Tweetsie Railroad

Between the mountain towns of Boone and Blowing Rock is Tweetsie Railroad. Open since 1957, Tweetsie is the signature attraction of the High Country in the summer. With a variety of shows, rides and the famous Tweetsie train, the park offers family-friendly fun in the cool mountain summer.

Must-See Attractions At Tweetsie
The first thing that catches your eyes and ears entering Tweetsie is the Wild West Train Adventure. The old-fashioned locomotive takes a tour around the mountain with some surprises. The chair life to Miner's Mountain offers great views while going up to the top of the mountain. At one end of the park is the ferris wheel, which is faster than one would expect. The rotation offers more great views.

Where To Stay Near Tweetsie
The towns of Boone and Blowing Rock are close by with a great variety of hotel options. Boone has Holiday Inn Express, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Courtyard by Marriot and many others. In Blowing Rock, there is another Holiday Inn Express, plus local hotels such as Meadowbrook Inn and Alpine Village Inn.

Best And Worst Times To Visit Tweetsie
With the park only open a short time each year, times to go are limited. Fourth of July week and Memorial Day weekend will be the most crowded times. Weekends in general will be crowded. A weekday during the June through mid-August time period minus any holidays would be a good bet.

Discounts At Tweetsie
If you plan on visiting more than two days a year, you might as well get a season pass to get your money's worth. Also, depending on the season, some corporate partners of Tweetsie will have discounted tickets, as well as AAA and state employee.

Food At Tweetsie
There's food around every corner at Tweetsie. From the Cowboy Cantina at the entrance to the Miner's Diner at the top of the mountain, Tweetsie offers a variety of food at premium prices. The most common options are fried foods, burgers and deserts.

Parking At Tweetsie
Parking at Tweetsie is free every day except July 4th for the fireworks show. There's tons of parking even on the most crowded days. Parking attendants try to make things easier for the folks coming in.

Transportation Alternatives To Tweetsie
Not a whole lot of alternatives to get to Tweetsie. Cab services in Boone will offer rides to Tweetsie, but to the secluded location there's no regular train or bus service that runs.

Author's bio: Thomas Sherrill is a mountain man trying to make his living in Boone, North Carolina.​