Beautifully nestled off the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway near Blowing Rock, this historic facility…read moreis worth the visit. Unfortunately we did not check the newly updated times they are open to go inside. On this day they were closed. The setting, grounds and trails are breathtakingly beautiful. Some were picnicking under a tree near the Manor entrance. We saw cows in a nearby pasture. One person was on a horse. The property even includes an Apple Orchard. We will return again when the Museum is open and we can also see the crafts offered for sale.

Our visit came in June of 2021 with the accompanying restrictions imposed by the pandemic and…read moreshortage of staff. That means parts of the manor are roped off, construction work on the house is in progress and the craft shop is operating out of a somewhat cramped space. That said, it's well worth a visit here. The views are amazing, and the crafts are wonderfully diverse yet so attractive (everything from lamps to trays to blown glass) and they are nicely displayed, though we should mention that the Southern Folk Art Center closer to Asheville has much larger collections in its shop and museum. The people working here couldn't be more helpful to visitors. The manor is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and parking is easy if limited. There are hiking trails nearby and restrooms also. It makes for a delightful stop with lots of do and see.

The ladies working there helped me so much. They explained that their beautiful baskets are…read moreactually machine washable!! They also have quilting supplies, beautiful fabrics, cross-stitching kits, and on and on!

Dear owners of Mountain Threads - I came from Greensboro to…read morevisit your shop. I had the directions and list of materials for a project and wanted to purchase high-quality rope cording. So I approached a very glittery young woman with her bosom about to fall out of her red dress by saying, "I have a project materials list that calls for 100 feet of clothesline cord." She directed me to purchase this at a WalMart. Wow. Isn't selling various sizes of cord what your business is all about? She also told me that clothesline type cording cost $1/foot so I would pay $100 for cording if I purchased it at Mountain Threads. No - it costs $1 per yard. The owner/artisan seated behind a sewing machine in the back room was being monopolized by one female (customer? just curious?) and no one could break into that Q&A/tutorial without being rude. So, basically, there was no one in-the-know available. The store is cute. The staff is friendly (maybe too friendly with people who will monopolize you). The location on Main St is easy to find but beware that parking in Blowing Rock can be very difficult in the "high seasons". The selection of fabrics, machine needles, and cording is strong. You just have to get past the not so well informed staff member in the front room.

I enrolled my 8 year old at the art classes offered here and she loves it. The instructor really…read morecares about his students and teaches the whole group in an age appropriate way. They've discuss topics like light and shadows and perspective and used various materials. I can't recommend this place enough. Make sure to stop in for any art supplies you need and give Ziggy so many pets :-).

My daughter's birthday was this month. She is 1500 miles away, coping with the state of affairs in…read moreher chosen field of medicine during COVID-times. At a loss for any kind of meaningful gift without personal access to N95 masks and other PPEs, I decided to restock her art supplies. Maybe this old love would give a little light. I combed online options to avoid stores and post office. Then I thought to support a local business in my daughter's chosen community. Art Mart & Academy is just minutes from her home. The store was not officially open, but the owner responded to my email. John talked with me at length about what I was looking for, texted me photos and was very helpful in matching the types and quality of products I'd selected online. Though he had no gift bags, he managed to find a sweet way to package all the items then texted me a photo to see if "the presentation" was ok. He also kept the required social distance from my son-in-law during pick-up. He kept a sense of humor, too. Art is a good thing to do in COVID-times. John will help you start or get better. Art Mart and Academy has customer service and the goods!

Stopped in for boiled p nuts, very cute place. fresh produce and snacks. Tasty treats, brreads and…read morejams.

Maw's has a wonderful selection and the people working here are always so kind. My favorite place…read morefor local produce, and more!

This is a nice little boutique just off Main Street selling a variety of handmade items. On a…read morerecent visit, I bought some earrings, a necklace, and a pottery olive oil keeper. The also have artwork, wooden pens, and soaps/lotions. The prices are what you would expect in Blowing Rock, but regardless, I was happy with my purchases. I'll definitely be back!

Cute little shop with beautiful handmade items. Prices are reasonable and items are great quality…read more Bought a beautiful cheese board handmade close by in the area. They gave a paper with instructions on how to care and clean. Very sweet people. Will come again!

This Mast General Store was the 2nd of it's kind to open, apparently about 100 years after the…read morefirst...but still an OG. The store offers a small throw back to simpler times, selling anything and everything one would need for their household under one roof. They even had a slogan early on of "if you can't buy it here, you don't need it". The store offers homewares (glassware, plates, pots, pans and cast iron), decor, snack items, jelly's/jams, milled products, soaps, gifts, clothing, camping gear, and even barrels upon barrels of candy by the pound. With 2 floors fully stocked of product, it offers a glimpse of how things were in olden times. Pricing on many items is very fare, from what I saw and was able to compare. Staff were all very friendly, checking in as we shopped to see if there is anything we could be helped with. It's a fun store to poke through, with lots of nostalgia

We have visited other locations, but this one was nice because we were able to bring our dog inside…read morewith us! There is clothing, kids stuff, candy, and outdoor gear. We picked up cowtail candy and ate some pieces on the spot. They are kid and pet friendly and a nice spot to come in and walk around in.

Super cute quilt shop. Stopped in while traveling to get a gift for a friend. Great selection and…read morefriendly staff.

Ladies were friendly but the selection of fabric was less than inspiring. Not sure I will go out of…read moremy way again.

Beautiful Art on display in various rooms. Paintings, sculpture, jewelry and woodwork make for a…read morerelaxing afternoon. The grounds are just as beautiful as the art inside. I have passed by here for years and never stopped. So glad I finally did! Beautiful!

This is a gorgeous gallery full of amazing fine art! A wide variety of artists are represented here…read moreincluding Toni Carlton. Come here to window shop and be amazed or to purchase that one exquisite piece that will be treasured for a lifetime and beyond. It also offers lovely handmade jewelry for a perfect birthday or holiday or anniversary gift. Not to mention the beautiful textiles...hats, gloves, jackets. There is a surprise around every corner. Oh and they offer lessons!

great antique store with thousands of sometimes unique items. the store owner and help are pleasant…read moreto deal with. prices are generally affordable and reasonable.

This antiques place is in Trade, NC - part of the Pisgah National Forest. There are roughly 6 car…read morespots up front and the lazy guy at the front desk did not even make an effort to say 'hello!'. This is a large indoor collection of old tools, signs, duplicate magazines, fudge, furniture and carpets. Locked items are in small glass vitrines, which do not allow you to even look at anything. No greeting. No A/C. There was 1 couple browsing in the whole shop! Rebel review: 4 star overpriced, but big

We were on vacation in the area and it was raining; a perfect time to visit the Mast General Store!…read more We slowly walked through the entire store, picked out a handful of our favorite candies and a cold bottle of pop. We sat on the front sidewalk and watched the clouds roll by. I noticed a section of the wall at the front entrance that showed the water lines at different times in history (see picture). That is the kind of history that only an old building has seen. The people that work here are glorious! Very helpful! They made our visit that much more memorable. This is a must visit location for all ages when you are visiting the area! Most Sincerely, Dayla

The Original Mast General Store is located in Valle Crucis, NC. It was opened by Henry Taylor back…read morein 1883 as the Taylor General Store and has been operating ever since, so they are definitely doing something right! The landmark is on the National Register of Historic Places and is quite a popular place. While you won't be able to park right out front as they did in the past, there is plenty of parking located conveniently behind the store. W.W. Mast bought a half stake of the business in 1897, then bought the other half in 1913, changing the name to Mast General Store It was truly the Amazon of its day, offering everything you could possibly need with the motto, "goods for the living, coffins and caskets for the dead," which prompted the local phrase, "If you can't buy it here, you don't need it ." When the economy changed and the original store closed in 1977, it was thankfully saved and reopened in 1980 by preservationists John and Faye Cooper The front corner of the store features an active town post office The store spans two levels with beautifully creaking floorboards that instantly let you know you are in a nostalgic place filled with history. A lot of the original advertising posters from Mr. Mast are still mounted on the walls alongside the vintage counters and fixtures The original cast iron potbellied wood stove is still used to heat the store, the functional wooden trap doors in the floorboards still remain from where chickens historically were traded for store credit, and you can even get a cup of coffee for just 5 cents. You will find a massive variety of cast-iron cookware, old-fashioned candy in barrels, postcards, books, high-quality clothing, footwear, toys, and traditional mercantile goods. I even bought a delicious fried apple pie! The historic Little Red Schoolhouse sits right behind the main building and offers clearance merchandise, though I just enjoyed looking at the older architecture and reading about the school.