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Located less than 18 miles from the Virginia border, the town of West Jefferson is a jewel in the crown of North Carolina’s best small mountain towns.
Downtown West Jefferson has a picturesque, pedestrian-friendly Main Street, with classic components like antique shops and vintage theaters.
But the town also offers quirky surprises, including an escape room/curiosity shop and a regionally famous cheese shop.
Aside from the West Jefferson attractions in town, there are a number of notable natural wonders to visit in the vicinity.
The town is surrounded by the beautifulBlue Ridge Mountains, with state and national parks nearby and great hiking trails all around.
We live less than an hour from West Jefferson, and it has become a regular stopping point when we head west for our monthly shopping trip in Boone NC.
We’ve been happy to get to know the place, and now we’re happy to share the 10 Best Things to Do in West Jefferson NC with you!
Read on for an in-depth guide to all our favorite activities and attractions…
READ MORE:The 25 Best Small Towns in North Carolina to Visit
Best Things to Do in West Jefferson NC Guide
- Catch a Film at Blue Ridge Movie Lounge
- Climb the Mountain at Elk Knob State Park
- Combine Ashe County Cheese & Old Barn Winery and Vineyards
- Cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Cascade Falls
- Explore New River State Park (Elk Shoals Access)
- Great Southern Gothic: Escape Room & Curiosity Shoppe
- Hike at Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
- Hunt for Treasure at Local Shops
- Tastings at Independent Local Eateries
- Visit the Breweries
READ MORE:The 20 Best North Carolina Mountain Towns to Visit
1. Catch a Film at Blue Ridge Movie Lounge or Parkway Theater
17 East Second St, West Jefferson NC • 828-263-6255
Official Website/Official Website
It’s hard to believe that a town with a population under 1300 people could support two movie theaters, but that is the case in West Jefferson.
Thankfully, both theaters offer unique experiences.
The Blue Ridge Movie Lounge has been open since 2018, and was specially designed to give movie-goers the comforts of home.
All the seats are cozy, home-style recliners, but with the magic of going to the movie theater (see: fresh popcorn, proper film projectors, and huge screens).
The Parkway Theater has been serving the West Jefferson community for four decades now. It offers reasonably priced tickets and concessions, with an old-fashioned retro vibe.
READ MORE:How to Plan an Amazing Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
2. Climb the Mountain at Elk Knob State Park
5564 Meat Camp Rd, Todd NC • 828-297-7261
Elk Knob State Park is one of the newer NC State Parks, celebrating one of the highest peaks in the NC High Country.
This park has a fantastic trail up to the summit, which offers two overlooks for panoramic views– one looking north into Virginia, the other looking south towards Grandfather Mountain.
The vegetation along the way is spectacular, because it has grown gnarly and short due to the elevation.
Elk Knob also has a kids’ TRACK trail, a hike-in primitive campground, and good spots for picnicking.
In the winter, it opens up to cross-country skiers!
READ MORE:The 15 Best Campgrounds in the North Carolina Mountains
3. Combine Ashe County Cheese & Old Barn Winery
106 E Main St, West Jefferson NC • 336-246-2501
Official Website/Official Website
When we first moved to this area, the Ashe County Cheese shop was mentioned several times in passing. People drive from all around the region to eat their tasty goods.
Established by the Kraft Corporation way back in the 1930s, the cheese company is part of the history of West Jefferson NC.
Ashe County Cheese is now owned and operated by two Wisconsin-bred cheesemakers, one of whom was distinguished as a Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker.
Located just south of town, the Old Barn Winery & Vineyards pairs perfectly with Ashe County Cheese.
This beautiful NC winery has live music on the weekends, incredible gardens and sitting areas, as well as many Ashe County Cheese products for sale.
READ MORE:10 Wonderful Yadkin Valley Wineries Worth Visiting
4. Cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway to Cascade Falls
Blue Ridge Parkway MP 272.5, Purlear NC
It would be bordering on insane to be in such close proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and not take a scenic drive on it.
Especially because the area near West Jefferson is home to some of the best Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in North Carolina!
Cascade Falls in E.B. Jeffress Park is a favorite for locals to visit, both from West Jefferson and Boone.
This beautiful North Carolina waterfall is located on Falls Creek, and it’s just a short (though sometimes steep) hike from the parking area.
There are also picnicking facilities and awesome views right next to the parking lot.
READ MORE:The 25 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfalls in North Carolina
5. Explore New River State Park (Elk Shoals Access)
349 Methodist Camp Rd, West Jefferson NC • 336-982-2587
Ironically, the New River is one of the three oldest rivers in the world (it’s a debated thing), and it just so happens to run near West Jefferson.
New River State Park’s Elk Shoals Access point is just 6 miles from downtown.
This park has 9 miles of hiking trails, opportunities for paddling or river tubing, great spots for fishing, and several different camping options.
Among the park’s residents are the Hellbender Salamander and 14 rare/endangered plant species.
The Elk Shoals Access area also offers picnic shelters/tables, a community building, and canoe/kayak access.
READ MORE:The 20 Best Cabin Rentals in Boone NC
6. Great Southern Gothic: Escape Room & Curiosity Shoppe
103 N Jefferson Avenue, West Jefferson NC • 336-846-2410
Nearing a decade old, Great Southern Gothic has both an escape room and a “curiosity shoppe.”
The shop carries locally crafted products, such as body care items, jewelry, and apothecary goods.
They also celebrate local mysteries, like Bigfoot, theMothman, witches, ghosts, and forays into the dark arts. Mystical gifts like crystals and divination tools are available for purchase as well.
Their escape room changes theme every few years. At the time of this writing, it was called “Tourist Trap,” and the previous adventure was “Madame Belchere’s Haunted Parlor.”
For 2-3 participants, it costs $17.50 a person, but for 4-8 people the price goes down to $15 each.
READ MORE:10 Challenging Escape Rooms in North Carolina to Visit
7. Hike at Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
1481 Mount Jefferson State Park Rd, West Jefferson NC • 336-246-9653
On our route to West Jefferson, we always pass the entrance to Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, which surrounds the behemoth landmark that rises above the surrounding landscape.
Mount Jefferson SNA remains a relatively undeveloped terrain, though it does have 5 miles of hiking trails and a winding road that leads up to its summit.
There’s also a picnic shelter for visitors to enjoy.
The natural area has over 700 species of plants, and is a great place for wildlife enthusiasts to spot myriad local bird species.
READ MORE:25 Beautiful Birds of North Carolina
8. Hunt for Treasure at Local Shops
842 S Jefferson Ave, West Jefferson NC • 336-846-1231
Like most small towns in this part of the state, West Jefferson leans into North Carolina history and culture as a source of pride. While there are lots of options, here are some favorites to explore:
- Ashe Arts Center is housed in a stone building built in 1938, and it has a year-round gallery and exhibition space showcasing local and regional artists/crafters.
- Catchlight Gallery is dedicated purely to photography. The artists displayed there rotate regularly, so it’s always offering something new to see.
- The Cabin Store is one of those homey shops that’s always fun to explore. It offers fine rustic, sturdy cabin furniture, both for indoor and outdoor spaces.
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9. Taste Test at the Independent Local Eateries
Independent restaurants are great for getting the real flavor of a place, both literally and figuratively.
The different types of food you find around a small town always tells you something about the type of people who live there.
When it comes to restaurants in West Jefferson NC, there are numerous great options. Barbecue, which is HUGE here, is probably the best place to start.
There are several primo BBQ restaurants in West Jefferson, includingKristin’s Hook’d on Smoke (food truck), Smoky Mountain Barbecue, and New River Smokehouse Eatery.
Black Jack’s Pub and Grill is known for its burgers, whilePie on the Mountain is the local pizza joint. Craft Bistro has upscale dishes, while Havana Café, Plaza del Sol, Thong Summit Thai & Sushi, and Oshu House provide some international flare.
READ MORE:The 15 Best Boone NC Hiking Trails to Explore
10. Visit the Breweries
The small town has two good breweries, both of which are solid places to eat in West Jefferson as well.
Boondocks Brewing has two locations in town– a full-on restaurant and a Brew Haus.
Both serve a dozen or more Boondock Brewing beers, which range from Paddy Mt. Irish Stout and Mountain Fog Hazy Lager to West Jefferson Juice (IPA).
New River Brewing has a taproom as well as a restaurant. There are nearly 20 beers on tap in the tasting room, and the restaurant has just as many.
NRB also sells cans to go, and they make their own malt beverages and hard seltzer. -by Jonathon Engles, photos courtesy of Visit West Jefferson unless otherwise noted
