| Attraction |
Location |
Description |
Telephone |
| Bucks Pizza | Morganton | Local favorite, stylish location. Beer available. | 828-433-9006 |
| Catawba Falls | Old Fort | Beautiful cascading waterfall within the Pisgah National Forest. Parking & restrooms available. Off Exit 73 of I-40. | |
| Catawba Meadows Park | Morganton | 3.8 mile Greenway along river for
walking/biking, 18-hole disc golf
course, sand volleyball courts,
playground, canoe/kayak/tube
rentals | 828-433-1968 |
| Catawba River Outdoors | Morganton | Kayak & tubing rentals along the Catawba River with shuttle service. Rates by the hour & include paddle & life jacket. | 828-442-6048 |
| Chimney Rock State Park | Chimney Rock | See the 535 million year old monolith with its panoramic views of Lake Lure & Hickory Nut Gorge, 404ft waterfall, and hiking trails for all levels. Check the site for events & specials. Admission charged. | 800-277-9611 |
| Countryside BBQ Restaurant | Marion | Relaxed family-style dining, offering Southern fare. Check site for hours. | 828-652-4885 |
| Crabby Abbys Bar and Grill | Marion | Casual, friendly eatery with made
from scratch menu, also serving
drinks. | 828-559-2726 |
| Cracker Barrel Old Country Store | Morganton | Country store & restaurant serving
southern comfort foods. Located at
Exit 105 of I-40. | 828-433-7665 |
| Crooked Door Coffee House | Marion | Local coffee house on the 2nd
floor offering coffees, teas, and
smoothies. Live music. Open M-
Thur 8-5:30 Fri-Sat 8am-9pm. | 828-652-6216 |
| Emerald Village & Gem Mine | Little Switzerland | Located just off the Parkway, and home to 7 real mines. Unique black light & underground tours available. Closed Nov thru March. | 828-765-6463 |
| English Farmstead Cheese | Marion | A 6th generation family farm making very fresh cheeses and spreads from their on-site dairy cows. Open Fri/Sat 10-6. | 828-756-8166 |
| Famous Louises Rock House | Marion | Local restaurant situated on 3 county lines, offering home cooked meals, fresh baked pies and more! | 828-765-2702 |
| Fatz Cafe | Marion | Extensive menu featuring
appetizers, salads, burgers,
lunch & dinner entrees, desserts,
a full bar and more! | 828-659-1364 |
| Friday Friends Restaurant | Morganton | Casual dining along the banks of
the Catawba River. Menu features
a variety of items. Open daily
11-9, Fri-Sat 11-10. | 828-430-3024 |
| Grandfather Mountain | Linville | Check out the mile-high suspension bridge, wildlife habitats, nature museum, hiking trails, and more! Admission charged. Call for schedule. | 800-468-7325 |
| Harbor Inn Seafood | Morganton | Reasonably priced, casual dining with daily specials. Located just off Exit 105 of I-40 | 828-437-0293 |
| Highway 55 Burgers | Marion | Nostalgic themed restaurant
offering a variety of burgers,
sandwiches, shakes and other
specialties. | 828-559-2009 |
| Historic Carson House | Marion | Built in 1793 and on the NC Civil War Trail, today the home is open for viewing. Check website for hours. | 828-724-4948 |
| Hollys Deli | Marion | Hot & cold deli sandwiches, salads,
burgers, & dessserts. | 828-652-3354 |
| Jack Frost Dairy Bar | | Town favorite since 1954 serving
all kinds of icecream goodies! Open
in-season Wed-Sat 12:30-8:30 | 828-652-1178 |
| Jonas Ridge Snowtubing | Jonas Ridge | Typically opens mid-Dec. Call ahead for times. | 828-733-4155 |
| Judges Riverside BBQ Restaurant | Morganton | Located on the Catawba River, Judges features a variety of hickory smoked meats & other sweets, with indoor & outdoor dining. Check site for hours. | 828-433-5798 |
| Kids in Parks in NC | Western NC | Great site for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors with the kids! Several areas close to us offer fun & informative hiking trails, maps, brochures & the option for kids to track their trail progress & earn fun prizes! | |
| Kids Senses Museum | Rutherfordton | An interactive childrens musuem
featuring fun & educational
programs & exhibits. Open Tues-
Sat 9-5. Fee required. | 828-286-2120 |
| Kozy Kritters Doggie Daycare | Marion | Since we are unable to accept pets at our rentals, this may be an option for you during your stay. | 828-317-1424 |
| Lake James Cellars & Winery | Glen Alpine | Located in a restored 1915 textile mill, the winery features a tasting room and gift shop. Closed Mondays. | 828-584-4551 |
| Lake James State Park | Nebo | Huge 6,510 acre lake with over 150 miles of shoreline. New swimming area and beach at Paddys Creek-fee required. Boating, fishing, hiking trails. | 828-584-7728 |
| Las Salsas | Marion | Mexican food & drink at a reasonable price! | 828-659-3350 |
| Linville Caverns | Linville | Offering 30 min. tours "inside the mountain". Check website for hours. Admission charged. | 828-756-4171 |
| Linville Falls | Linville | Great must-see area for hiking to 3 different levels of the falls. Lots of photo opportunities. Easy to Moderate in hiking level. | |
| Linville Falls Golf Club | Marion | 18-hole course with driving range & putting green. Open to the public. $30 for 18 holes w/cart everyday. | 828-756-4653 |
| Linville Falls Winery | Newland | Family owned & operated on 40 acres. The family is also one of the top growers of Fraser Fir Christmas Trees. | 828-765-1400 |
| Linville Gorge Wilderness Area | Pisgah National Forest | Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, it is one of the most rugged gorges in the eastern US. It is a hikers & backpackers paradise. | |
| Lucky Strike Gold & Gem Mine | Vein Mountain | Recreational gold and gem mining year-round, including panning & river dredging. Open 8:00am-7:00pm daily. | 828-738-4893 |
| Marion Greenway | Marion | Local greenway access in Marion with paved walkway that runs alongside the Catawba River. Parking available. | 828-668-4282 |
| Marion Lake Golf Club | Marion | Built in 1923, and designed by architect Russell Breeden. This semi-private course is a Par 70 with Bermuda greens. Call for tee times. | 828-652-6232 |
| Marquee Cinema Mimosa 7 | Morganton | Movie Theater - First run movies. Call or check site for times & prices. | 828-437-4640 |
| McDowell Chamber of Commerce | Marion | Listing of area businesses | 828-652-4240 |
| McDowell County Tourism | Old Fort | Information on local events, sightseeing, and what to see and do in the area. | 828-668-4282 |
| McDowell Local Neighborhood Eatery | Marion | New eatery on Main St. in downtown Marion. Relaxed atmosphere, using locally sourced foods. | 828-559-0654 |
| McDowell Quilt Trail | Marion | Beautiful quilt blocks located throughout McDowell County. Pick up a trail map at the Visitor Center to see these beautiful works of art, while touring the area. | 828-652-8610 |
| McDowell Trails Assoc. | Marion | Check out McDowell Countys
Greenways, Trails & Hiking Routes | 828-724-4036 |
| McGalliard Falls & Grist Mill | Valdese | 40 foot high waterfall and old
grist mill. Nice photo
opportunities. | 828-879-2132 |
| Mimosa Boat Landing | Morganton | Pontoon boat rentals on Lake James | 828-584-1886 |
| Mimosa Hills Farm (horseback riding) | Morganton | Horseback riding & trail rides.
Must schedule in advance. | 828-432-6040 |
| Mountain View Restaurant | Little Switzerland | Casual dining indoors & out with
big mountain views! All ABC
permits. | 828-766-9670 |
| Mr Bobs Donuts | Marion | Now with 2 locations in Marion & Old Fort. Huge filled donuts & apple uglys made fresh daily! | 828-659-7132 |
| Mt Mitchell Golf Course | Burnsville | Ranked in the Top Ten in NC by Golf Digest, this course offers views from every hole. A Par 72, open from Apr-Nov. Call for tee times. | 828-675-5454 |
| Mt Mitchell State Park | Burnsville | Standing at an elevation of 6,684 it is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Observation deck, trails, seasonal restaurant. Park admission is free. | 828-675-4611 |
| Orchard at Altapass | Altapass | Working apple orchard, hayrides,
bluegrass music, crafts & more!
Call for times. Milepost 328.3 on
the Blue Ridge Parkway. | 828-765-9531 |
| Paddys Creek Beach Area | Nebo | New million dollar expansion at
Lake James! Paddys Creek offers a
beautiful & scenic swim beach
with concessions, bath house
facilities, picnic areas, over 6
miles of hiking trails, boat
rentals, etc. Open daily May
1st-Sept 30. Fee required. | 828-584-7728 |
| Quaker Meadows Golf | Morganton | Russell Breeden designed 18-hole
course with Bermuda fairways, and
bent grass greens. Par 70. Call
for tee times. | 828-437-2677 |
| Red Rocker Inn - dining | Black Mountain | Casual fine dining - reservations
suggested. | 828-669-5991 |
| Refinery 13 Taproom | Marion | Serving NC craft beers, local wines
& non-alcoholic beverages in a
friendly atmosphere. | 828-559-0027 |
| Riverside Riding Stables | Lake Lure | Looking to enjoy some horseback riding? Guided trail, and riverside rides for all ages. Call for reservations. | 828-288-1302 |
| Roma Pizza | Nebo | Homemade pizza, pasta, subs & more!
Eat-in or take-out. | 828-652-7377 |
| Root & Vine Restaurant | Morganton | Serving quality food with an extensive wine list, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Reservations welcomed. | 828-433-1540 |
| Silver Fork Winery | Morganton | Nearby local vineyard and winery. Great views, weekend events & music. | 828-391-8783 |
| South Creek Winery & Vineyards | Nebo | Locally owned boutique winery offering tastings & tours. Music on the weekends in-season. Call for more info. | 828-652-5729 |
| South Mountains State Park | Connelly Springs | More then 40 miles of hiking trails, an 80ft waterfall, and 17-mile mountain bike loop. | 828-433-4772 |
| Switzerland Inn - dining | Little Switzerland | Dining room open to the public - breakfast, lunch, & dinner daily. | 828-765-2153 |
| Toms Creek Waterfall | Marion | Easy hike for families & children. Lush coves, hardwood forest, huge boulders with a 60ft falls. | |
| Town of Black Mountain | Black Mountain | Very quaint walking town with lots of local shops and eateries only a 30 minute drive away. | 828-669-2300 |
| Waldensian Winery | Valdese | Opened in 1930, the winery uses a
mostly-manual process in making
their wines. Open Thur-Sun 1-6pm. | 828-879-2126 |
| Wisemans View Overlook | Morganton | Located 1500ft above the Linville River, the overlook offers views of Linville Gorge, Hawksbill Mtn. & Table Rock. | |
| Zaxbys | Marion | Franchised eatery known for their chicken & salads | 828-659-9966 |
