You'll probally run across a place called Hiddenite during you're online digging. I got suckered into dragging Miss Case and Little Case up there to one of those emerald gem mine deals. Total waste of time and even worse money.  The so called dig you're own gems deal consisted of trudging down an old ass logging road ( perfectly fine if I'm deer hunting, but sucks ass with a whiney and sweat soaked SO and 6 year old dragging shovels and buckets not to mention I paid for this), in the middle of mosquito infested woods. The panning was the usual buy a bucket of Home Depot sand with a couple pretty rocks in it. I think they did have a natural panning area which looked like a crappy hillside ditch that half the washing machines in the county ran into like I remeber from my childhood in WV.  

Maybe there is some better experiances out there but NC has more to offer than to waste a day there. If ya wanna see nature check out the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Plus it's free

Few years back I took some nephews to the mine near Little Switzerland and we went through their largest bucket.  Froze our hands off in the cold mountain water running through the sluice box - take some waterproof gloves and a jacket!
     http://www.emeraldvillage.com/
We found a few gemstones but nothing major - kids had them turned into jewelry for their Mom.

The Museum of NC Minerals would have more details and is likely where I'd go for more details on hunting emeralds.
     http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/attractions-destinations/museum-of-north-carolina-minerals

If the weather is clear then PLEASE take a run up Mt. Mitchell just for the view.  It's the highest elevation east of the Mississippi.  Temperature will be cold up there - take a jacket, gloves, hat, and a scarf.

If you really like to drive and are approaching from the south then I'd recommend taking NC 226 Alt up the mountain; otherwise take NC 226 since it's straighter.  Link below is the Google maps link where they split.

Avoid the Alt route if you get carsick.  If you're really adventurous then try NC 80 just a little bit to the south.  Both sections of road get really tame once you crest the mountain at the Blue Ridge Parkway and then start down the northern face.  Only the south side was built for carving.  If you zoom in on the maps you'll see the roads suddenly get really ziggy.  Great on a motorcycle!