Linville Caverns allow visitors the unique opportunity to explore the inside of a mountain.

For a break from the outdoors, visit the Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, home to more than a dozen exhibitions about the local flora and fauna, local emeralds and rubies, and what is said to be the largest amethyst discovered in North America on display. There are designated areas in the park where you may even spot cougars, black bears, bald eagles, and river otters. Throughout the park, pristine rivers and lakes allow you to kayak, canoe, or fish. This state park covers almost 2,500 mountainous acres, providing hiking opportunities for all experience levels. Despite what the worm predicts, you can count on winters bringing snowfall and chilly winds. Crowds gather on the third weekend of October to watch races between woolly worms, a type of fuzzy caterpillar, with the winning wriggler earning the honor of forecasting the severity of the coming winter. As the weather starts to cool in the fall, the town celebrates its biggest festival of the year - the Woolly Worm Festival. It’s during this time that the local parks are most lively, with visitors enjoying canoeing on the water or rock climbing along one of the many hiking trails around the mountainous area.ĭespite being a small town, Banner Elk hosts a wide range of all-ages events each year, such as the Golden Easter Egg Hunt, when you can hunt for golden eggs hidden at Tate-Evans Town Park the Saturday before Easter, or the Trunk or Treat event in October for trick-or-treating out of car trunks. At 3,701 feet above sea level, Banner Elk has mild weather during the spring and summer months, making it a popular destination for spring break and summer holidays, as other areas in the South can get quite hot.

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