Suggested Itineraries

The Blue Ridge Mountains are a hidden haven for music lovers thanks to unique styles passed down through the generations. Inspired by a melting pot of Old World immigrants and Native American cultures, the region’s mountain music draws visitors from around the world. Let us help you plan a trip to some of the most unique spots along the Blue Ridge Music Trails within the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.

NEW! Alleghany County

Just in time for Fall 2025, we’re rolling out the Blue Ridge Music Trails’ Alleghany County itinerary in partnership with the Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce. Seated in the High Country among the Allegheny Mountains of Western North Carolina, Alleghany’s communities and towns celebrate life and creativity through dance and music. Whether you stop at the historic Alleghany Jubilee for some flatfooting on a Saturday night, or you visit in September for the Mountain Heritage Fair, there will always be a beat to step to anywhere you go in the county.

Haywood County

Immerse yourself in Haywood County, a vibrant community that pays homage to the past and embraces the future. In this curated itinerary, you’ll learn about Quay Smathers’s shape-note singing and his historic school. Find the best spots for community gatherings, including clogging and square dancing throughout the county. And be on the lookout for a different festival every season! From international acts to hometown musical heroes, Haywood County is filled with live performances and talented artists. Follow the Haywood music trail Itinerary here.

Black Mountain

Just 15 minutes east of Asheville, Black Mountain, the “little town that rocks,” makes for a great day trip from anywhere within a 2-hour drive. Park your car for free in one of the municipal lots, and strike out on foot up the shop-lined streets that have been welcoming tourists since the coming of the railroad in 1880. Visit the Swannanoa Valley Museum, the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, and the Red House Art Gallery next to the historic Monte Vista Hotel. The old depot is a craft co-op, and you can visit a restored caboose next door if you like railroad history. And have your picture taken in the giant rocking chairs on Town Square or in front of the visitor center.

There’s lots of music to be had in Black Mountain, including the summer Thursday night music series, Park Rhythms, at beautiful Lake Tomahawk. The White Horse music hall presents music of all kinds, from classical to bluegrass, with a little Celtic thrown in from time to time. It’s a great listening room with an intimate connection between musicians and the audience. Beer and wine are served in a bistro-style setup except on nights of larger concerts.

Speaking of beer, Black Mountain is now home to three craft breweries—Pisgah, Lookout, and Ciderworks.

Nearby Montreat has the Ben Long fresco Return of the Prodigal, lots of good hiking trails, and the Presbyterian Heritage Center.

Lake Rodhiss, Valdese, and Granite Falls – an outdoor day with a musical ending

Just a short drive northwest of Hickory, you can enjoy a hike or mountain bike along the trails of the lakeside park on Lake Rodhiss. There are five public boat ramps, one marina, and one fishing access, as well as great places for a picnic.

Add a bit of history to your day with a visit to Valdese and the Waldensian Heritage Museum, then stop into Fort Defiance, the 1792 home of Revolutionary War General William Lenoir.

Finally, finish your day with dinner and dancing at Sims Country BBQ. It’s a toss-up whether the BBQ or bluegrass is better at this off-the-beaten-path destination, which is part stage, part restaurant, and part dance hall. The venue is open on Friday and Saturday nights, and people come from miles around for great food and fun. A little hard to find, but worth it.

Mount Airy

Mount Airy is also known as Mayberry USA because it was Andy Griffith’s hometown and served as the inspiration for his iconic television series, The Andy Griffith Show. The Andy Griffith Museum is full of memorabilia from both the show and the actor. You can visit many of the businesses that were in the show—Floyd’s City Barber Shop, Opie’s Candy Store, Wally’s Service Station, Mayberry Soda Fountain, the Old City Jail—and stop for a bite at the Snappy Lunch; all are within walking distance along Main Street. To see them all, and Griffith’s home place, take a Squad Car Tour.

Mount Airy is also a hot spot for great traditional music. The first weekend in June at the annual Mount Airy Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention, contestants heat up their fiddles as they vie for prizes. On Saturday mornings at 11, you can be part of the live audience of the WPAQ Merry-Go-Round, the second-longest-running live music radio show in the United States, behind only the Grand Ole Opry. Listen and dance as musicians perform on the stage of the historic Earle Theatre, home to the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall.

Sparta

This quaint small town is set in a backdrop of beautiful rolling countryside just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cool shops and small eateries such as the 75-year-old family-owned Farmers’ Hardware and Becca’s Backwoods Bean are fun to poke into, and on Tuesday and Saturday nights, the Alleghany Jubilee, originally the Spartan movie theater, is the perfect place for dancing, meeting old (or new) friends or just listening to the music that was born and bred in this region. Word has it that Brown’s Restaurant is an outstanding place for good old country-style cooking at reasonable prices.

“Take a break from the Interstate” is the motto of small towns along US 21, such as Sparta. This highway was the original route folks took from northern states en route to Florida. If you go south from Sparta on US 21, you’ll find yourself in the Yadkin Valley Wine Country, home to more than 36 wineries and vineyards.

Going north on NC 18, you’ll come to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Get on that famous road headed north, and in a short distance, you’ll come to the Blue Ridge Music Center just north of the North Carolina state line. Open annually from May through October, you can visit the Roots of American Music Museum Exhibit and catch a Mid-Day Mountain Music performance. Both are FREE. They also host concerts on Saturday evenings, featuring many nationally known artists.

Spruce Pine

Just up the road from Linville Caverns is the village of Spruce Pine, known worldwide for its gems and minerals. However, in recent years, it has also gained recognition for the high-quality arts and crafts produced by local artisans. The town has two main streets, one above the other. You’ll find the Toe River Art Gallery on the upper street (Oak Street).

Spruce Pine is a gateway community to the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the entrance, you’ll find the Museum of North Carolina Minerals, with stunning exhibits and specimens of local minerals. Since the 1950s, the town has hosted the NC Mineral and Gem Festival, held the first weekend in August.

Pull onto the Parkway headed north to Milepost 328.3 and the historic apple Orchard at Altapass. From May through October, you can enjoy live local music, take a storytelling hayride, purchase homemade apple treats like apple barbecue sauce, and stroll along a nature trail that also serves as a monarch butterfly conservation center. The Orchard hosts a variety of authentic Appalachian musicians who perform a range of genres, including gospel, blues, folk, show tunes, classical music, country, and bluegrass.

Waynesville

A short drive west of Asheville, Waynesville’s downtown is alive with shops, art galleries, and restaurants, all within walking distance on Main Street’s brick sidewalk. Four times during the summer, Main Street is blocked off for the Waynesville Street Dance, a good old-fashioned mountain hoedown. Not many places you’ll find a state senator calling the dances, but Joe Sam Queen carries on his family’s tradition in the street in front of the historic courthouse.

If you want to stay overnight, the nearby Pisgah View Ranch gives visitors a chance to experience life on a dude ranch, where you can enjoy music in a barn, meals served family style, horseback riding, mountain biking, campfires, and swimming.

West Jefferson

Once a railroad town, West Jefferson is now known for its art. As you walk the sidewalks downtown, you’ll come across 15 murals painted on buildings that reflect the area’s history and mountain character. There are great shops, restaurants, and galleries, as well as the famous Ashe County Cheese Factory, where you can see the cheese being made. About 20 minutes away, just outside of Lansing, the Phipps General Store has a lively jam session year-round on Friday nights.