BANNER ELK, NC

I could write multiple posts about things to do in Banner Elk, with a different one for each season of the year, and one solely for food recs (which I will probably end up doing at some point). It’s the mountain version of my “home away from home”. I’ve been visiting Banner Elk for as long as I can remember. I grew up going out there with my parents when I was a kid, including multiple camping trips, and eventually going to college at Appalachian State University my freshman year. Now, my husband’s family has a place out there, so we take a weekend trip whenever we can. While I wouldn’t necessarily say these are the top things to do or places to eat at (to each their own), they’re certainly my top favorites!

FOOD

Banner Elk Cafe

By far my favorite restaurant, ever. I said it. Again, to each their own, but my husband and I eat here multiple times per trip. My family and I have also been coming here for as long as I can remember. Breakfast, lunch and dinner - you can’t go wrong. My go-to’s are the margherita flat bread or the small cheese pizza. Definitely get the fried green beans!

Bella’s Breakfast

Good breakfast spot, but just a heads up, they’re usually pretty busy! My favorite is the biscuits & gravy.

Puerto Nuevo

My second favorite mexican restaurant (with my top favorite being in Youngsville). Unfortunately, they lost their old location to a fire back in early 2022 and were closed for a while, but as of February 2024, they finally opened their new location by the base of Sugar Mountain.

Artisanal

A gourmet farm-to-table restaurant that took my husband and I two years to get a reservation to (due to covid and then coordinating our schedules with their availability). This is one of the fanciest (if not the fanciest) restaurants I’ve been to, and it’s one with a dress code. With a prix fixe menu, it isn’t too kid friendly in my opinion, though they certainly still welcome kids. They’re only open for a few months throughout the year (May-October). We first went in May 2022 and have agreed we want to go back every few years to try the different menus. It’s a gorgeous restaurant, and next time we go I would love to sit outside.

Stonewalls

Three words: fried deviled eggs. SO good, and it’s making my stomach growl while typing this just thinking about it. Also, if you’re a bread lover like me, their bread is the best.

Crestwood

A really pretty restaurant that is located at The Inn at Crestwood. This is another one that’s not actually located in Banner Elk, but it recently became a top favorite of mine, simply because of the views and atmosphere! My husband and I went here at the end of August and the weather was nice enough for us to sit outside. Great food and service with a great view of the sunset. They also host weddings here!

THINGS TO DO

Hiking

My favorites: Roan Mountain (top two + bottom two pictures; on the NC/TN line, but hands down the best hike with the best views in all of NC) and Rough Ridge (middle two pictures; located off the parkway and easy to get to from Boone).

Beech Moutain

In the summer, take the lift up to 5506’ and grab a drink for some of the best views. Before you drive back down the mountain back to Banner Elk, stop by Fred’s Mercantile. Make sure to check out the entire place, including upstairs, and the basement where they have the Backside Deli - if it’s warm out, sit outside!

Woolly Worm Festival

Aside from going to the mountains in the fall to see the leaves peak, the Woolly Worm Festival always takes places during the third weekend of October in downtown Banner Elk. I attended this as a kid, and more recently have been a vendor multiple times with my small business, Downing Designs. Around 20,000 people come to the festival each year and it’s a great one to start your Christmas shopping at, while also supporting small businesses.

Valle Crucis

This is one that I feel like I could write a whole separate post about, but I’ll sum it up. Valle Crucis is about 15 minutes from Banner Elk and Boone. In the fall, be sure to visit both Mast General Stores (one was the original, the other is the annex) and Harvest Farm. Going to mast general when I was a kid and being able to pick out candy from the barrels was a core memory of my childhood. Harvest Farm is also a gem. I first went here in 2017 and look forward to going back every fall. They have so many pumpkins, and you can even go cut your own from the pumpkin patch. If you visit in the spring or summer, check out the Valle Crucis park, especially if it’s a Friday during the summer for Music in the Valle. For food, I recommend eating at the restaurant Over Yonder.

Sugar Mountain

Full disclosure, I really don’t ski. Reason being? My husband - lol. He’s skied his entire life and quite frankly (understandably so) doesn’t have the patience for me to take two days just to warm up on the bunny slopes because he’s too eager to go to the top. I first learned to ski at Sugar when I was really young. I even went skiing in Colorado with my dad when I was in high school, and conquered bigger slopes out there than NC even has. So, I CAN ski… just not if I go with my husband, haha! Sugar also has snow tubing though, which is just as fun in my opinion!

Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster

A newer attraction to Banner Elk that I recommend doing at least once in your lifetime! It’s the first alpine coaster in North Carolina and can reach speeds up to 27 mph.

Hopefully these recommendations inspired you to plan a trip to Banner Elk and to check out some of my favorite restaurants and favorite things to do! No matter the season, it’s a great small town in the high country to visit, though it’s definitely becoming more crowded as it’s gaining more visitors year after year.