Dreaming of cooler days yet? Us, too.
If you feel like sweater weather can’t come soon enough, planning a cozy fall getaway to Burnsville, NC might be the perfect way to take your mind off the heat. This storybook town is tucked away amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains just a few hours from Greenville, and bursting with Gilmore Girls-esque charm.
While sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway remain closed due to hurricane damage as leaf peeping season approaches, Burnsville is fully open, ready for visitors, and offers stunning 360-degree views. Check this interactive foliage map to book your trip around the most colorful leaves.
We’ve got itineraries started for every kind of fall retreat:
Romantic weekend
Here’s Burnsville’s best recipe to slow down among the mountains + changing leaves:
- Book a secluded, unplugged stay at High Pastures Retreat
- Gaze at the stars together at the Bare Dark Sky Observatory
- Learn something new in a couple’s glass blowing class at Hearth Glass and Gallery
Family friendly fun
Make cherished family memories with engaging activities that everyone will enjoy:
- Get creative at The Bougie Brush paint studio
- Bring back 90s fall by trading screens for retro toys at Monkey Business Toy Shop
- Run, jump, play + picnic in the crisp Appalachian breeze at the newly reconstructed Kid Mountain playground, complete with innovative designs, sensory-friendly play structures, and ADA-compliant equipment
History lover’s adventure
Fun fact: the American Flag on the moon was made in Yancey County. Dig into the story behind Burnsville’s historical claim to fame and step into another time with:
- A weekend at Nu Wray hotel, NC’s oldest continually operating hotel (so old, its original build date is unknown)
- The Rush Wray museum, located in the 1840s McElroy House and filled with Civil War and Native American artifacts
- A show at Parkway Playhouse, originally established in 1947
