This area is a hiker's dream! Check out the options near Celo: https://www.mmecoretreat.com/hiking, or take a peak at AllTrails for some great hikes in and around the Blue Ridge Parkway!

Crabtree Falls is a great, moderately easy hike a short distance from Celo off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If you're keen on a real challenge, hiking Mount Mitchell is one for the books. It is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River! (You can also drive to the top via the Blue Ridge Pkwy to get those great views with much less effort.)

Carolina Hemlocks is a recreation area with a great swimming hole! There is $5 fee per car for a day-pass, but the swimming hole is well worth it! See more information here.

Another option for swimming is the Avery House, owned by Caroline's aunt and uncle, Caroline and Sam Avery. After a short hike down to the river, there is a modest swim hole, great for a dip or reading on the rocks.

The Avery House is located at Copperhead Bend off Queen’s Chapel Road. Upon reaching Copperhead Bend, follow signs for Jade Wellness until you see the “AVERY” sign, then take the right-hand driveway. Please do not block the driveway when you park.

To reach the river, walk past the house to the woods and follow the trail markers down the path.

Tubing is one of our favorite Celo activities! If you want to tube, you can rent tubes at South Toe General Store with a $10 deposit. Carolina Hemlocks is a great place to put in for tubing!

Park a car on the gravel shoulder at the bridge at Hat Creek Trail (across from Locust Creek Rd) so that you have a car when you finish your tube. Use the bridge as a landmark for when to end your tubing journey!

Burnsville is the closest town to Celo. It has coffee shops, a wine bar, BBQ, a great brewery, neat thrift shops, and more!

The Yancey County Farmer's Market is from 8:30am-12:30pm every Saturday. This is supposed to be one of the best in the region. Check out all they have to offer! https://yanceycountyfarmersmarket.wordpress.com/

The Toe River Valley is full of artists, especially potters. McWhirter Pottery is located right up the road from the Celo Inn and Toe River Crafts is located right in the Celo Community, but there are many more in the area.

See the Toe River Arts website for more info.

There's great fly fishing on the South Toe River! A challenging spot, but a great way to get in touch with the surrounding nature. Note that you will need an NC fishing license if you would like to fish, which you can do online or in Burnsville.

Golf with a view!!

Pieper Glass's Glass Blowing Studio is located right in the Celo Community. Sometimes, Kenny will do glass blowing demonstrations.

Little Switzerland is located about 30 minutes from Celo. It gets its name from the Swiss/Germanic appearance of the architecture. With little shops and restaurants, Little Switzerland is definitely worth a visit.

Penland School of Craft is a national craft education center dedicated to the creative life. Located in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Penland offers total-immersion workshops in sixteen beautifully-equipped studios along with artist residencies, a gallery and visitors center, and community programs.

Burnsville and Yancey County are home to nine quilt block trails in the North Carolina mountains. These self-guided driving trails take folks into the countryside to view colorful quilt blocks adorning barns, buildings and churches.