Alan’s Roan Mountain guidebook
Food scene
This is a local favorite for coal fired pizza and all kinds of baked goods.
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Smoky Mountain Bakers
126 Orr StThis is a local favorite for coal fired pizza and all kinds of baked goods.
This is a popular Mexican restaurant that is close.
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Puerto Nuevo Fresh Mex & Seafood Restaurant
8162 U.S. 19EThis is a popular Mexican restaurant that is close.
Bob's Dairyland
8361 US-19EThis is a local place for burgers and shakes.
This is about 30 minutes. It has a Walmart, inexpensive gas, fast food places, and some bigger antique stores.
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Elizabethton
This is about 30 minutes. It has a Walmart, inexpensive gas, fast food places, and some bigger antique stores.
We haven't been but we have heard some like it. It is close and gets good reviews on Yelp
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Highlander BBQ
8315 US-19EWe haven't been but we have heard some like it. It is close and gets good reviews on Yelp
This is the closest micro-brewery. They have pizza and some other food. They are family friendly.
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Kettell Beerworks
567 Main St EThis is the closest micro-brewery. They have pizza and some other food. They are family friendly.
Sightseeing
The falls are beautiful and close. It is not a super difficult hike to the falls.
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Elk River Falls
Elk River RoadThe falls are beautiful and close. It is not a super difficult hike to the falls.
The college has activities like Theatre, an Einstein Bagels, etc.
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Lees-McRae College
191 Main St WThe college has activities like Theatre, an Einstein Bagels, etc.
Watauga Lake
There is boating, swimming, fishing, etc.
This is a beautiful park that is very close. There is fly fishing in the Doe River, a visitor center that can give you the schedule of activities like feeding the rescue owls, guided hikes, free concerts, etc. The rangers are very knowledgeable and interesting. The park has a swimming pool, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, and there is a facility you can rent for meetings.
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Roan Mountain State Park
527 TN-143This is a beautiful park that is very close. There is fly fishing in the Doe River, a visitor center that can give you the schedule of activities like feeding the rescue owls, guided hikes, free concerts, etc. The rangers are very knowledgeable and interesting. The park has a swimming pool, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, and there is a facility you can rent for meetings.
You have to drive up (about 8 gorgeous miles) to Carvers Gap, a Trail Head on the Appalachian Trail. If it is open (in the summer) you can drive up to the Rhododendron Gardens. They bloom in June and are gorgeous. With a very short hike, there are spectacular views. If that is closed, to your right is a forested area of the trail that goes up to the highest shelter on there Appalachian Trail. To the left are the balds, with fewer trees so you can see amazing views, go to the left (following most people). You can see that it is more open.
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Carver's Gap
You have to drive up (about 8 gorgeous miles) to Carvers Gap, a Trail Head on the Appalachian Trail. If it is open (in the summer) you can drive up to the Rhododendron Gardens. They bloom in June and are gorgeous. With a very short hike, there are spectacular views. If that is closed, to your right is a forested area of the trail that goes up to the highest shelter on there Appalachian Trail. To the left are the balds, with fewer trees so you can see amazing views, go to the left (following most people). You can see that it is more open.
This is beautiful but a MUCH more challenging hike. You climb down a VERY steep slope. But if you are in shape, it is beautiful. You can swim in the river.
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Twisting Falls
Dark Ridge RoadThis is beautiful but a MUCH more challenging hike. You climb down a VERY steep slope. But if you are in shape, it is beautiful. You can swim in the river.
This is a beautiful place that is a little bit of a drive. There are lots of trails.
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Linville Falls
This is a beautiful place that is a little bit of a drive. There are lots of trails.
This park has it all... there is a museum with fascinating history and nature, re-enactments in the summer at outdoor forts and the river. It is beautiful, relaxing and I bet you will learn some things!
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Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
1651 W Elk AveThis park has it all... there is a museum with fascinating history and nature, re-enactments in the summer at outdoor forts and the river. It is beautiful, relaxing and I bet you will learn some things!
This place is in Roan Mountain State Park. At the visitors center they can tell you about the special events like craft shows, historic talks, tour the farm, etc.
Miller Farmstead, Roan Mountain State Park
This place is in Roan Mountain State Park. At the visitors center they can tell you about the special events like craft shows, historic talks, tour the farm, etc.
The park has a zoo of rescue animals and a museum. The bridge in the photo is mile high. And for the fit and somewhat fearless, you can hike/climb up from the bridge to the top. It is very steep, with ladders and ropes. The views from the top are awesome.
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Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock HwyThe park has a zoo of rescue animals and a museum. The bridge in the photo is mile high. And for the fit and somewhat fearless, you can hike/climb up from the bridge to the top. It is very steep, with ladders and ropes. The views from the top are awesome.
One of the few covered bridges still in use in the US, it is worth a slight detour if you are heading to Elizabethton
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Elizabethton Covered Bridge
717 East Elk AvenueOne of the few covered bridges still in use in the US, it is worth a slight detour if you are heading to Elizabethton
City/town information
This is a ski town. Compared to Roan Mountain and Elk Park, it is high end. There are nice restaurants, art studios, ski and snowboard supply places, etc. There is a pond with lots of ducks and geese. There is a small college that has activities.
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Banner Elk
This is a ski town. Compared to Roan Mountain and Elk Park, it is high end. There are nice restaurants, art studios, ski and snowboard supply places, etc. There is a pond with lots of ducks and geese. There is a small college that has activities.
Elk Park has several antique stores. They are not huge, but it is close. In the winter, there are some Christmas Tree sales, some of which have lots of fun activities for kids and hot cider.
Elk Park
Elk Park has several antique stores. They are not huge, but it is close. In the winter, there are some Christmas Tree sales, some of which have lots of fun activities for kids and hot cider.
Newland is not far (maybe 25 minutes) and has a decent grocery store (Ingles) as you come into town.
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Newland
Newland is not far (maybe 25 minutes) and has a decent grocery store (Ingles) as you come into town.
This town is a little farther, but it is a beautiful ride and a fun destination for a day trip. There is shopping, restaurants, sightseeing, etc. It is especially pretty as it is decorated for the holidays.
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Blowing Rock
This town is a little farther, but it is a beautiful ride and a fun destination for a day trip. There is shopping, restaurants, sightseeing, etc. It is especially pretty as it is decorated for the holidays.
Amusement Park
This is a bit of a drive, but if you have kids and you are there in the summer, it would be a fun day for them! Go to tweetsie.com.
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Tweetsie Railroad Ln
Tweetsie Railroad LnThis is a bit of a drive, but if you have kids and you are there in the summer, it would be a fun day for them! Go to tweetsie.com.
White Water Rafting
There may be other places, but there is some excellent white water rafting in the area. The web site for this place is https://www.wataugakayak.com/adventure_rafting/
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Watauga Kayak
1409 Broad StThere may be other places, but there is some excellent white water rafting in the area. The web site for this place is https://www.wataugakayak.com/adventure_rafting/
Skiing
Sugar Mountain
This is a popular ski resort in Banner Elk
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
1007 S Beech Mountain PkwyAnother ski place to check out
This is our son's favorite ski place as he is a snowboarder. He took his girls for a special New Years ski for years.
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Appalachian Ski Mtn
940 Ski Mountain RdThis is our son's favorite ski place as he is a snowboarder. He took his girls for a special New Years ski for years.