at Hawksnest in Seven Devils, winter in Banner Elk is all about getting outside to play.
Plus, up on Beech Mountain, you can also go ice skating, or take the little ones over to the state's only public snow sledding hill (located by Beech Mountain Town Hall).
Google/Monika Leon
And then, of course, there's always a journey along a white-covered Blue Ridge Parkway. There's an entrance only 15 minutes from Banner Elk.
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Just keep in mind that in the winter, parts of the parkway are closed when inclement weather blocks passage. Although the parkway is open year-round, extra snowy and icy conditions can change that. You can always find up-to-date information on sections that may be closed by visiting this link on the National Park Service website.
In the summer, Beech Mountain (located five miles straight up the mountain from Banner Elk) opens its ski resort as a mountain biking park.
Google/Beech Mountain Ski Resort
Families from all over the Southeast make this an annual trek each year, not only for the biking, but also because temperatures on top of the mountain rarely exceed 72 in the summer. Just load your bike on the ski lift, hop into a lift chair and ride to the top only to turn around and soar to the bottom on two wheels.
Also on top of the mountain is the now defunct theme park known as Land Of Oz.
Robin Jarvis (do not use without permission)
It opens for two events each year. One of them is in the summer; the other is in the fall.
Robin Jarvis (do not use without permission)
If you've never walked the yellow brick road or rubbed elbows with the Wicked Witch of the West, then here's your chance! Learn more here.
As mentioned already, Banner Elk has a number of world-class eateries and most have outdoor seating that's perfect in spring, summer, and fall.
Google/John Carroll
Google/Sharon Greene
Our favorite has to be Banner Elk Cafe. Over the years, this cafe has expanded by adding more and more outdoor garden rooms (some covered and some not) that offer a wonderful setting for enjoying their delicious American fare while inhaling some fresh mountain air.

When it comes to outdoor destinations in North Carolina, Banner Elk is the cream of the crop for small towns that have it all. When was the last time you made the trek over to Banner Elk and how many of these attractions have you already checked out?

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Banner Elk, NC 28604, USA