Getaway from Elon: Mountain Trips
Ah, the mountains. One of the best parts about living in central North Carolina is our proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Appalachians. If you haven’t penciled in a trip to the mountains yet, now's the time. Below, you’ll find our favorite mountain trips, from Boone to Asheville to the Smoky Mountains and beyond.
Top Day Trip: Banner Elk/Boone, NC
BANNER ELK/BOONE, NC
Travel time from Elon: 2.5-3 hours
Filled with cute coffee shops, restaurants and outdoor activities, Banner Elk and the greater Boone area have a lot to offer. Home to Appalachian State's campus, Boone is more than a college town. Whether you're looking to hike, bike, climb, raft or zipline, there is a lot to do in this area. We recommend making a day trip out of two outdoor activities. Our favorites? One is zip-lining through the Blue Ridge Mountains with Hawksnest Zipline (where you’ll see stunning views of the mountains). Then, take a lunch break, stretch your legs and enjoy town. Before leaving, book a time slot on the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk. This self-controlled coaster ride takes less than 10 minutes to ride and lets you coast through the mountains at your own pace. If you’ve fallen into a slump at school this is an easy day trip to lift your spirits and get some much needed fresh air.
Top Mountain-City Trip: Asheville, NC
ASHEVILLE, NC
Travel time from Elon: 3 hours
Known for its vibrant art and music scene, Asheville is a must visit-city. Tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has lots of attractions and hiking in the area with plenty to explore. We recommend finding a hike or other outdoor activity to tackle in the morning and then eating lunch at a restaurant with live bluegrass or folk music. If you’re 21 and up, don’t miss the opportunity to stop in one of Asheville's many breweries. Before departing, book a ticket to explore Biltmore Estate or one of the 30+ art galleries in the area.
A Little Longer Drive: Smoky Mountains NC/TN
SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Travel time from Elon: 4-4.5 hours
Our must-hit recommendation? A camping trip with your friends to the Smoky Mountains. Located on the North Carolina-Tennessee border is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a sanctuary of windy roads, trees, peaceful campsites, hiking trails and more. We recommend penciling this trip into your fall calendar when the leaves are changing and staying at Cosby Campground inside the park. Here at The Edge, we love a weekend camping trip and recommend leaving Friday and returning Sunday morning. This will give you enough time to sit in your hammock, unwind and hit a trail or two.
Did we miss your favorite mountain trip? DM us @theedgemag.