What to do in Banner Elk, NC

Activities, attractions and tours

Colorful North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains sunset in Autumn from Sugar Mountain
Colorful North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains sunset in Autumn from Sugar Mountain
Adobe
Adobe
Adobe

Banner Elk Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Banner Elk has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Banner Elk is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Banner Elk to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Banner Elk Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Banner Elk.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Banner Elk attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

  • find price illustration

    Explore activities

    Explore thousands of experiences from activities and attractions to day tours and transfer.
  • calendar shield illustration

    Book with ease

    Skip the line- book tickets online in minutes to top attractions with free cancellation on many activities.
  • trophy illustration

    Treat yourself

    Members save % or more when you book activities.

The Annual Vacation Sale

Members save up to 40% on hotels and homes. Plan this year’s big trip and save.
Book now

What to do in Banner Elk

Discover the most popular places to visit in Banner Elk

Banner Elk, North Carolina highway road street in city town by Sugar and Beech Mountain ski resorts with view of Grandfather Mountain State Park in sunny morning ridge peak

Beech Mountain Resort

5/5(1 review)

Hit the slopes in Banner Elk with a visit to Beech Mountain Resort. Discover the mountain views in this family-friendly area, or enjoy its hiking trails.

Beech Mountain Resort
Yellow brick road Beech Mountain, North Carolina

Land of Oz

Enjoy a fun-filled day at Land of Oz during your visit to Beech Mountain. Discover the area's mountain views, or seek out its ski slopes.

Land of Oz
Time to make some wine!

Grandfather Vineyard & Winery

You can enjoy a tasting or tour at Grandfather Vineyard & Winery during your travels to Banner Elk. Discover the mountain views in this family-friendly area, or enjoy its hiking trails.

Grandfather Vineyard & Winery
This is the headstone of Banner Elk, North Carolina. This elk has been in the town forever, but this past year the elk has been refurbished and installed as the centerpiece of the town. This elk frames Appalachia in the sense of this small town pride in the mountains. In the background you can see the historic elementary school and rolling mountains and once again the North Carolina pride of the state flag surrounding this elk even though about 100ft to the right there is another flagpole with the same flags raised high and proud. This is where every child in this town went to school in this picturesque location but as time rolls on is Appalachia move on too? #appalachianechoes

The Greene

The Greene is just one of the places to see in Banner Elk, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels?

The Greene
Throughout my childhood I spent so much time at this park. I always remember of thinking of it as the park in the middle of the mountains. What I never noticed as a child was how every single aspect of this park was planned out and put there for a reason. Likewise before studying the photographic image I had never thought about how we construct a image and its affordances and constraints. One thing I really want to point out in this image is that while we have this beautiful park there is a huge ugly pipe in the middle of the photograph. It is part of the necessity of the planning of the park, just like the frame is a necessity of an image. We sometimes want to forget it is there but it is a necessary part of an image and still has meaning. #appalachianechoes

Tate-Evans Park

You can learn about the history of Banner Elk when you stop by Tate-Evans Park. Discover the area's mountain views, or seek out its ski slopes.

Tate-Evans Park

Sugar Mountain Resort

5/5(1 review)

Hit the slopes in Sugar Mountain with a visit to Sugar Mountain Resort. Discover the area's mountain views, or seek out its hiking trails.

Sugar Mountain Resort

Hawksnest Tubing Park

Hit the slopes in Seven Devils with a visit to Hawksnest Tubing Park. Discover the area's mountain views, or seek out its hiking trails.

Hawksnest Tubing Park

Banner Elk Winery

You can enjoy a tasting or tour at Banner Elk Winery during your travels to Banner Elk. Discover the mountain views in this family-friendly area, or enjoy its ski slopes.

Banner Elk Winery

Lees-McRae College

Enjoy the collegiate vibe when you visit Lees-McRae College, during your travels in Banner Elk. Discover the area's mountain views, or seek out its hiking trails.

Lees-McRae College

Explore areas of Banner Elk

From the top of Sugar Mountain looking at Tyne Castle in Banner Elk North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains

Tynecastle

If you're spending some time in Tynecastle, Grandfather Mountain State Park and Watauga River are top sights worth seeing.

Tynecastle
Appalachia, where patriotism lives on. A lot of times we stereotype Appalachia to be very proud of their country and the south. This photo captures small town mainstreet flag pole. In Banner Elk there is one stoplight and on that main street is our American flag flying high with the rolling mountains in the background. The highlight of this small town is the 4th of July. This image just reminds me of how the town comes to life to be all American on that day. #appalachianechoes

Downtown

While visiting Downtown, you might make a stop by sights like Elk Statue and Tate-Evans Park.

Downtown
Blue Ridge Parkway, scenic autumn view, Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina

Charter Hills

While there might not be top attractions in Charter Hills, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Beech Mountain Resort and Land of Oz.

Charter Hills
blue ridge mountains near mount mitchell and cragy gardens

Mill Ridge

While Mill Ridge might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Grandfather Vineyard & Winery and Julian Price Park.

Mill Ridge

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Banner Elk

Grandfather Mountain featuring a suspension bridge or treetop walkway as well as an individual male

Linville

Another #hiddentreasure of Appalachia is this view from Vilas Overlook. I managed to snap a picture at the perfect time—the leaves are changing colors, the goldenrod is in full-bloom, and the cloudy sky is covering the hills like a blanket. That’s right—not even the cloudy skies can diminish the incredible view that this is. I found it on my way to Trashcan Falls, and it is up a dirt road. The view was different than other overlooks like Thunderhill and Howard’s Knob in my opinion because this one was nestled right in a residential area. You can even see the house I had to park above to get this shot! Luckily it was a lazy Sunday and nobody seemed to notice I was there—they were all probably napping after church! #appalachianechoes #vilas #overlook #appalachia #mountains

Vilas

Boone

Boone

When thinking of healing modalities of "Appalachia", the first image that often emerges is something that resembles a sort of folk medicine, but merely 6 miles from Boone lies a clinic and school that merges Western medical perspectives with the philosophy and science of Chinese medicine. Sean Marshall created the school in 1997, with the belief that, “ It is as esoteric as any philosophical system could be and, at the same time, as stringent a science as any modern intellectual discipline.” One healing modality, or aspect of what the Chinese call “Zhen-Jiu”, which roughly translates as “Needle (Zhen) – Burn (Jiu)” utilized is acupuncture. This refers to the practice of inserting fine metal needles into specific physical and energetic “channels” to stimulate the body’s own capacity to respond and heal. The other aspect, "Burn” refers to herbs that may supplement the body in the case of deficient energy. #appalachianechoes

Sugar Grove

Sugar Mountain ski resort town park with view of Beech mountain and ski chair lift slope and green lush foliage and clouds in North Carolina Blue Ridge Appalachia

Sugar Mountain

Frequently asked questions

Is Banner Elk worth visiting?
Known for its hiking and skiing, discovering fun things to do in Banner Elk is a cinch. Be sure to add Grandfather Mountain to your itinerary when here.
How do I spend a day in Banner Elk?
Once you've visited major attractions like Land of Oz and Apple Hill Farm, spend some time exploring Banner Elk's retail and dining scene.
What is the top tourist attraction in Banner Elk?
Grandfather Mountain is one of the top tourist attractions in Banner Elk and deserves a place on every sightseeing itinerary of the area.
Is three days enough to stay in Banner Elk?
Three days in Banner Elk is more than enough to enjoy the city's main attractions. Many guests spend three days on average. Grandfather Mountain, Land of Oz and Hawksnest Tubing Park are highly rated sights. Like to see more? Stick around a while longer to check off nearby hotspots like Boone.
Is Banner Elk a walkable city?
It depends on what you'd like to do and see in Banner Elk. Several key attractions, like Land of Oz, are accessible on foot. If you're up for a stroll around one of Banner Elk's vibrant neighbourhoods, Charter Hills is 5 kilometres away from downtown.
What are some activities to do in Banner Elk with kids?
If you're searching for activities and sights for all ages, take a look at these fabulous ideas for what to do in Banner Elk with kids.
What to do in Banner Elk for adults?
Whether you're a culture enthusiast, food connoisseur or thrill seeker, there's no shortage of things to do in Banner Elk for adults including Banner Elk Winery and Grandfather Vineyard & Winery.
Are there free things to do in Banner Elk?
One of the easiest ways to discover free things to do in Banner Elk is to chat to a local tour guide. You'll get insider tips on vibrant neighbourhoods, parks and other highlights you can experience without getting your cash out. Grandfather Trout Farm is one spot that doesn't charge an admission fee.

Explore a world of travel with Expedia