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Read on for the best things to do during your visit to Banner Elk.

Besides skiing, other winter activities includesnow tubingand a freestyle terrain park for beginner through advanced snowboarding.

Banner Elk, North Carolina

Credit: Todd Bush

The resort also has North Carolina’s only mountain-top ski bar, 5506' Skybar.

At 5,300 feet, it also has the state’s largest vertical drop of 1,200 feet.

Summer brings food truck festivals,summer music series, fireworks, and mountain biking.

Sugar Mountain

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It’s also a good time to hike surrounding trails.

The park is also home to several hiking trails varying in difficulty.

Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is a family owned and operated thrill that whirls you through the NC landscape.

Grandfather Mountain

Credit:Burke Whaley/500px/Getty Images

This thrill ride for all ages is rider controlled and can reach up to 27 mph.

Guided walking tours allow visitors to get up close to the animals.

Some will come and let visitors pet them, while others are a little more private.

Banner Elk, North Carolina

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Stop by the farm store for alpaca, mohair, llama, and cotton yarns and knitting supplies.

The event draws nearly 20,000 visitors to Banner Elk.

The races winning worm earns the distinction of predicting weather for the upcoming winter.

Banner Elk Winery in Blowing Rock, NC

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Artisanal is your fine dining destination, driven by a farm-to-table concept.

The prix fixe menu consists of three courses, with several choices for each course.

Sample entrees include Atlantic halibut, grilled lamb tenderloin, and prime fillet beef Wellington.

The Southern hospitality welcomes you in.

The comforting Southern dishes spiced with Cajun flair keep you coming back.

Start with a salad topped with blackened shrimp and crawfish, and choose from handhelds like po’boys and burgers.

The menu has a variety of Cajun favorites like crawfish etoufee, red beans and rice, and gumbo.

It is also vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Start with the chicharrones (how could you go wrong with pork rinds, queso, and green chiles?

), but save room for a platter of half a chicken or brisket.

Wash it all down with alocal brew.

Pair the creamy Strawberry Pave dessert with a gin cocktail.

Grab a pizzadilla, soft pretzel, or wings while you sip.

“It’s around 70 degrees when it’s sunny.

All three wineries in the area have covered porches.

Grandfather has a river.

We have a lake.

People come here for the tastings, sure, but they’re really coming to enjoy summer.

Life’s good in the mountains.”

There are also many other hotels and vacation rentals in the area.