Fleetwood is located in the northwest corner of North Carolina, near the Tennessee border. It has activities for visitors year-round who are looking to enjoy its beautiful small town charm. It’s a perfect family or outdoor lover’s getaway. Enjoy outdoor sports like skiing and skating as well as hiking. There’s also family outings, like apple and pumpkin picking. Below, we’ve listed some of the best things to do near Fleetwood, NC, for you to check out!
1. E.B. Jeffress Park - The Cascades Trail
You sure have come to the right state if you’re an avid outdoor adventurer. Just less than 30 minutes from Fleetwood is Purlear, where you’ll find a great hiking trail: E.B. Jeffress Park - The Cascades Trail. This hiking area is open daily and is fairly moderate. The duration is only 55 minutes, with a distance of 0.9 miles (1.44 kilometers). If you’re a beginner hiker or are hiking with the little ones, this picturesque trail is ideal for you!
E.B. Jeffress Park-The Cascades Trail
Address: Purlear, NC 28665, United States
Opening hours: 6:45am - 8pm (daily)
2. Parkway Theater
Looking for a fun activity with the whole crew tonight? Why not catch a movie at Parkway Theater in West Jefferson? The movie theater is about a 20-minute drive from Fleetwood. Matinees are held on weekends at 3pm while regular shows are featured throughout the week. You won’t feel guilty spending on classic movie snacks, too, since the popcorn, sodas, and candies here are reasonably priced! For a fun time with your family or a pre-dinner activity, consider catching a film here!
Parkway Theater
Address: 10 E Main St, West Jefferson, NC 28694, United States
Website: Parkway Theater
3. High Country Seafood Co
Planning to have a seafood feast with your loved ones? The best place to get your seafood at a good price is at High Country Seafood Co in West Jefferson, which is about a 20-minute drive from Fleetwood. Freshly caught fish and other seafood directly off the boat are what’s waiting for you here. This fish market also offers cook-to-order seafood in an outdoor setting. Live crabs, live high-quality Maine lobsters, and fresh tuna and mahi-mahi? You bet they’re all available here!
High Country Seafood Co
Address: 215 Beaver Creek School Rd, West Jefferson, NC 28694, United States
Website: High Country Seafood Co
Opening hours: Wed - Thu: 11:30am - 6:30pm; Fri: 11:30am - 7:30pm; Sat: 11:30am - 6:30pm (closed on Sun - Tue)
4. Buck Mountain
For one of the best nature trips, make sure that you take the time and visit Buck Mountain in Purlear, which is about 30 minutes away from Fleetwood. This natural recreation center features family-friendly amenities such as The Pond at Deer Run, which originally was a source of water for helicopters to use on fire drops, and Buck Mountain Community Center, a gathering facility. Dawn R. Warren Memorial Garden and the picturesque walking trail Fern Flats are also located at Buck Mountain.
Buck Mountain
Address: Purlear, NC
Website: Buck Mountain
5. Skiing
Don’t know what to do near Fleetwood, NC? Beech Mountain Resort is the place for cross-country skiing on the highest mountain in the region, with its peak at 5,506 ft (1678 meters). It has six ski paths and an area for freestyle skiing. The resort offers rentals for 12 to 16 USD. There are two ski schools here, where you can learn to ski: the Ski and Ride School offers hour-long lessons for beginners and advanced skiers, group lessons are 25 USD and private lessons are 60 USD. The Burton Learn To Ride Center offers more advanced lessons, giving full and half day classes. Kids lessons are 65 to 125 USD and adults are 75 to 140 USD.
Beech Mountain Resort
Address: 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC
Open hours: Closes at the end of March. Open Sunday through Thursday, 9 am to 9 pm. Friday, Saturday and holidays from 9 am to 10 pm.
Website: Beech Mountain Resort
6. Ice Skating
Sugar Mountain Resort has an outdoor skating rink and a pro shop for skate rentals. At this attraction near Fleetwood, sessions are an hour and a half long and go on sale a half hour before each session, on a first come first serve basis.
Sugar Mountain Resort
Address: 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive, Sugar Mountain, NC
Activity Costs: Weekday rates are between 12 to 16 USD and weekend rates are 17 to 22 USD; kids four and under are free
Website: Sugar Mountain Resort
7. Nature Centers
Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary is a haven for animals that needed rescuing, and currently houses such species as broad-winged hawks, groundhogs, red-tailed hawks, barred owls, screech owls, and great horned owls. They offer wildlife programs, with fun titles, such as Creatures of the Night, Animals Nobody Loves, Dealing with Winter, Amazing Animal Mothers, and Raptors: Hunters of the Sky. They also offer environmental programs in subjects concerning biodiversity, rainforests and natural resources.
Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: 210 Grassy Gap Rd, Beech Mountain NC
Website: Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Pumpkin Picking
Blue Mountain Farms offers pumpkin picking in September and October. The farm has a petting zoo, cider, and wreaths for sale. The owners have grown Christmas trees in the area, for thirty years.
Blue Mountain Farm Pumpkin Patch
Address: 940 Woodruff Road, Glade Valley, NC
Website: Blue Mountain Farm Pumpkin Patch
9. Museums
The Mountain Farm Museum features historic log buildings from North Carolina, brought to one site to be preserved and enjoyed. The buildings were built in the 19th century and moved to the museum in the 1950s. Visitors get to see how settlers lived 100 years ago and there are also river trails on the property.
Mountain Farm Life Museum
Address: 527 Ashe Park Rd, Jefferson, NC 28640
Website: Mountain Farm Life Museum
The Ashe County History Museum is run by a nonprofit group who works to preserve the 1904 county courthouse. There are several exhibits including Moonshine & Music, Medical & Pharmacy, Native Americans, Ore Knob Mining, and the Timber Industry.
Ashe County History Museum
Address: 301 East Main Street, Jefferson NC
Open Hours: Monday through Thursday 10 am to 4 pm
Website: Ashe County History Museum
10. Greensboro Science Center
The Greensboro Science Center has several things for visitors to do, including feeding the penguins, shark reef dives and feeding the farm animals. Some of the animals at the center include red lionfish, African penguins, alligator snapping turtles, emerald tree boas, alpacas, peacocks and more. They have a museum, aquarium and zoo.
Greensboro Science Center
Address: 4301 Lawndale DriveGreensboro, NC
Open Hours & Admission Costs: 9 am to 4 pm, year round. Children two and under are free, kids and seniors are 12.50 USD and adults are 13.50 USD.
Website: Greensboro Science Center
11. Tweetsie Railroad
Tweetsie Railroad is a family theme park where kids can have fun on various rides. There is the Wild West Train Adventure - a 3-hour train ride through the North Carolina mountains or kids can go to town in a covered wagon or stagecoach. There also a chairlift to the mine, a carousel and Ferris wheel. There are also live entertainment shows, such as the Wild West Show, Miners Mountain Magic and Railroad Clogging Dancing Jamboree.
Tweetsie Railroad
Address: 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane Blowing Rock, NC
** Activity Cost**: Children two and under are free, kids are 30 USD and adults are 45 USD.
Website: Tweetsie Railroad
12. Farmers Markets
The Ashe County Farmers Market is in nearby Jefferson and sells seasonal produce, crafts and art. They also offer baked goods and some vendors do specialty orders of produce. Things sold at the market include farm fresh produce, soy candles, flowers, handmade soaps, wood crafts, furniture, pottery and baskets.
Ashe County Farmers Market
Address: 108 Backstreet, West Jefferson, NC
Open Hours: Open every Saturday, April until October, 8 am to 1 pm.
Website: Ashe County Farmers Market
The Watuga County Farmers Market is in Boone and opens in May and goes until November. They offer the area’s finest selection of produce, seasonal fruits, baked goods, and other handcrafted items.
Watauga County Farmers Market
Address: 591 Horn in the W Dr, Boone NC
Open Hours: Open 8 am to noon, at Daniel Boone Park.
Website: Watauga Farmers Market
Enjoy your stay in Fleetwood
Enjoy all the great things that this town has to please families, couples, solo travelers and nature lovers.