Grandfather Mountain     A Mountain To Enjoy In Your Own Way.   You Can Come For A Picnic And Stay All Day.  You Can Walk A Few Steps To A Cliffside Overlook Or Hike A Dozen Miles Over Boulder-Strewn Trails. You Can Lead A Family Expedition Across Grandfather's Mile-High Bridge, Spot A Bear Cub Or  A Panther In A Habitat, And Photograph A Majestic View With All Your Friends In The Middle. No Matter What Season, You Will Marvel At The Ancient Black Cliffs, Laddered Trails, And Astonishing Views.  Grandfather  Mtn. Is Open All Year.  For Information About  The Mountain And Its Calendar Of Seasonal Activities,   Call The Visitors Center At 1-800-468-7325 Or Visit Their Site At: www.GrandFather.com

Linville Caverns, Falls and Gorge     South Of The Lazy Bear Lodge 26.8 Miles Is Linville Caverns, An Active Natural Limestone Cavern With New Rock Constantly Growing And Forming. Informative Half-Hour Guided Tours Leave Just Minutes Apart Throughout The Day. With A Constant Temp. Of 52* Many Forms Of Cave Life Exist In This Subterranean Environment.  Call Toll Free At 1-800-419-0540 Or Visit Online At www.LinvilleCaverns.com Just Up The Road Is The Grand Canyon Of NC, Linville Gorge. Elevations Range From 1300 Ft. On The Linville River To 4,120 Ft. On Gingercake Mtn.  Recreation Opportunities Include Hiking, Backpacking, Rock Climbing, Fishing And Hunting. Recommend A Stop At The Linville Falls Visitor Center Open April 15- Nov.1 9am-5pm.  The Center Is Stocked With Maps And Is A Great Source Of  Information. 

Mountain Adventure Guides    Erwin, Tennessee.   With 25+ Class 2-4  Rapids Through Pristine Wilderness,  The Nolichucky River Gorge Is The Most Adventurous And Scenic Whitewater Rafting Trip In The Area!   The French Broad Is A Great Introduction To WhiteWater (Class 2-3) And The Watauga Is A Beautiful Family Float Trip For Ages 4+ (Class 1-2).  With 25+ Years Of Experience And The Best Guides And Gear In The Business,  USA Raft Is Well Qualified To Guide You And Your Family On An Exciting WhiteWater Rafting Adventure On The Nolichucky, French Broad Or Watauga Rivers.  They Also Offer Guided Caving Trips.  For Trip Options And Rates You May Call Toll Free At 1-866-872-7238 Or Local From The Lazy Bear Lodge At (423) 743-7111  Or Visit Them Online At  www.MtnAdventureGuides.com 

Gem  Mountain      Gemstone Mine, Spruce Pine, North Carolina Experience The Wonder And Excitement Of Prospecting For Gemstones In A Pleasant And Comfortable Atmosphere.   The flumes Are Covered, So You Can Mine, Rain Or Shine.  There Are Lots Of Materials, Including Crabtree Emeralds, Aquamarine, Moonstones, Garnet, Citrine, Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire And Others Are Brought In Fresh From The Mines Daily.  You Keep All You Find!   Your Stones Will Be Inspected Free Of Charge.  You May Also Have Your Stones Cut And Made Into Jewelry By Experienced Gem Cutters.  Picnic By The Stream And Visit The Gift And Souvenir Shop.  The General Store Includes Antiques, Area Mtn. Crafts, Candy, Fudge, And Hand Dipped Ice Cream.  Open Mon-Sat, March To Dec. Located On Highway 226 Between Spruce Pine  And The Blue Ridge Parkway.  Visit  The Site At www.GemMountain.com 

Tweetsie Railroad     Wild West Theme Park Adventure  Between Boone And Blowing Rock, N.C.  The Tweetsie Railroad Is A Unique Attraction That Allows Children And Families To Explore Their Imaginations And A Whole Lot More.  Every Guest Will Want To Take A Ride Behind  The Historic Locomotive, Number 12, Which Is Listed On The National Register Of Historic Places. Ride The Chair Lift To Miner's Mtn. Where You Can Pan For Gold Or Visit The Friendly Critters In The Deer Park.  Enjoy A Saloon Show Or Stroll Down Main St. And Mingle With The Cowboys, Cowgirls, And Outlaws. There's Excitement At Every Turn.  Take A Whirl On The Country Fair Rides, Or Test Your Shootin' In The Arcade.  Enjoy Lots Of Old Time Shopping And Plenty Of Good Eatin'.   The One Price Admission Includes A Full Day Of Fun At The Tweetsie Railroad Including The Train Trip, Live Entertainment,  Country Fair Rides, Deer Park And More.   For Prices And  Advance Tickets Call  1-877-893-3874 Or Order Online At www.Tweetsie.com 

Horseback Riding    For The Entire Familiy At Banner Elk Stables Located Nearby.  Take A Memorable High Mountain Ride In The Heart Of The Blue  Ridge Mountains On The Scenic Flanks Of Beech Mountain.  You Will Enjoy  A One-Hour Guided Trail Ride Over Miles of Rigorous Trails At This Stable That Is Open Year Round.  Spectacular Views Of GrandFather Mtn, Sugar Mtn. And Banner Elk.  With Our Large Stable Of Horses We Have Just The Right Horse For Your Riding Ability Even If You Have Never Ridden Before. Children Are Welcome.   Our Family-Oriented Trips Make Great Outings  For Church Groups And Other Organizations As Well As Individuals. Reservations  Are Required.  For More Information On Rates/Times Call:  (828) 898-5424  Ask For Suzie. 

Roan Mountain State Park    Peaks at 6,285 Ft. And Provides A Perfect Base For Visitors To Explore This Beautiful Highlands Region.  A 10-Miles Drive From The Park Takes Visitors Thru Spectacular Heights Of The Roan,  With A Rich Array Of Plant & Animal Life.  During The Middle Of June, The Catawba Rhododendron Bursts Into Bloom, Forming One Of The Largest Natural Gardens In The World. The Appalachian Trail Meanders Across The Roan Highlands  With Impressive Views , Thick Carpets Of Moss and many Wildflowers that Greet the hikers along these High Mountain Ridges.   Roan Mountain Attracts Those Looking For Breathtaking Views And A Quiet Solitude Above The Clouds.  Call The Visitor Center For Information At 1-423-772-3303.

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area     Perhaps The Most Historically Significant Site   In Tennessee, And Played A Pivotal Role In Not Only Tennessee History But In The American Revolution As Well.  It Was The Site Of The First Permanent American Settlement Outside The 13 Original Colonies.  Includes Fort Watauga And The Carter Mansion Which Is Located 3 miles North Of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. Sycamore Shoals Is Located In Elizabethton Along The Watauga River. For Further Information Call The Office Between 8:00a.m.- 4:30 pm At 1-(423) 543-5808.

Watauga Dam and Recreation Area     Watauga Dam Was Completed In Dec. 1948.  At The Time Of Completion It Was The Highest Rock And Earth Filled  Dam In The World.  Watauga Dam Is 328 Ft. High And 1000 Ft. Long.  It  Is 32 Ft. Thick At The Top And 1260 Ft. Thick At The Bottom.   The Watauga Powerhouse Is 2100 Ft. Downstream And Contains An Overhead Crane, Main Transformers, And 2 Generators That Rate 30,000 KW Each.  The Recreation Area Includes A Boat Ramp, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking Nature Trails, Wildlife Viewing, Kayaking,  Picnic Area, Restrooms.      Open All Year Round.   Pets Allowed  On Leash.  Free Admission!! For Further Information Call 1- (423) 239-2000. 

Elizabethton Covered Bridge       Stretching Across The Beautifully Flowing, Clear And Cool Water Of The Doe River,  Elizabethton's Covered Bridge Is One Of The Most Photographed Attractions In The Area.  Built In 1882, The Bridge Is Believed To Be The Oldest Such Bridge That Is Still In Use For Pedestrians.  The Original Structure Was Made Entirely Of Wood, Mainly Mountain Oak  And White Pine Beams. It Spans The River For 134 Ft., Resting On Earth And Limestone Abutments.  From The Bridge, A Short Distance Walk Is The Historical Downtown Area, Including The Soldiers Monument, Historic Homes, Churches, With Antique Shops And Restaurants.            Visit  The Site At www.TourElizabethton.com And Click On Scenic/Historic.