The Grandfather Mountain Nursery Garden Center has been nurturing Banner Elk's wonderful outdoors since 1976. Located at the base of Grandfather Mountain, they offer extensive knowledge regarding landscaping, gardening, and more.

Contained inside what was once built to become a public prison, the Vigo Museum of Contemporary Art is a local cultural center that boasts a regular rotation of exhibitions, showcasing various forms of artwork (from painting to modern design). There is no permanent exhibition, however, so do check what's on when you're in town.

In Skäftekärr, close to Böda in northern Öland, lies an Iron Age village with around 20 well-preserved stone house foundations spread across 10 farms dating from 300–700 AD. At the heart of the Iron Age village are the remains of a chieftain's estate, comprising four house foundations. Adjacent to this historic site, the "new Iron Age landscape" includes a reconstructed version of one of these typical houses and the charred remains of an earlier reconstruction. The park is also home to an impressive collection of approximately 140 different species of trees and shrubs, forming an arboretum. An eco-park center with information about the Böda Eco-park is available on-site, along with Skäftekärr café, hotel, and conference, housed in the majestic main building. For the little ones, a popular obstacle course adds to the day's adventure.