Explore the Stunning Fall Foliage of North Carolina Mountains
- Bridget Rackley
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Growing up in North Carolina, there are not many places I haven't been to in this great state. One place that never disappoints is the beautiful mountains. I grew up in the eastern part of the state and still reside a little over one hour from the coast. The mountains, on the other hand, are about four hours from my home, depending on which area of the mountains one wants to visit.
In the fall of 2004 (before smart phones when all of my pictures were actual film), Bobby and I drove up to the Boone area in Watauga County, a fun city just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Fall is the perfect time of year to visit the North Carolina mountains, when the air is getting cooler and the leaves are changing to beautiful fall colors. We rented a quaint cabin from Fall Creek Cabins; I have no idea if those cabins are still there nor if they are still in the business of renting. The cabin we rented was called "Mountain Laurel" and it slept up to six people. All of the cabins that were available to rent include a hot tub on a covered porch (which we did not use), a wood burning fireplace, linens and towels, two full bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, television, grill, and rocking chairs.
Boone is home to the Daniel Boone Inn, which has served customers homecooked meals for 60+ years. Unfortunately, I have not eaten here-the wait is typically long-but it is on my list. They serve family style meals, including three meats and five vegetables along with biscuits and dessert. They also offer breakfast service on the weekends. This restaurant has been featured in Southern Living and Our State magazines.
What else is Boone known for?
Horne in the West
Appalachian State University
Daniel Boone Native Gardens
Wilcox Emporium Warehouse
Daniel Boone Trading Post
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Old Boone Mercantile
Nearby Blowing Rock is another artsy town named for the famous Blowing Rock. When we were here in 2004, it was $6/person to enter. According to their website, it is now $10 to enter, and the rock is open from 9am-6pm. There is a short, self-guided trail on the property that features an overlook, gardens, an observation tower, a trout pond and miniature waterfall, and gift shop. The views from the rock are really pretty-you can see Hawkbill Mountain to the southwest, Grandfather Mountain to the west, and Mt. Mitchell to the east. There is a viewing platform adjacent to the rock and on that platform, you are 4,000 feet above sea level. One interesting fact that I learned while visiting the rock is that gusty winds cause the snow to fall upside down.
Another fun and what I would call a "tourist-trap" attraction is Mystery Hill. It is located nearby Blowing Rock and was $7 to enter in 2004. It is now $24.95 according to their website, but it looks like they offer various packages. At Mystery Hill, you can find some of it all, like seeing a ball roll uphill, the spooky spigot, your lingering shadow, a trapezoid illusion, and a life-size bubble!
There are so many sites along the Blue Ridge Parkway as it runs 469 miles from North Carolina to Virginia. Sadly, Hurricane Helene affected much of the parkway in October 2024, so road closures have affected everyday life in the area and the travel plans of others as road crews work to repair the roads for travel.
One site along the parkway at mile post 294 is the Cone Memorial Park. This park is 3,600 acres and offers 25 miles of hiking trails. It is named for Moses Cone, "The Denim King". The Moses Cone Manor House is a beautiful mansion that offers carriage rides and crafts. From the porch of the house, you can see for miles!
Blowing Rock was once home to the best cheeseburger I have ever eaten-bar none!!!!! It was called none other than, "Cheeseburgers in Paradise Bar." Sadly it is permanently closed, but I tell you, I have eaten a many a cheeseburger in my life, and this place served the best ones!
Less than eight miles from Boone, is the small community of Valle Crucis, which means "The Vale of the Cross." My understanding is the name, Valle Crucis, comes from three creeks (Clarks Cree, Dutch Creek, and Crab Orchard Creek) that flow toward each other, forming St. Andrews Cross. It is home to the original Mast General Store which opened in 1883. Now, yes, there is a Mast General Store in Boone that is awesome and has some of everything, but the original store is in Valle Crucis, and it's worth the short drive. Here you can find over 500 types of candy in barrels, homemade crafts, stuffed animals, housewares, cast iron, books, and so much more! This store is also where the locals pick up their mail and you might notice nails in the ceiling-that's where they hung turkeys! Across the street from the store, you will see the School House or "Little Red" as locals call it. Inside the school, is a cast iron, pot-belly stove.
No visit to Boone would be complete without a stop at Grandfather Mountain, home of the "Mile High Swinging Bridge." When we visited in 2004, it was $12/person. Now, I understand you have to reserve timed-entry tickets in advance to ensure your spot and these tickets are $22.
When the bridge was built in 1952, it cost $15,000. It had chain link wire on the sides, while the bridge you see today has vertical metal rails. To access the 228-foot bridge, you must climb 50 stairs. It is called "mile high" because the bridge's elevation above sea level is a one mile (actually, slightly over). The bridge is "swinging" because the suspensions are free. From the bridge, you get breathtaking views of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Temperatures are often 15-20 degrees cooler at the mountain top than they are at the parking lot, so be prepared!
By the way, why is it called Grandfather Mountain? I learned the name comes from the mountain resembling an old man looking forward to the sky. You go and see if you think so! Grandfather Mountain was featured in the movie, Forrest Gump-the running scene in the movie was filmed at Cliffside Curve.
Aside from the bridge, there are many other exhibits and museums that will give you enough to do for a full day. At the Nature Museum, you will find a life-size statue of Mildred the Bear, who lived in the area with her cubs for many years. The museum features bald eagles, black bear, deer, and otters. Other highlights include seeing a North Carolina Amethyst, the first-ever to be discovered in North America and a billion-year-old rock you can touch.
About 4 miles from Grandfather Mountain, is a roadside attraction known as Split Rock. Exploring Split Rock is best done on foot in order to get the best vantage point of the great split or crack in the rock that runs all the way down the formation. This huge split in the rock is due to weathering over millions of years that resulted in small cracks in the rock due to the formation of ice. Walk down the pathway to see additional vantage points of Sphinx Rock, as well.
Less than an hour's drive south of Boone is an underground adventure known as Linville Caverns. Our entrance fee was $5, but their website says the current ticket price is $14. Check the website for operating hours! You can see formations like the bride and the groom at the altar with the bearded priest. The temperature is a constant 52 degrees, so dress accordingly. Outside the caverns is a trout stream, and depending upon the hurricane season, there may not be trout in the stream.
Near the caverns, are the beautiful Linville Falls. The falls are located at mile post 316.4 on the parkway in the Pisgah Forest. According to the National Parks’ website, "the Linville River flows from its headwaters high on the steep slopes of Grandfather Mountain and cascades through two falls as it begins a nearly 2,000-foot descent through this rugged and spectacularly beautiful gorge. Known by the Cherokee as "the river of many cliffs," Linville Gorge was the nation's first officially designated wilderness area. Towering hemlocks, dense stands of rhododendron, and native wildflowers grow along the trails that begin at the visitor center and encircle the falls." There are two trails at the falls.
The Erwins View Trail is a moderate, 1.6-mile round trip walk that features four overlooks of the falls area. The first overlook is 1/2-mile from the Visitor Center, and you can see the water plunging 45 feet over the lower falls. Chimney View is the next overlook, and it is about 0.2-mile from the first overlook. From this overlook, you can actually see the lower falls and the upper falls. The third overlook is Gorge View, where you can see the Linville River cut through the Linville Gorge. The trail ends at Erwins View Overlook, 0.8-mile from the Visitor Center. Here you get a panoramic view of the gorge and a distant view of the falls.
The Linville Gorge Trail is 1.4 miles round trip, and it begins at the Visitor Center also. There are two forks for the trail, the first being to the Linville Gorge which is 0.2-mile from the Visitor Center. This forks to the left and winds down rocky cliffs to the bottom of the falls where the force of the water cascading over the falls creates a large pool. The second fork to the right takes you to Plunge Basin Overlook, where you can view the lower falls and the chimney rocks. Both of these trails are considered strenuous.
At mile post 304.6 is the Linn Cove Viaduct, which skirts Grandfather Mountain by making an "s" curve at Linn Cove. The viaduct is 1,243 feet long and costed $10 million to build.
I hope you’ll consider visiting the beautiful mountains of North Carolina-try to plan your visit for when the leaves change color-it’s breathtaking!
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