Here are some fantastic weekend getaways with clusters of attractions to keep the whole family entertained.
Boone/Blowing Rock
An underrated destination that is often listed behind Asheville, the Boone/Blowing Rock area tops my list of North Carolina mountain getaways.
It has the nostalgia factor of taking your kids to the same places you remember visiting in years past and some of them, like the slanted house at Mystery Hill and various gem mining stops, haven’t changed.
Other attractions, like Grandfather Mountain, have undergone extensive upgrades.
Where to go: Boone and Blowing Rock are less than nine miles apart, with the Blue Ridge Parkway running through. Aside from the parkway’s beautiful overlooks, you can visit Grandfather Mountain for hiking, the iconic mile-high bridge and a mountainside zoo.