A scenic drive north of Asheville on the Mt. Mitchell Scenic Byway will soon bring you to the quaint town of Burnsville. This charming town is home to 1,700 people, the exclusive Mountain Air Community, and the towering peak of Mt Mitchell—the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. Burnsville offers small-town charm without sacrificing the convenience of restaurants, breweries, and access to grocery stores and anything you may need for your vacation.
Here are the Top 5 Things we recommend doing while in Burnsville:
- Downtown Burnsville is one of the closest towns to Mount Mitchell. The State Park is actually located in Burnsville. Take a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the highest peak in the eastern United States. Check out our guide for Mt Mitchell for hiking recommendations, but don't stop there. The Blue Ridge Parkway is full of beautiful overlooks, and an excellent starting point for some amazing hikes.
- A tasty adult beverage is often "just what the doctor ordered" after a long day of hiking or exploring. For beer drinkers, we recommendHomeplace Beer Company, located in the heart of downtown Burnsville. You can expect friendly people, good beer, and all of this in a nice mountain setting. They also have board games...that's pretty lovable. Not a beer drinker? No worries. Walk across the street to SnapDragon for a delicious cocktail and pub food.
Downtown Burnsville
- Burnsville's art scene is vibrant. Catch a play at the Parkway Playhouse from April to December, take a quick drive to the famous Penland School of Crafts (6 miles from neighboring Spruce Pine), or visit the Toe River Arts Gallery which is located downtown. Burnsville is also the epicenter of the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair which takes place each August and includes work from over 200 juried crafters.
- Another great perk to staying in Burnsville is that not only do you have the opportunity to enjoy the charming mountain culture of this town, but it is also located within a 30-minute drive (or less) to the ski slopes and downtown Asheville. Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort (formerly Wolf Ridge Ski Resort) is your destination if you're ready to hit the slopes during the winter months.
- Hungry? Burnsville has a variety of restaurants for whatever you're craving. We're partial to the Garden Deli and neighboring SnapDragon for deli sandwiches, pub food, and tasty drinks.
