The Main Street Gallery, Main Street (tel. 828/295-7839; www.blowingrockfinecrafts.com), is a cooperative gallery featuring handmade contemporary art and crafts from the North Carolina mountains. The location is in the center of Blowing Rock across from the post office. Hours are daily 10am to 6pm.
Orchard at Altapass, milepost 328.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at Spruce Pine on Orchard Road (tel. 888/765-9531 or 828/765-9531; www.altapassorchard.com), sells apples from July to November; you pick, or they pick. The orchard has an array of fresh baked goods, free tours, and even music and tall tales. The proprietors will arrange hayrides for you on Saturday and Sunday. From May to October, hours for Monday to Saturday are 10am to 6pm; on Sunday they're 11am to 6pm. The rest of the year, the store is open only on Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday noon to 6pm. Finally, Parkway Craft Center (tel. 828/295-7938) is at milepost 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Moses Cone Manor just off Route 321. Here, you'll find the finest-quality Appalachian Mountain crafts, handmade by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Craft demonstrations are presented on the porch. Open daily 9am to 5pm.
