Valle Crucis, NC

Travel Guide

Back Country Road Farm near Valle Crucis in Autumn North Carolina
Western North Carolina after a snowstorm.
Western North Carolina after a snowstorm.
This photo was also at the General Mast store at Valle Crucis. However, this was a picture of the outside of the building. I thought it was unique because it shows a lot of character to the Appalachia region. The building is an old historic building itself and it shows. The wood of the building is very rustic showing the physical history, and then there’s also various historic signs too. These signs include old ads that were used back in the day, and they’re very rusted which means they’ve been on the building awhile. I think this picture is pretty cool because it shows how the region sticks to it’s past, and its past architecture is used as a memorable trait for the region.
This photo was taken just entering Valle Crucis, near Banner Elk. It is the famous Ham Shoppe, known for its delicious deli sandwiches and homemade jams. I took this photo because a classic family owned mountain shop. It has the rustic wooding for the outside of the building, and outdated red draping on the window, showing its age. I personally love the background with the woods and a mountain. I just think it’s a classic picture of Appalachia in my eyes. I have the stereotypical perspective of the region which is old, classic, country, and family friendly, and this photo represents all of those things.
Heritage Hill Cabins

Heritage Hill Cabins

3 out of 5
161 Alnic Ln Banner Elk NC
Stay at this cabin in Banner Elk. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Beech Mountain Resort and Alta Vista Gallery ...
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Heritage Hill Cabins
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boone University

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boone University

3 out of 5
165 Highway 105 Extension Boone NC
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Boone. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and wired Internet (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
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La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boone University
Graystone Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel

Graystone Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel

3 out of 5
2419 NC HWY 105 South Boone NC
Stay at this hotel in Boone. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
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Graystone Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Heritage Hill Cabins

Heritage Hill Cabins

3 out of 5
161 Alnic Ln Banner Elk NC
Stay at this cabin in Banner Elk. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Beech Mountain Resort and Alta Vista Gallery ...
Heritage Hill Cabins
The Highlands at Sugar

The Highlands at Sugar

3 out of 5
2173 Sugar Mountain Drive Banner Elk NC
Book a stay at this family-friendly apartment in Banner Elk. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
The Highlands at Sugar
Smoketree Lodge

Smoketree Lodge

3 out of 5
11914 Highway 105 Banner Elk NC
Stay at this aparthotel in Banner Elk. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Grandfather Mountain and Sugar Mountain Resort ...
Smoketree Lodge
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

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

4.5/5(113 reviews)

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

4.5/5(29 reviews)

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

4.5/5(161 reviews)

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

Cities near Valle Crucis

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

Banner Elk

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

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