I get several emails a day asking for recommendations for people coming into Spruce Pine for the Mineral and Gem Festival. Although I wish they would post them to this forum, I still like to answer them if I can.

For visitors, the Official North Carolina Mineral and Gem Festival is at several locations in Spruce Pine from August 3 until August 6.

The Parkway FD Mineral Show, which is sort of an unofficial companion show to the NC Gem Show, begins July 30 until August 5.

The other most popular questions are:

Where can I stay in Spruce Pine?
Where are the gem mines in Spruce Pine?
Where can I eat in Spruce Pine?
What else should I do while I am in Spruce Pine?

While I have a stock set of answers to these questions, my opinion is just that.. my opinion. I would like the board community to answer these here on the board so that all visitors will be able to see them.

Any other tidbits of information that would be useful to a visitor would be appreciated as well.

(By the way, you don't have to register to post a response here.. but we recommend that you do! The registration system had been broken for a few weeks, but it is back and solid now. I will be giving away t-shirts and such to the top registered posters later in the year).

Bob