Food scene
McDowell Local
23 N Main StDelicious food. Locally run.
Big Mama runs this local spot with reasonable prices and quality food. Delicious southern breakfast served until 2 pm. Friends and I always visit Mama when we are in town. Plus, UFO/Big Foot themed anything is great!
Elevate Breakfast Company
Big Mama runs this local spot with reasonable prices and quality food. Delicious southern breakfast served until 2 pm. Friends and I always visit Mama when we are in town. Plus, UFO/Big Foot themed anything is great!
Sweet Betsy Farm
3947 Mud Cut RdThe English Farmstead Cheese is a 6th-generation family farm and cheese shop known for its freshly made cheese.
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English Farmstead Cheese
19456 US-221The English Farmstead Cheese is a 6th-generation family farm and cheese shop known for its freshly made cheese.
Ingenious Coffee Roasters
140 S Main StLocally run with many vegan-gluten free-healthy options run by a mother and her two daughters.
Reese's Delectables and Nourishments
Locally run with many vegan-gluten free-healthy options run by a mother and her two daughters.
Restaurante Y Pupuseria Dora
Marion Tailgate Market
Saturdays only❤️
The owner makes to die for cinnamon rolls with her Grandma’s Recipe. Heat them up for 15 seconds and ENJOY! The heating makes them so gooey and delicious L:)
Gogo's
The owner makes to die for cinnamon rolls with her Grandma’s Recipe. Heat them up for 15 seconds and ENJOY! The heating makes them so gooey and delicious L:)
I love getting a burger to go and driving to the Fonta Flora Public Boat dock five min away. I then sit and soak in the view of Lake Jamss and the mountains (free). I sometimes get their cheesecake and eat dessert on the dock while the sunsets.
Bones Jones Burgers and Butchery
I love getting a burger to go and driving to the Fonta Flora Public Boat dock five min away. I then sit and soak in the view of Lake Jamss and the mountains (free). I sometimes get their cheesecake and eat dessert on the dock while the sunsets.
Coffee shop with pear scones if you are bored on a bad weather day and drive to Black Mountain or Asheville. This is a great spot.
Seeker Coffee
Coffee shop with pear scones if you are bored on a bad weather day and drive to Black Mountain or Asheville. This is a great spot.
Beer and other stuff
A great place for a beer and local flavor.Food trucks and outdoor games. Friday Night Farmers Market to pickup good local meat, cheeses and various things. I love the 15 min scenic drive.
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Fonta Flora Brewery - Whippoorwill Farm
6751 NC-126A great place for a beer and local flavor.Food trucks and outdoor games. Friday Night Farmers Market to pickup good local meat, cheeses and various things. I love the 15 min scenic drive.
A small local brewery. Delicious beer and game area upstairs. Very small place.
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Mica Town Brewing
25 Brown DrA small local brewery. Delicious beer and game area upstairs. Very small place.
Refinery 13
13 N Main StCurated selection of locally brewed beers in historic downtown.
South Creek Vineyards & Winery is a small winery in Nebo, about 14 minutes away from Marion.
It is most known for its Bordeaux-style wines and can be drank from an Italian Renaissance style farmhouse.
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South Creek Winery
2240 S Creek RdSouth Creek Vineyards & Winery is a small winery in Nebo, about 14 minutes away from Marion.
It is most known for its Bordeaux-style wines and can be drank from an Italian Renaissance style farmhouse.
Hikes, bike trails and scenery
Really rough road need 4wd or all wheel drive. The view is unreal when you get there
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Wiseman's View Scenic Overlook
Really rough road need 4wd or all wheel drive. The view is unreal when you get there
Toms Creek Falls Trail
1250 Huskins Branch RdA fun way to enjoy the sights to see this weekend is to float on the Catawba River.
Tubing down the river is a relaxing and enjoyable activity for all ages.
What to Do
Bring your own cooler and rent a cooler tube.
Going down the river with a cool drink in hand is probably one of the best things to do in Marion, NC because it’s the epitome of laid-back vacationing.
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Catawba River Outdoors
2334 US 221 Business NA fun way to enjoy the sights to see this weekend is to float on the Catawba River.
Tubing down the river is a relaxing and enjoyable activity for all ages.
What to Do
Bring your own cooler and rent a cooler tube.
Going down the river with a cool drink in hand is probably one of the best things to do in Marion, NC because it’s the epitome of laid-back vacationing.
Linville Gorge Wilderness
It is beautiful winding mtn bike trails in a forrest to Lake James. Stunning, raw fresh hike.
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Fonta Flora County Park and Connector Trailhead
126 NC-126It is beautiful winding mtn bike trails in a forrest to Lake James. Stunning, raw fresh hike.
Sightseeing
Linville Caverns, Inc.
19929 U.S. 221If it is rainy or cold, see how people lived in the area in the 1700s in this quaint museum fun for adults and kids.
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Historic Carson House
1805 US-70If it is rainy or cold, see how people lived in the area in the 1700s in this quaint museum fun for adults and kids.
My favorite place to access Lake James Paddy's Creek if I am too tired to kayak there. A very well maintained beach where you park and then walk to the beach area. They have lifeguards most days and it is great if you have small kids.
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Iphaki yaseState yaseLake James
2229 NC-126My favorite place to access Lake James Paddy's Creek if I am too tired to kayak there. A very well maintained beach where you park and then walk to the beach area. They have lifeguards most days and it is great if you have small kids.
Take a scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains on this loop route that winds through Pisgah National Forest, past trails and waterfalls, lakes and overlooks.
With beautiful views in spring, summer and fall — parts of this route could be closed in winter — this 86-mile loop is a great introduction to the area’s many attractions and destinations.
Plan for at least 2.5 hours of driving, plus plenty of time to stop and see the sights along the way. This scenic drive begins and ends in Little Switzerland, but since it’s a loop, you can choose any starting point along the way. Enter Lake James Loop through the Pisgah National Forest on Maps.
Lake James
Take a scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains on this loop route that winds through Pisgah National Forest, past trails and waterfalls, lakes and overlooks.
With beautiful views in spring, summer and fall — parts of this route could be closed in winter — this 86-mile loop is a great introduction to the area’s many attractions and destinations.
Plan for at least 2.5 hours of driving, plus plenty of time to stop and see the sights along the way. This scenic drive begins and ends in Little Switzerland, but since it’s a loop, you can choose any starting point along the way. Enter Lake James Loop through the Pisgah National Forest on Maps.
Fun Stores to Explore
Great coffee and olive oil run by a lovely couple. It also has an old school candy section, camping/hiking gear galore, candles, trinkets and lovely things.
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Flavors On Main
49 S Main StGreat coffee and olive oil run by a lovely couple. It also has an old school candy section, camping/hiking gear galore, candles, trinkets and lovely things.
Local artists make amazing local goods such as aprons, hats, pottery and a wide array of magical things to bring home or gift friends. I buy a lot of gifts here as the money goes directly to artists and all art is ONLY by those who live in McDowell County and prices are very very reasonable.
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Mc Dowell Arts Council
50 S Main StLocal artists make amazing local goods such as aprons, hats, pottery and a wide array of magical things to bring home or gift friends. I buy a lot of gifts here as the money goes directly to artists and all art is ONLY by those who live in McDowell County and prices are very very reasonable.
Farm to table meats for your stay available here. Local family run with interesting array of western wear (fun to try on) and trinkets along with fresh meet. Great to visit on a rainy day if feeling squirrelly inside.
Roaming Buffalo Outpost
Farm to table meats for your stay available here. Local family run with interesting array of western wear (fun to try on) and trinkets along with fresh meet. Great to visit on a rainy day if feeling squirrelly inside.
I smile everytime I go into this store. Funny gifts, great smelling things, gifts for humans and animals. It is truly one of a kind.
The OG Shoppe
I smile everytime I go into this store. Funny gifts, great smelling things, gifts for humans and animals. It is truly one of a kind.
Black Mtn via highway 70 to i40 is a lovely half day or day trip. It has rocking chairs downtown for people to enjoy, full of local artisan shops and great fun spots. Less busy and expensive than Asheville (and the half way spot on the drive there).
Black mountain nc
Black Mtn via highway 70 to i40 is a lovely half day or day trip. It has rocking chairs downtown for people to enjoy, full of local artisan shops and great fun spots. Less busy and expensive than Asheville (and the half way spot on the drive there).