A guide to a 24-hour luxury stay in Beech Mountain

What’s happening: We’ve created a comprehensive guide for how to spend a luxury weekend in the ski town of Beech Mountain — including where to stay, what to eat and drink, and what to do.

Context: Beech Mountain is a small skiing destination in the Blue Ridge Mountains (population 5,500 full- and part-time residents). Directly to the south is Sugar Mountain, also a skiing hot spot. Between the two is the town of Banner Elk, where we spent a lot of our time.

• This guide branches out to include surrounding areas, like Grandfather Mountain, which is about a ~45-minute drive from Beech.

Where to stay

We spent a night in this elevated, A-frame in Beech Mountain that’s close to the ski resort.

Why we love it: It’s cozy. It’s inviting. It’s hygge and luxury at the same time.

• I could’ve easily spent the whole time here without going anywhere else.

Price: Averages $878/night.

The layout: Four bedrooms, four beds, two baths (sleeps eight guests).

Notable features: A hot tub, fire pit, EV-charging station, hammock, wifi, electric stove, central air conditioning and heat, pet-friendly.

Of note: The driveway is extremely steep and was a challenge to navigate covered in snow (it snowed overnight during our trip!). Plan ahead and take a car with four-wheel drive if possible.

Look around:

Where to dine

Breakfast: We didn’t get a chance to try any breakfast spots ourselves (we were to busy outrunning the snowpocalypse), but two that caught our attention include:

• Fred’s General Mercantile, a popular general store in Beech Mountain that serves breakfast daily until 11am.

• Banner Elk Cafe and Lodge covers all the breakfast bases — from pastries and breakfast sandwiches to pancakes and omelettes.

Lunch: We stopped for lunch along the way at Luna’s Thai in Banner Elk (order the crab rangoon and Banner Elk roll).

• Steps away from Luna’s is The Pedalin’ Pig, a local BBQ spot with multiple locations in the High Country. I can’t vouch for the food itself, but the menu looks divine.
• I posted on my Instagram story asking for Beech Mountain recos (as any Gen Z-er would), and was told a must-visit is Old Hampton Store and BBQ in Linville,  which is south of Banner Elk.

Dinner: Our motto for dinner? Go big or go home. We snagged a reservation at Stonewalls Restaurant in Banner Elk, about 15 minutes from the AirBnb and next to Banner Elk Cafe and Lodge.

What to expect: A traditional steakhouse known for its prime rib, steaks and seafood.

• Another option for an elevated meal is LP on Main (another Instagram recommendation). It was closed during our trip, but you can check out the menu here.
• For something more casual, all three lunch spots, along with Banner Elk Cafe and Lodge, serve dinner, too.

Things to do

Whether you’re visiting Beech Mountain to relax or explore, here’s a roundup of activities the area has to offer:

• Walk across The Mile High Swinging Bridge in Grandfather Mountain. You’ll need to purchase a timed entrance — do that here. (We did this after lunch on our way to the Airbnb).

• Ski and snowboard to your heart’s content at Beech Mountain Resort or Sugar Mountain Resort.
• Go deeper: Outdoor guide: 7 places to ski and snowboard within 3 hours of Charlotte
• Get an adrenaline rush on the alpine coaster in Banner Elk. It’s recommended to secure a check-in time in advance.
• Take a yoga class at nearby Neighborhood Yoga or High Country Yoga in Boone. Consider this for a pre- or post-trip activity.
• Have a winery day at Eagle’s Nest Winery or Banner Elk Winery (both in Banner Elk).
• Get outdoors at The Emerald Outback, an all-season trail park for biking/hiking/running in Beech Mountain.

A couple seasonal activities include The Land of Oz Theme Park in Beech Mountain and Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock. Both are currently closed for the winter but will reopen later in 2024.