Book your time in advance! I only figured that out from the reviews (thank you fellow reviewers!!). I was able to book late last night for today but I was glad it was good to go when we got there! They gave us an audio tour usb to listen to as we drove up the mountain. There were so many amazing views, the wild life center was awesome, and of course we had fun on the bridge! My 5 year old loved it but we kept a close eye on him/ had him hold our hand because of the height and rocky areas. Not dangerous for little kids as long as you keep hold of them the entire time. Also it is very friendly to those who have a hard time with stairs, there were several elevators! You can also avoid the trails and drive to the top.

Parking is available just above the curve. A short walk down will allow you to film someone running up the hill. Watch for traffic and be considerate of motorists traveling up and down. A great roadside attraction!

Fantastic spot for catching a gorgeous sunrise over the mountains! Short, easy climbing to the top and plenty of parking in the early morning hours.

I visited Grandfather Mountain on July 4th and had an absolutely amazing experience. We started our drive from Cary, and it took about 3.5 hours to reach. The drive was smooth with hardly any traffic, and the mountain roads are narrow but very scenic and well-maintained. One of the highlights is the Mile High Swinging Bridge – it’s small but truly feels like you’re standing on top of the world! The views are stunning, and the air is so fresh. There are staff and even young volunteers at the top guiding visitors and ensuring safety, which was impressive. We also did a short 1-mile hiking trail, and the natural beauty all around was just breathtaking. You get to see lush greenery and wide forest landscapes—almost 5,000 acres of it! A few tips: • The ticket is $34 per person, which might feel a bit steep for families, so plan accordingly. • Carry your own food and water – there are only limited snacks available, and they are priced high. • Wear proper hiking shoes – the rocks can be tricky, and good grip is essential. Overall, this is a well-organized, family-friendly destination that offers a truly memorable outdoor experience. Highly recommended!

We wandered here on a little exploration sidetrack while visiting the area. It was a beautiful site atop the mountain. There are some amazing views from here and we were lucky enough to have my little one see her first snowfall.

Back again!! This is great festival that is heritage centric. Parking can be a challenge, but we found that if you arrive by 11:00 am, then access to parking is much better. Be sure to walk around and speak with Highland Games competitors.

Great pieces for the home and also feature other local artists.

I only ate here with my family for breakfast, wish we'd been able to also try lunch there as well. I decided to try the Tartan Toast - it was ok, but a bit of a let down for $7. One review said "the tartan toast is not to be missed" but I kind of disagree. I've attached an image to show it - it's just some nice toast with a lot of cream cheese. Not bad in any way, just not really something I'd go out of my way for. I wish it had a description on the menu as I'd probably not have tried it. Otherwise I also had an egg and some liver mush with it. Both of those were good. They also had some VERY good coffee. I drank mine black and my wife used some cream in hers and we both thought it was great. Service was pretty quick and the staff were all nice. Would definitely go again. I mostly wanted to post a review on here for anyone wondering what the Tartan Toast was (toast w/ cream cheese).

Beautiful trail! We went at midday and it was lovely, but this trail would be magical for a sunrise hike. Use the mile markers to find the small parking lot at the trailhead. If you have rickety knees, take your hiking poles - makes it much easier! Don’t miss the iconic shot on the second rock outcrop!

Back in the day, many people from different walks of life saw Linville’s potential. World-renowned golf course architect Donald Ross was one of them. Ross visited Linville in 1924 and knew almost immediately that this was the place he wanted to build his next golf course. He spent barely two days scouting the soggy valley and forests in the area. Later that year, Ross and his company began construction of a new 18-hole championship golf course and the old course was abandoned. The Linville Golf Club was born! To say Donald Ross did a magnificent job creating The Linville Golf Club is like calling the Titanic a boat. In true Ross fashion, the course is both playable and challenging. On most holes, there’s plenty of room off the tee, although some require something less than driver. There’s a lot of undulation and mounding in the fairways, creating uneven lies, but the biggest challenge when playing this course lies in the green complexes. They’re smaller than most and the undulation and pitch requires some skill to get it close and keep it close. Many greens have no sand bunkers around them; they don’t need them, the grass mounding is penal enough. On just about any hole, your best bet is to leave it below the hole, if possible. Over the years, closely mowed collection areas around the green have been attributed to Ross, but that is just a fallacy. His goal in creating these collection areas around the green was to promote the art of chipping. You’ll see this as you make your way around the course, especially at the par 3, 6th hole. Miss the green off the tee and you’ll know what I’m talking about. The 3rd hole is a par 4 that plays 414 yards from the White tees and has been ranked as one of golf’s 100 greatest holes. I had a good drive off the tee and was still left with an uphill 165-yard approach shot into a green that slopes dramatically from back to front and has a lot of undulation. Score a par or better and consider the round a success! During our stay, I met Bill Mechesney. Forty-nine years ago, Bill was the Assistant Professional at the Golf club. He and his wife Sue were back for the first time since he left. I asked him what differences he saw in the course then and now; his answer was “Very little.” That’s not an uncommon response when it comes to a Donald Ross golf course. Ross’s courses are classics that stand the ultimate test – time. His green may not be large, but they are indeed challenging. Many of the greens don’t have any bunkers around them – they don’t need them. The creek that meanders throughout the course makes you think about your club selection. Tee box landing areas are generous, and the course isn’t overly long, yet conquering it is an arduous task. It’s a course I can’t wait to play again. There are two ways to play this incredible Donald Ross layout; become a member or stay at the Eseeola Lodge.

Love it there is a elevator so u can enjoy the view without stairs. U don't have to be fit. Go early

What a fun day, and great learning experience. We were both beginners at fly fishing, and Nils was the perfect guide. He took us for a half day float trip on the Watuga River. All the positive things written about him were true; patient, friendly, funny, supportive and affirming, and very skilled and knowledgeable. He was a great instructor, and made the experience so easy and enjoyable. We learned so much, and look forward to continuing learning and fly fishing other areas of the country. You absolutely can’t go wrong booking Nils as your guide, whether beginners or seasoned “veterans”. Thank you Nils for a great day!!!

Fantastic food, excellent service, and breathtaking views of the golf course and more! The Patio Grill is the perfect spot to enjoy lunch while taking in the beautiful surroundings. Highly recommend!

Honestly, the hest thing Infan say about this place is though it is clearly set up to accommodate tourists, it's mostly locals who are there on any given night. My personal biasis that the pulled pork is adequate and decent, but then sides are phenomenal. Excellent green beans and collards. I think it's best experienced when one cam wander outside to rhe stage nect door and eat one's barbecue to the live music frequently offered. Well worth the trip if you're in town.

Nice and easy 30 minute hike! Would highly recommend proper hiking shoes though, there are a lot of rocks and roots and it’s easy to slip if it has rained recently. The views once you get out to flat rock are incredible! So many good spots to just sit and take it in. There’s a decent amount of parking too. Absolutely loved this hike and will for sure be back.

One of the nicest horses I have played. With the recent rains everything was Irish green and the greens were in spectacular shape. Just wish they had convenient food at the turn couldn't even get a hot dog within a quick amount of time. The manager was great and noticed my frustration and even offered to bring food out to whatever hole I was on!

One of my favorite places in the Blue Ridge Parkway, this lookout is a great place to sit and watch the mountains and listen to the birds. On a recent mid-afternoon visit, I was able to hear a number of beautiful song birds including a red eyed vireo, a dark-eyed junco, and an ovenbird. An incredible, quiet forest is just a shirt walk away from this parking area. This place is best at sunrise and sunset with no crowds. Enjoy!

Incredible 360° views at the peak of Hawksbill mountain, where you can see Grandfather & Sugar mountains off to one side, and Table Rock & Shortoff to the other. It's only a 2.6 mile drive down a rocky gravel road to the trailhead, and ~45 min hike to the summit from there (albeit a little steep at times with ~682 ft elevation change). You can also camp there (permits needed May-Oct 31st). Definitely worth the adventure!!

You can't go wrong here. Great hikes, great climbing and awesome people. It does tend to get crowded though. There are a ton of other attractions within a short drive along the Linville Gorge area.