Things to Do in Andrews, North Carolina: Our Rail Bike Adventure and Weekend Getaway
If you’ve never been to Andrews, North Carolina, you’re missing out on one of the cutest little towns we’ve visited in the Southeast!
We recently spent a weekend exploring Andrews, primarily because we wanted to try the Andrews Valley Rail Tours. We’d heard about riding pedal assisted bikes along old railroad tracks through the mountains, and it sounded like something fun and different to do.
What we didn’t expect was to enjoy the town itself so much that it would end up on our top 10 list of places we’d consider retiring!
Andrews is a small mountain community in western North Carolina, not far from the Nantahala Outdoor Center and the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s the kind of place where you can get away from the busier tourist areas, enjoy some local restaurants, and spend a few days just relaxing.
Here’s how we spent our little weekend getaway and why we’d recommend adding Andrews to your list of places to visit in North Carolina.
Arriving in Andrews, North Carolina
We left on Sunday afternoon after dropping Ruby off and headed north toward Andrews.
One of our first stops was actually at a rest area right there in Andrews. Normally, a rest stop isn’t something you’d think to mention in a travel blog, but this one is worth stopping at!
There’s a beautiful little creek running alongside it, and it’s such a peaceful spot to stretch your legs and enjoy the surroundings before continuing your trip.
From there, we drove around downtown Andrews to see what the town had to offer.
One of the things we noticed was how close everything was. The downtown area is small, with local businesses, restaurants, and the Andrews train depot all within walking distance of one another.
We even got our first look at the rail bike operation before heading to our hotel.
What stood out to us most was how friendly everyone seemed to be. You could tell the people here take pride in their community, and that’s something we always appreciate when visiting a new place.
Where to Eat in Andrews, NC
We always try to check out local restaurants when we travel rather than going to the same places we can eat at home.
This trip didn’t go quite as planned when it came to dinner, though!
The Tattered Tartan Pub
Our original plan was to have dinner at The Tattered Tartan Pub, a Scottish and Irish inspired restaurant in downtown Andrews.
We’d looked at the menu ahead of time and were really looking forward to trying something different.
Unfortunately, when we arrived, the kitchen was closed, although the bar was still open.
That was disappointing because we’d been looking forward to eating there. But it’s still on our list for the next time we visit Andrews.
If you’re interested in Scottish and Irish pub food, it might be worth checking out. Just make sure the kitchen is open before heading over!
Hoppy Trout Brewing Company
With our first dinner plans out the window, we headed over to Hoppy Trout Brewing Company.
Hoppy Trout is known for its craft beer and brick oven pizza. The problem was that we’d just had pizza the night before at home, so we were hoping to find something else.
We spotted a few paninis on the menu that sounded pretty good, ordered our beers, and then found out they were out of paninis!
At that point, we decided to split a few appetizers and call it dinner.
The appetizers were just fine, but we really enjoyed the beer!
If you’re looking for a local brewery in Andrews, Hoppy Trout is definitely worth checking out, especially if you enjoy trying craft beers.
Morning Fog Coffee & Eats
The following morning, we headed over to Morning Fog Coffee & Eats for breakfast.
This was one of my favorite little discoveries in Andrews!
The restaurant is located in a beautifully renovated farmhouse that dates back to 1920, and I absolutely loved the setting.
It has so much character, both inside and out, and it’s a great place to enjoy breakfast or coffee before heading out for the day.
It was pretty busy when we visited, so we didn’t do much filming inside, but we really enjoyed our stop.
If you’re searching for breakfast or coffee shops in Andrews, North Carolina, I’d definitely put Morning Fog on your list.
A Visit to the Nantahala Outdoor Center
Since our rail bike tour wasn’t scheduled until later in the day, we decided to head over to the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
This was our third visit to Nantahala, and we still enjoy going back!
The drive through the mountains is beautiful, particularly during autumn when the leaves are changing.
Unfortunately, we’ve had an unusually warm fall this year, so the foliage wasn’t quite at prime for that elevation and time of year (yay El Nino). Some areas were still looking pretty green for that time of year.
We did manage to find some beautiful overlooks along the way, though, and stopped to enjoy the scenery.
Once we arrived at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, we spent some time walking around and exploring.
If you’ve never visited, the outdoor center is located along the Nantahala River near Bryson City, North Carolina. It’s known for whitewater rafting, kayaking, outdoor adventures, and its riverside setting.
You don’t have to book an activity to enjoy visiting, either. We enjoy simply walking around, watching the river, and exploring the grounds.
This time, we even discovered a quieter area down by the water that we’d somehow missed during our previous visits.
It’s always nice finding something new at a place you’ve already visited several times!
A Surprise Encounter With the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
On our way back toward Andrews, we happened to see the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad coming through.
We quickly turned around to get some footage as the train passed by, with passengers waving along the way.
We’ve actually done the Durango & Silverton scenic railroad in Colorado and really enjoyed it. So when we spotted the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad coming through, we knew we’d love to give this one a try too! We’re hoping to come back next fall when the leaves are at their peak. I can only imagine how pretty that ride would be with all the fall colors!
Andrews Valley Rail Tours: Riding Bikes on Railroad Tracks
Now for the main reason we came to Andrews!
If you’re searching for unique things to do in western North Carolina, Andrews Valley Rail Tours is something I’d highly recommend looking into.
Instead of riding a regular bicycle along a trail, you’re actually pedaling a specially designed rail bike along railroad tracks!
The bikes have electric pedal assistance, which makes the ride easier while still allowing you to enjoy the experience of pedaling through the countryside.
Our tour departed from the Andrews train depot and took us through the beautiful Valley River area.
Along the way, we passed wooded areas, farmland, and mountain scenery before reaching one of the highlights of the ride, the historic Valley River Tunnel.
The Historic Valley River Tunnel
One of the most interesting parts of the Andrews rail bike tour is traveling through a railroad tunnel that was carved by hand in the 1890s.
The Valley River Tunnel was completed in 1894, which means it’s been around for more than 130 years!
It’s pretty incredible to think about how much work went into carving a tunnel through the mountain with the tools available at that time.
Once we reached the other side, we had an opportunity to get off the bikes, walk around, and enjoy the area.
Some of the people on our tour listened to the history of the tunnel, but Chris and I decided to spend our break sitting at the picnic tables by the water.
It was such a peaceful spot, and we were perfectly happy just sitting there and taking everything in.
That’s one of the things we love about these smaller getaways. Sometimes it’s the quiet little moments that make a trip enjoyable.
The Ride Back Was Even More Fun!
The ride back to Andrews was a little different because we were heading downhill on a six percent grade.
Going back through the tunnel almost felt like being on a roller coaster!
We had a good laugh making our way through, and you’ll definitely hear some of that in our video.
We also encountered some of the free ranging cows along the railroad tracks.
At one point, we thought we were about to have a cow crossing right in front of us, but she changed her mind and turned around before we got there.
Between the scenery, the tunnel, and the cows, we had a really fun time.
If you’re wondering whether Andrews Valley Rail Tours is worth doing, we’d definitely recommend it based on our experience.
And if pedaling isn’t your thing, the company also offers other types of rail rides that don’t require you to pedal.
You can find tour information, availability, and reservations on their website.
Is Andrews, North Carolina Worth Visiting?
Absolutely!
We originally planned our trip around the rail bike tour, but Andrews turned out to be a place we’d like to spend more time exploring.
It’s small, friendly, and has that relaxed atmosphere we enjoy when getting away from everyday life.
There are local restaurants to try, beautiful mountain scenery nearby, and several outdoor attractions within driving distance.
And if you happen to be visiting during the fall, Andrews is a great place to include in a western North Carolina autumn getaway.
We were also impressed with how welcoming the people were. That’s one of the biggest things we look for when traveling, especially when we’re visiting towns we might consider retiring in someday.
Andrews has officially earned a place on that list!
Planning Your Own Weekend Getaway to Andrews, NC
If you’re thinking about visiting Andrews, here’s what we’d recommend based on our trip.
Make reservations for Andrews Valley Rail Tours ahead of time. This is one of the main attractions in the area, and you’ll want to make sure you can get the tour time you prefer.
Spend some time exploring downtown Andrews. Don’t just come for the rail bikes and immediately leave. Walk around, check out the local businesses, and give yourself time to enjoy the town.
Try some of the local restaurants. Morning Fog Coffee & Eats and Hoppy Trout Brewing Company are two places we visited, and we’re still hoping to try The Tattered Tartan Pub on our next trip.
Include a visit to Nantahala. The Nantahala Outdoor Center is one of our favorite places in western North Carolina, and it’s worth adding to your itinerary if you’re already in the area.
Don’t depend entirely on peak fall foliage dates. Autumn colors can vary from year to year, and our trip was a good reminder that Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate with our plans!
Watch Our Andrews, North Carolina Weekend Getaway on YouTube!
We filmed our entire weekend, including downtown Andrews, our restaurant visits, the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and the Andrews Valley Rail Tours experience.
You’ll get to see what the rail bike ride is actually like, including that historic tunnel and our little adventure with the cows!
WATCH OUR FULL ANDREWS, NORTH CAROLINA VIDEO HERE!
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