While at Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC 10-2025 Shari and I visited a few shops in the Old…read moreCarriage House beside the mansion. There are several shops in there! The three we stopped at was Christmas Past, the Confectionery Store and The Traditions Shop. We were waiting for our reservations to begin on our indoor house tour! The shops were well lighted and very bright! Very useful area for the old carriage area!

All the holiday trim for your tree, with mostly traditional ornaments. Biltmore ornaments,…read morenutcrackers, glittery snow scenes.

Merrill Mischief recently relocated to their bigger space on West Union Street and became the…read moreMerrill Mischief General Store, taking over the beautiful location that the Morganton General Store once occupied. The moment I walked through the door, I was greeted by a wonderful, whimsical vibe. They have a fantastic, dedicated holiday and Christmas area filled with unique ornaments and fun seasonal items that you can shop year-round. I love that the unique art for sale is created by the owners themselves--the co-owner, Sarah Merrill, paints all of the whimsical acrylic artwork on reclaimed wood, which her husband, Craig, finishes with his own custom-built wooden frames! Alongside their original pieces, they also carry a great variety of local souvenirs, Morganton T-shirts, scented candles, and artisan soaps If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to head straight to the back! They make delicious homemade fudge right on-site and are incredibly generous with free samples, so you can try the flavors. They also have an impressive selection of specialty chocolates, nostalgic candies, and trendy novelty freeze-dried treats. Beyond the sweets, it functions as a true modern mercantile. I found a great pantry section stocked with specialty spices, unique condiments, small-batch jams, local honey, and even high-quality maple syrup. They also carry excellent specialty coffees and teas. Whether you are looking for a unique gift, a local treat, or just a fun place to explore downtown, this store is an absolute must-visit. The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming, and the expanded space is a huge win for the community!

Best Fudge and Christmas Shop in the U.S.-- in historic downtown Morganton, NC…read more Sarah and Craig Merrell created a new one-of-a-kind destination filled with smiles and Craig's custom-recipe fudge -- a true culinary extravaganza (with free samples!) and Sarah's original scenic artwork, beautifully framed by Craig, adding warmth and charm. Their shop also offers an impressive array of high-quality, affordable Christmas décor. It's a delight for kids, seniors, and families alike--where sweets, art, Christmas treasures, and even a model train display all come together under one roof. The shop is nestled in Morganton's historic architecture district (for photographers), including restaurants, wine bars, and coffee/tea shops and more all within a block. The whole experience feels like stepping back in time. Small town Americana at its best! Craig even ships his fudge and Sarah her artwork listed on this Google Maps link, making it perfect for gift-giving or satisfying your own cravings at very reasonable prices after or without visiting to experience their artistry and sweets. In my 77 years of global travel, this ranks as one of my favorite experiences. Morganton has done a marvelous job revitalizing its historic town. Don't miss it!

I've read some of these other reviews, and I'd say these reviewers aren't very observant…read more Peppermint Forest carries some AMAZING trees...these are NOT going to be the same trees and decor you find at big box stores. (And trees have 10 yr guarantee, including lights!). I have bought sprays and ornaments here for the last several years. I did notice this year that you will find similar LOOKING ornaments in big box stores...there's definitely trends in this industry, too...but they are not near the quality and appeal you get here. I get so many compliments on how my tree decor shimmers and glimmers. And the prices are right in line with more cheaply made imitations. It seems the selection was a bit less this year than years past. The staff is nice enough. (Not overly warm, but approachable enough) I suspect they just leave one alone to peruse before asking if you need help. I haven't needed any real help there. A nice place to at least get a few things to spruce up what you have. (It's a pool/spa/grill store in the warmer months- clever use of space)

This is my annual tradition every year to go to their seasonal grand opening. It signals for me…read morethat my Christmas season has officially begun! The staff were friendly and helpful and of course the decor is just simply beautiful. Gets you right into the holiday spirit.

We were walking through downtown Black Mountain during our stay in town and decided to walk through…read morethese doors. The store is a clean and organized gift shop that's arranged very well. If you see something that crosses your eye that could be useful and not something you may see automatically back home, you may be inclined to make a purchase like I did. I bought a couple of pairs of painter-inspired socks that were economically priced. The store manager was courteous as we made our purchases. Did I need the socks? Probably not because I have so many at home, but you can always ditch old socks, and their selection was nice and colorful, so I went for it.

I used to live over seas so I was thrilled to see this store when I was in Black Mountain for the…read moreweekend. They have a large selection of gifts from several European countries. I absolutely loved the wide variety of Christmas ornaments. They were all so unique! They had German beer steins, Portuguese pottery, Austrian ornaments for the tree, and Venetian glass. It was very fun to look at their wide selection of items from all over Europe. They even had Scottish tartan! I enjoyed looking at all of the Christmas ornaments and even took a few home to save for my Christmas tree this December.

Great selection,and prices beat all I have seen around,the workers are very friendly and helpful.read more

We have ordered our Christmas tree from Boyd's for the past three years and are always happy with…read moretheir delivery service and quality of trees! This year, we got a 7ft Fraser fir. Rodney delivered it November 27th and today is December 25th (merry Christmas!) Let me tell you, this tree is SO FRAGRANT! Every time I walk in the front door or pass by the tree, it's a beautiful whiff of Christmas spirit! We'll be lifetime customers of Boyd's. They're an exceptional operation and it's always good to support local businesses!