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If you’re cruising down the Blue Ridge Parkway between Blowing Rock and Asheville, chances are you’ve noticed the sign for Little Switzerland. And if you didn’t know already, this stop on the Parkway is home to the lovely Switzerland Inn.
Thanks to an adorable collection of shops, delicious restaurants, and amazing rooms in a beautiful setting, you can see why this place is a must for your next North Carolina mountain getaway.
We were lucky enough to stay there and are happy to share our experience at the property and its surroundings.
This post is a part of our series of Hotel Guides and also part of our coverage of Western North Carolina.
Switzerland Inn
Rooms
Inside our room. Just outside our room.
With options that include single kings and beautiful chalet A-frames, the Switzerland Inn’s rooms have something for large groups and couples seeking a quiet spot.
They’re spacious, comfortable, and most rooms feature a breathtaking view of the valley below. There really is no reason to ever leave. We spent two relaxing nights in the Chanticleer, which is set away from the main lodge.
It was nice, quiet, and gave us time to soak in that mountain air from our balcony.
Dining
There are two main dining options while staying at the Switzerland Inn—The Chalet Restaurant and The Fowl Play Pub.
The Chalet Restaurant
Trout, anyone? A GOOD breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
The Chalet Restaurant boasts serene views while you dine on upscale and locally sourced ingredients. You can choose to sit indoors or outdoors at the Terrace.
The Chalet Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but dinner reservations are strongly encouraged for non-guests of the resort.
Fowl Play Pub
The Fowl Play Pub serves up whimsical cocktails and uniquely themed casual bites after 5:30 pm. This was a great option when the main restaurant was crowded or if there was an event happening on the premises.
Things to Do at Switzerland Inn
Hiking (Grassy Creek Falls)
This hotel is meant for relaxing and enjoying all the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Of course, there’s a gorgeous waterfall just a short hike away from the Switzerland Inn, if you’d like a little exercise.
Grassy Creek Falls is reachable by parking at the trailhead (Blue Ridge Parkway MM 335) or by walking from the nearby Switzerland Inn if you’re staying there. It’s about a half-mile walk downhill, where the trail will snake left around a bend before you take two right turns along the way.
There are a couple of walkways (take the second one down) that will lead you down for a closer look at the falls. Just be careful, as they can get slippery when wet. Overall, it’s a beautiful place to stand and watch the water come down!
If you want to stretch your legs and accelerate that heartbeat a bit, there are trails all along the Parkway. We’ll mention a few of them shortly in our “Places Nearby” section.
Shopping
On-site at the Switzerland Inn, there are a variety of shops to browse and indulge. Whether you’re looking for local products, something you forgot for your trip, or some souvenirs to bring home, it’s fun to browse and buy!
And if you work up an appetite from shopping, stop in the ice cream and fudge shop and load up on some sweets before enjoying the rest of your vacation.
Just Relax and Have Fun
If you want to just enjoy the scenery from Switzerland Inn, you can do just that. There’s also a pool, ping-pong table, corn hole, and plenty of open space for you to enjoy without ever leaving.
We particularly enjoyed lounging on our balcony with a good book (I finished Where the Crawdads Sing while we were there!) and sipping on some Linville Winery Merlot.
Massages are also available for guests, with options including Swedish and Deep Tissue!
Places Near the Switzerland Inn
Little Switzerland
Many folks come for Books and Beans. They also come for the barbecue at Switzerland Cafe, and rightly so!
0.3 miles from Switzerland Inn
As you might’ve noticed from our guide to North Carolina’s small towns, Little Switzerland itself is not to be overlooked. While the driver’s side window might make it look like a small strip of shops, those shops are filled with incredible finds!
A delectable coffee shop houses gems of used books, a general store with an awesome wine selection, and the Switzerland Café serving up some of the most incredible smoked barbecue sandwiches!
And that place is so good, we included it in our guide to North Carolina barbecue!
Gem Mining
3.1 miles from Switzerland Inn
The High Country of North Carolina is filled with treasure! Sort through the pebbles to find gems like garnet, amethyst, emeralds, smoky quartz, rubies, and sapphires at Emerald Village.
You can tour the underground Bon Ami Mine at the NC Mining Museum or pan for gems! This is a great activity for all weather conditions!
Linville Falls
17.2 miles from Switzerland Inn
Linville Falls is great way to spend a morning and like Grassy Creek Falls, one of our favorite hiking spots in North Carolina. The hike to the falls follows a wide, well-maintained path and offers four different viewpoints of the 45-foot falls.
It’s a moderate 1.6-mile round-trip walk and offers outstanding views! Keep in mind that this trail gets busy, so beat the crowds by getting there early.
Linville Falls Winery
17.2 miles from Switzerland Inn
Nestled off the Parkway is Linville Falls Winery, which I mentioned as a great accompaniment for a balcony book. This locally owned and family-run vineyard specializes in slowly ripening vines to produce fresh, vibrant wines.
Their grape varieties include Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Noiret, Marquette. Petit Verdot, Marechal Foch, and Riesling, as well as many berries and Christmas Trees! We enjoyed their Elevate blend as well as the Merlot.
Grab a bottle or two for your room or to take back home with you. We might’ve made off with a handful (or more).
Final Thoughts
We could’ve stayed much longer at Switzerland Inn and look forward to our next visit. I mean, how can you beat a place in that setting with all the conveniences a person would need?
And while we wait to come back, those views, that food, and the memories of our relaxing time there will remain on my mind for quite a while.
Have you ever stayed at the Switzerland Inn? What did you think of the place? Would you go back? Let us know in the comments section!
would love to come up for a week end, what are your rates