People often leave out the fact that the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile stretch of authentic Appalachian Americana that is refreshingly free of commercialism when they recommend taking a road trip along it.
There are no hotels, resorts, dining establishments, or petrol stations along the Blue Ridge Parkway for 50 to 100 miles of driving. This is exactly why Little Switzerland NC, which can be found at BRP milepost 334, is so amazingly unexpected.
The resort mountain village is the only commercial entry point you’ll find along the entire length of the Parkway. It was established by North Carolina State Supreme Court Justice Heriot Clarkson in the early 1900s following the construction of his Switzerland Inn.
Little Switzerland, which is only accessible to visitors from mid-April to mid-November, is very small and only available for six months of the year. But it rapidly became one of our favorite towns in the NC mountains because to its attractive Alpine characteristics, stunning vistas, accessibility to a wealth of activities along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and charming Little Switzerland hotels. While keeping all these facts in mind, let’s take a look at 6 top Little Switzerland NC restaurants to try out as of now.
1. La Petite Chalet
If you decide to stay at La Petite Chalet in Little Switzerland, North Carolina, you will have access to a microwave, refrigerator, and coffeemaker in our kitchen if you wish to prepare your own meals and snacks while you’re here. However, it is wonderful to treat yourself to a meal or lunch out when you are on vacation! In light of this, we wanted to share some of our favorite restaurants in Little Switzerland and the neighborhood with you!
If you intend to spend a night out instead of cooking while you are staying with them at La Petite Chalet, maybe this has provided you with some ideas for some of the nearby eateries and cafés that Little Switzerland NC has to offer.
2. Switzerland Café & General Store
Our second suggestion is quite handy for La Petite Chalet visitors as it is located just across the street from your hotel in Little Switzerland, North Carolina! Seasonally open, Switzerland Café & General Store offers a variety of delectable cuisine crafted from fresh, in-season, local ingredients. Their pulled pork, which is served with homemade BBQ sauce, has earned them a reputation for excellence. The cafe has been dishing up fresh soups, sandwiches, and quiches for 30 years. Their award-winning Applewood Smoked Trout and Hickory Smoked Pork may be found on the North Carolina Barbeque Trail, and they also have one of the state’s biggest wood-fired smokehouses. Despite being well-known for its BBQ, they also offer vegan and vegetarian options.
American food and picnic cuisine are served at this seasonal, rustic smokehouse and café with a nostalgic ambiance. Large range of handcrafted delicacies and amiable service. They also provide delivery service.
Stock up on treats at the General Store, including cheeses from the area, handmade pimento cheese, and BBQ spice. The BBQ at Switzerland Cafe & General Store is well-known. You just need one mouthful to understand why. The café is home to the biggest wood-fired smokehouse in the state.
3. The Caribbean Grill
If you don’t mind driving a little farther, The Tropical Grill in nearby Spruce Pine is just a 15-minute drive from your Little Switzerland, North Carolina, accommodation. A bit surprising up here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Tropical Grill serves a variety of Caribbean, Colombian, and Jamaican meals. If you’d rather take your meal home and enjoy at La Petite Chalet, a take-out option is available. The extensive menu is full of flavorful foods.
4. Books & Beans in Little Switzerland
Little Switzerland Books & Beans is another store nearby La Petite Chalet that is just a short walk away. Be aware that they only offer breakfast and lunch; no dinners are provided. More of a charming small bookstore than a restaurant, but their freshly prepared coffee is one of the highlights! The selection of pastries, cakes, and sandwiches may be carried outdoors or back to your Little Switzerland, North Carolina, hotel where you can consume them while perusing the books and presents next to the cozy fireplace.
Visit the Mountain View Restaurant in Spruce Pine if you’d want to enjoy supper while taking in a breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The restaurant is just a 6-minute drive from your Little Switzerland, North Carolina, accommodation, and is well worth the little trip! There is something on the menu for every taste, including pastas, seafood, steaks, and sandwiches.
The general shop is adjacent to a three-level bookstore. It’s a nice spot to peruse the books while drinking coffee from their complete coffee and espresso bar. This bookshop is regarded by many as being the greatest in North Carolina.
Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 334 in the North Carolina mountains, Little Switzerland Books & Beans welcomes you to take a break from the fast-paced world they live in and peruse their seven rooms of books on three floors. Browse through their 29,763 titles of new, used, and ancient books slowly. They offer a sizable collection of books with a focus on the local area, the American Civil War, novels, mysteries, and science fiction.
5. The Chalet Restaurant
The Chalet Restaurant in Little Switzerland, North Carolina offers full-service dining, and the Switzerland Inn also offers catering (buffet and served) for weddings, baby showers, business gatherings, and other occasions. Their primary bar, the Fowl Play Pub, offers a distinct menu from the dining rooms and the Terrace.
If you’re seeking for lighter cuisine in the evenings, this could be just what you’re looking for. The finest restaurant on the mountain is the Chalet Restaurant at the Switzerland Inn. Come and have a delicious lunch while taking in the stunning scenery from their panoramic view windows.
The lunch menu is diverse, and in the cool nights, excellent dining is served by candlelight. There is a selection of beer, wine, and mixed beverages.
6. The Swiss Shoppe
The Swiss Shoppe is loaded with enough sweets and candies to bring out the child in anybody! A wonderful sugar world including Nancy’s Candy Company, Sugarfina, Breyers Ice Cream, and regional organic ice cream by Artesana can be found in Marion.
Do you want to consume sweets every day for a week? Or maybe you’re seeking a nice snack to get you through the day. Everything you might possibly need to sate your sweet craving is available at The Swiss Shoppe.
Things to do in Little Switzerland
Even though Little Switzerland, North Carolina, is a little town, you’ll want to stop there for more than simply the scenery. There are many enjoyable and stunning attractions in the town. Little Switzerland is situated directly near to the Blue Ridge Parkway, which makes it very noteworthy. This is the only commercial entry point you’ll find along the whole Parkway’s length.
Due to its diminutive size, Little Switzerland is only accessible for six months of the year, from mid-April to mid-November.
- Crabtree Falls hike
At Milepost 339.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Crabtree Falls is reachable through a wooded hiking route. There are two options: a less severe 3-mile roundtrip journey that climbs a ridge above the falls, or a more challenging 3.5-mile circular trail. In the early summer, there are many of wildflowers along this delightful stroll. The effort is definitely worth it for the 70-foot waterfall.
Look for the “Falls” hiking path sign as you park at the shop. Follow the relatively flat route past the amphitheater and into the campsite after approximately 300 yards.
Look for the “Falls” hiking path sign when you park at the shop, which is now closed. There is a small parking space with a sign for the Crabtree Falls Trailhead just beyond a little information kiosk on the right.
- Blue Ridge Mountains,
The Appalachian Mountains of the US include the Blue Ridge Mountains. From Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the mountains extend 615 miles southwest through sections of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to Mount Oglethorpe, Georgia.
The Black Mountains, which include Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet, as well as the Great Smoky and Unaka mountains, are a part of the Blue Ridge Mountain range.
Among the famous Blue Ridge peaks are Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, Sassafras Mountain in South Carolina, Brasstown Bald in Georgia, Stony Man and Hawksbill in Virginia, and Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.
- Visit Linville Falls Waterfalls
One of the most often visited and photographed waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway is Linville Falls. To reach this stunning three-tiered waterfall, go to milepost 316.3. Viewing the waterfall may be done in many different ways. There are four viewpoints along the 1.6-mile roundtrip Erwins View Trail.
A half-mile stroll will get you to the first viewpoint from the tourist center. After spilling over the upper falls, the Linville River spreads and stops before disappearing into the distance and dropping 45 feet over the lower falls. Walk.07 miles from the visitor center to Chimney View to observe the lower falls.
From Gorge View Overlook, hikers may observe the Linville River cutting through the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. At Erwins View Overlook, 0.8 miles from the visitor center, the Erwin’s View Trail comes to an end.
Another great picture opportunity is this panoramic vista of the upper and lower falls. The visitor center is also where the paths to Linville Gorge and Plunge Basin begin. Get a map from the tourist center before heading into the gorge.
- Parkway Maintenance Road
The Museum of North Carolina Minerals honors the area’s rich mineral heritage and mineral resources. Learn about the creation of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the 3,000-year-old mining tale via interactive, hands-on displays.
Investigate interactive displays that detail the development of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the range of minerals found here, and the extensive history of mining. Every year around the middle of September, reenactors recount the tale of the Overmountain Men, who traveled through this part of the Blue Ridge on their route to the fight at Kings Mountain, South Carolina. Their trek was named a National Historic Trail in 1980.
More details on the Overmountain Men and the reenactments may be found on the website of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association.
- Ride the Diamondback
Just 50 miles to the north of Asheville and 44 miles to the south of Boone, North Carolina, is where you’ll find The Diamondback, close to milepost 334 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This 38-mile diamond-shaped circle includes NC 226A, US 221, Toms Creek Road, NC 80, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This sports car and motorbike loop is exhilarating.
The motorcycle-friendly inn offers cottages with two bedrooms, A-frames with sleeping lofts, big and small inn rooms, as well as the brand-new Diamondback Lodge, which has eight tiny bedrooms with private bathrooms. In addition, the Diamondback provides covered motorbike parking and a communal lobby.
After eating a filling breakfast of eggs, grits, biscuits, and country ham, go off to discover the Diamondback Loop.
- Penland School of Craft
About 50 miles from Asheville in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, lies the Penland School of Craft, a school dedicated to the Arts and Crafts movement. The ideal location to see live art in progress is within 150 miles.
Before touring the several buildings to witness glasswork, woodwork, pottery, printing, paper making, knitting, ironwork, etc., indulge in coffee, tea, a sandwich, or soup at Pine Hall Cafeteria.
Don’t forget to check out the local artists’ galleries. Being ideally positioned between Asheville and Boone, staying here enables you to see surrounding sites including Linville Falls, Crabtree Falls, Mitchell Mountain, Roan Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Blue Ridge Parkway
Beautiful setting along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Beautiful tunnel on the Parkway. lovely mountain town The Thrifty Adventures travel agency is very nearby. In addition to many other activities, they provide rock climbing, rappelling, whitewater rafting, and tubing. The magnificent Blue Ridge Parkway is merely a tiny portion of this incredibly remarkable tunnel.
The Switzerland Inn launched a brand-new shop at the Shops at Little Switzerland in 2011 because everyone enjoys their Little Switzerland and Diamondback items. Visit us for all of your neighborhood mercantile need. They sell ceramics made by High Country Ceramics, speciality foods from Avery Farms, and artisan foods from Crow Bar Farms!
They currently market boutique children’s apparel, accessories, and toys. Clothing and accessories are available from Bailey Boys, MudPie, Little Sleepies, and Wee Ones! Their Little Switzerland clothing and memorabilia line has been extended, and their new shop will carry it as well.
- Mount Mitchell State Park
In Yancey County, North Carolina, there is a 4,789-acre state park called Mount Mitchell State Park. On the highest point east of the Mississippi, this park offers camping, hiking, and expansive vistas. There are miles of amazing views. Well-maintained campgrounds with well water and flushing toilets are available. Although the trek to the summit is challenging, it finishes in a stunning Alpine Forest.
One of the most stunning vistas in the North Carolina mountains—often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Eastern America”—can be seen at Wiseman’s View on the western side of Linville Gorge. Two stone viewing platforms are positioned on the cliff at a height of around 3,400 feet. The majestic summits of the Hawksbill and Table Rock mountains lie immediately across the deepest gap in the eastern United States, and the Linville River is around 1,500 feet below you.
On the unpaved (and uneven) Kistler Memorial Highway, Wiseman’s View is close to Linville Falls. It’s best to drive a high clearance car! The viewing spots are accessible by a paved 2/10-mile route from a sizable parking lot. The top viewing deck is accessible for wheelchairs and scooters, albeit some stairs are needed for the finest views. There is just one bathroom in the parking lot; there is no tourist center or water.
- Grassy Creek Falls
Although it is on private property, the breathtaking 25-foot multi-level cascading waterfall at Grassy Creek Falls in Little Switzerland is accessible to the general public. If you’re staying at the Switzerland Inn, both the parking lot and your accommodation are only a short walk away.
Grassy Creek Falls will convince you that the climb and the morning or afternoon are well worth it, even if it’s not as well-known as some of the other waterfalls in Western North Carolina.
- Linville Caverns
Deep within Humpback Mountain are Linville Caverns, the only caverns in North Carolina that are available for visits. These naturally occurring limestone caves have stalactite and stalagmite formations in addition to an underground stream. 30–40 minute lengthy guided excursions start at regular intervals.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is four miles away from the caves, while Linville Falls is just a short distance away. They like to chill down there since the temperature is a nice 52 degrees F all year. Stalactites and stalagmites continue to develop at Linville Caverns, which are still active as mineral deposits. This mountain’s water output and carbon dioxide disintegrated limestone and dolomite to create natural openings into the peak.
You could see Eastern Pipistrelle Bats or Little Brown Bats, which hibernate here and hang from the ceiling in the winter and early spring.
- Emerald Village Discovery Mill
One of Emerald Village’s most stunning elements is the Discovery Mill, a structure that climbs up the slope and provides a bird’s-eye perspective over The Gemstone Mine. This elaborate construction was modeled after the ancient mill building that was formerly located just across the street but has now entirely disappeared.
As you climb the steps on each floor, you can see the Big Deal Mine’s spectacular interior from a variety of vantage points. On the first level is the Crabtree Junction Shop, which offers information, pristine facilities, and a variety of souvenirs, gifts, beverages, and snacks. Have a hand-dipped ice cream cone, coffee, crackers and chips, a selection of beverages, a chilled sandwich, and other quick snacks.
- Spruce Pine
This little roadside landmark is fantastic. The staff would be pleased to tell you everything about the history of the orchard, which has been there since the turn of the century. They provide a large selection of preserves, honey, ciders, salsa, and chow chow. The different ciders are all really good. There are some heritage apple types there that you’ve never heard of. very excellent Unmatched freshness is offered.
- Little Switzerland Orchard and Winery
The live music is amazing, the ambiance is quite chill, and the beer and cider are both delicious. Even the kids like going since they can have a snack, listen to music, and explore without disturbing anybody. They like looking at the local art. On this vacation, they were especially pleased with their brand-new bathrooms. They are both large, immaculate, and handicapped-accessible.
- Pisgah National Forest
Tom’s Creek Falls, an easy trek in the Pisgah National Forest, with an 80-foot, two-tier cascade. This is one among the few that features an observation deck, making it ideal for families.
The Pisgah National Forest is home to mile-high mountains, thundering waterfalls, and steep slopes covered with forests. Over 500,000 acres of hardwood forests, whitewater rivers, waterfalls, and miles of hiking routes make up the majority of The Pisgah. Take advantage of camping or picnicking at one of the several day-use spots.
Final words
Now you could get to know about some of the best Little Switzerland NC restaurants to eat. You may visit any of these to have an unforgettable dining experience. In the meantime, you may also visit the attractions we recommended above. Make sure that you go through the options and come up with a proper plan, so that you can get the best experience.
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