Mitzi's Guidebook
Food scene
This is a local favorite with outdoor dining and a lovely view of Watauga Lake.
24 abantu bendawo batusa
Captain's Table
2340 US-321This is a local favorite with outdoor dining and a lovely view of Watauga Lake.
This a local buffet style country cooking style restaurant. It is great for groups. If you are not that hungry you can order from the menu and forego the buffet style.
The buffet comes to your table. You do not go through a line with everyone else. You get to pick your meat, sides, etc.
They have seasonal hours. Check ahead before you go.
They are generally closed in the winter.
27 abantu bendawo batusa
Shirley's Home Cooking
3266 US-321This a local buffet style country cooking style restaurant. It is great for groups. If you are not that hungry you can order from the menu and forego the buffet style.
The buffet comes to your table. You do not go through a line with everyone else. You get to pick your meat, sides, etc.
They have seasonal hours. Check ahead before you go.
They are generally closed in the winter.
Monsoon ( Thai & Exotic Foods
10630 Hwy 67 WThai Am is a seasonal restaurant. Owned and operated by a husband and wife. It is only open Spring through the beginning of Fall. When you eat here note that their version of "hot" spice is not American style heat, it's Thai heat. The wife does the cooking and it is from scratch while you wait. So grab a snack before you go if you are hungry.
This place is truly a hidden gem off the side of the road that most people will pass up unaware.
It is a very small place and would be hard pressed to host a large group. You can order your meal to go though.
10 abantu bendawo batusa
Thai-Am
5925 US-19EThai Am is a seasonal restaurant. Owned and operated by a husband and wife. It is only open Spring through the beginning of Fall. When you eat here note that their version of "hot" spice is not American style heat, it's Thai heat. The wife does the cooking and it is from scratch while you wait. So grab a snack before you go if you are hungry.
This place is truly a hidden gem off the side of the road that most people will pass up unaware.
It is a very small place and would be hard pressed to host a large group. You can order your meal to go though.
Banner Elk Cafe & Tavern
324 Shawneehaw Ave SCaptain Jack's is a great little convenience store where you can grab your basics. JJ's cafe is next door and it is open for breakfast and lunch. It is a local fav.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
Captain Jacks Butler Beverage &JJ's Cafe
17739 Hwy 67 WCaptain Jack's is a great little convenience store where you can grab your basics. JJ's cafe is next door and it is open for breakfast and lunch. It is a local fav.
This is a great little restaurant with a cool mountain vibe but in an upscale way. Great food! It is convenient to walk to other shops downtown from the restaurant.
54 abantu bendawo batusa
Blowing Rock Cigar Company and Club
1179 Main StThis is a great little restaurant with a cool mountain vibe but in an upscale way. Great food! It is convenient to walk to other shops downtown from the restaurant.
The local's love it here! Great food! Small town vibe.
36 abantu bendawo batusa
LA CUCINA Italian Kitchen
6811 Hwy 67 WThe local's love it here! Great food! Small town vibe.
Food Lion
2291 S Shady StLocal Grocery Store.
Food City
920 Broad StLocal Grocery Store
This is a great local favorite. It looks like an abandoned gas station from the front. When you enter the front door you may think you are in the wrong location because it is a convenience store. But keep pushing toward the back and you will walk through the doorway into the restaurant.
There is a little something for almost everyone.
They have personal pizzas, small salad bar, and fantastic burgers plus more.
They also have an old fashioned Ice cream case where you can grab an ice cream cone after your meal. You can also stop by just for the ice cream cone if you don't want dinner.
24 abantu bendawo batusa
Butler Trading Post
16308 Hwy 67 WThis is a great local favorite. It looks like an abandoned gas station from the front. When you enter the front door you may think you are in the wrong location because it is a convenience store. But keep pushing toward the back and you will walk through the doorway into the restaurant.
There is a little something for almost everyone.
They have personal pizzas, small salad bar, and fantastic burgers plus more.
They also have an old fashioned Ice cream case where you can grab an ice cream cone after your meal. You can also stop by just for the ice cream cone if you don't want dinner.
Things to see and do
The Speedway is a NASCAR short track venue. It has larger races in April and September. But they have many other events throughout the year. During the holidays they offer an ice rink, snow tubing hill and the Speedway in Lights during the Christmas season.
196 abantu bendawo batusa
Bristol Motor Speedway
151 Speedway BlvdThe Speedway is a NASCAR short track venue. It has larger races in April and September. But they have many other events throughout the year. During the holidays they offer an ice rink, snow tubing hill and the Speedway in Lights during the Christmas season.
Blue Hole Falls
This is a moderate hike with a steep climb down to the fall and back up via natural rock steps. It is not a recommended hike for small children. This is one of the largest local waterfalls in the area. The trail head is about a 10-15 minute drive from the cabin.
16 abantu bendawo batusa
Twisting Falls
Dark Ridge RoadThis is a moderate hike with a steep climb down to the fall and back up via natural rock steps. It is not a recommended hike for small children. This is one of the largest local waterfalls in the area. The trail head is about a 10-15 minute drive from the cabin.
Watauga Lake Winery
6952 Big Dry Run RdWatauga Kayak
1409 Broad StGreat place to book kayaking trips down the Watauga river.
Great for adventure enthusiasts.
21 abantu bendawo batusa
Off the Grid Mountain Adventures - Ziplines, Tower Jump, & Giant Swing
1825 US-19EGreat for adventure enthusiasts.
The Park is a neat place to visit. The park has a playground, tennis courts, campground and a public swimming pool.
111 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Roan Mountain State Park
527 TN-143The Park is a neat place to visit. The park has a playground, tennis courts, campground and a public swimming pool.
After a lovely hike up the mountain you will get to enjoy stunning vistas. This is a perfect location to watch the sunrise. This is a section of the Appalachian Trail.
27 abantu bendawo batusa
Carver's Gap
After a lovely hike up the mountain you will get to enjoy stunning vistas. This is a perfect location to watch the sunrise. This is a section of the Appalachian Trail.
Beautiful hike to the falls and you can swim in the pool below but the decent to the falls is steep and tricky.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
Laurel Falls
Beautiful hike to the falls and you can swim in the pool below but the decent to the falls is steep and tricky.
You can rent pontoon boats, kayaks and SUP's for the day to enjoy your time on the water.
23 abantu bendawo batusa
Fish Springs Marina
191 Fish Springs RdYou can rent pontoon boats, kayaks and SUP's for the day to enjoy your time on the water.
This is a local ski resort about 45 minutes away from Cabin at the Cove.
367 abantu bendawo batusa
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
1007 S Beech Mountain PkwyThis is a local ski resort about 45 minutes away from Cabin at the Cove.
This is a great little ski resort about 45 minutes away from Cabin at the Cove.
295 abantu bendawo batusa
Sugar Mountain Resort, Inc
1009 Sugar Mountain DrThis is a great little ski resort about 45 minutes away from Cabin at the Cove.
Appalachian Ski Mtn
940 Ski Mountain RdThis is a fun little ski resort.
Villa Nove Vineyards has a lovely tasting room. It is also a stunning wedding venue or special occasion location.
Partnered with Watauga Lake Winery.
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Villa Nove Vineyards
1877 Dry Hill RdVilla Nove Vineyards has a lovely tasting room. It is also a stunning wedding venue or special occasion location.
Partnered with Watauga Lake Winery.
Swimming
Local swimming area on Watauga Lake.
This place is great for swimming. It has restrooms and a covered picnic area.
21 abantu bendawo batusa
Watauga Point Recreational Area
This place is great for swimming. It has restrooms and a covered picnic area.
Sightseeing
Boone, NC is only 30 miles away from the cabin and a great little town to visit. The town was named after the legendary explorer, Daniel Boone. The surrounding area of Boone is home to Grandfather Mountain's Linville Peak which is the highest point in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
285 abantu bendawo batusa
Boone
Boone, NC is only 30 miles away from the cabin and a great little town to visit. The town was named after the legendary explorer, Daniel Boone. The surrounding area of Boone is home to Grandfather Mountain's Linville Peak which is the highest point in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
This is a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a neat place that blends relaxation with amenities of a larger city. It is a local favorite to visit for the hiking and outdoor adventures as well as local crafts and art. Banner Elk is only 10 minutes away from local ski resorts, Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort.
Banner Elk is also home to the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
214 abantu bendawo batusa
Banner Elk
This is a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a neat place that blends relaxation with amenities of a larger city. It is a local favorite to visit for the hiking and outdoor adventures as well as local crafts and art. Banner Elk is only 10 minutes away from local ski resorts, Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort.
Banner Elk is also home to the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
Grandfather Mountain Park is home to many hiking trails including advanced ladder trails that climb the rock faces of the mountains. You will also be able to walk across the mile high swinging bridge in this park. It is the highest point of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the Fall it is heavily trafficked due to the colorful fall foliage that you can see from the park.
716 abantu bendawo batusa
Isidima sikaMkhulu
2050 Blowing Rock HwyGrandfather Mountain Park is home to many hiking trails including advanced ladder trails that climb the rock faces of the mountains. You will also be able to walk across the mile high swinging bridge in this park. It is the highest point of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the Fall it is heavily trafficked due to the colorful fall foliage that you can see from the park.
This area offers a lovely hike to the falls as well as nearby Linville Caverns.
434 abantu bendawo batusa
Linville Falls
This area offers a lovely hike to the falls as well as nearby Linville Caverns.
Blue Ridge Parkway
3884 Blue Ridge ParkwayThis is a lovely historic home with nearby hiking trails and overlooks.
43 abantu bendawo batusa
The Cone Manor
6570 Blue Ridge PkwyThis is a lovely historic home with nearby hiking trails and overlooks.
This is a historic, small downtown park in Elizabethton, TN. The 134 foot long Covered Bridge was built in 1882. The park is close to the downtown shops and restaurants.
If you are traveling in the summer the river is fun to play in with the kids.
If you are traveling during the winter holidays the downtown is well lit with decorations for the season.
The bridge is beautiful to photograph especially at Christmas.
13 abantu bendawo batusa
Covered Bridge Park
East Elk AvenueThis is a historic, small downtown park in Elizabethton, TN. The 134 foot long Covered Bridge was built in 1882. The park is close to the downtown shops and restaurants.
If you are traveling in the summer the river is fun to play in with the kids.
If you are traveling during the winter holidays the downtown is well lit with decorations for the season.
The bridge is beautiful to photograph especially at Christmas.
Izeluleko zedolobha
Ukuzulazula
Seasonal packing
When traveling during Spring and Fall the mornings and evenings can be cool and the afternoons can get hot. Pack layers in clothing that can be peeled away as the day heats up. If traveling during the Spring, bring a raincoat or umbrella as it can rain when you least expect it. It may only last 20 minutes and the sun will be back out, but when it rains it can go from a light drizzle to a down pour.
Summer travelers bring your swimsuits, water shoes, hiking shoes, etc. There are plenty of places to swim, either in the lake or waterfall pools.
Winter travelers you will need to bundle up.