Nominated by locals

Emerald Village Gem Mines

A hidden gem in North Carolina

Old mica mines turned into a hands-on gem-panning and underground-tour complex near Little Switzerland, tucked in the Blue Ridge high country off the Parkway.

Build a trip around hidden gems like this.

Save catalog-backed stops to My Trips on the web now. The iOS beta is testing the on-road companion: verified check-ins, badges, shared trips, and your growing map of America.

No spam. Just beta timing and launch notes.

More North Carolina gems

More to explore in North Carolina

See everything in North Carolina