Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Boone is the heart of the High Country — a walkable college town surrounded by some of the best hiking, skiing, and scenery in the Southeast. Home to Appalachian State University and minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Boone makes an easy base for a weekend escape or a week-long mountain getaway. Here’s how the locals would tell you to spend your time.
Explore Downtown Boone & King Street
Start where Boone started: historic King Street. This walkable downtown is lined with independent shops, galleries, coffee roasters, and restaurants, with live music spilling out of the bars on weekends. Browse local makers, grab a wood-fired pizza, and don’t miss the Mast General Store for outdoor gear and old-fashioned candy by the barrel. It’s the perfect low-key afternoon between mountain adventures.
Get Outside: Hiking & the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past Boone and delivers some of the most accessible mountain scenery anywhere. Just south of town, Moses H. Cone Memorial Park surrounds the historic Flat Top Manor with 25+ miles of gentle carriage trails — ideal for an easy hike with big views. Neighboring Julian Price Park adds lakeside trails and the popular Boone Fork loop. Want a summit? Elk Knob State Park offers a rewarding climb close to town, while Grandfather Mountain (about 40 minutes away) is famous for its Mile High Swinging Bridge and 360-degree views.
Chase Waterfalls & Rivers
Water is everywhere in the High Country. The New River — one of the oldest rivers in the world — is perfect for a lazy summer tube, kayak, or paddle, while the Watauga River draws fly-fishers chasing wild trout. For a classic Blue Ridge waterfall, Linville Falls (south along the Parkway) is an unforgettable half-day trip. Bring good shoes and a dry change of clothes.
Catch a Game: App State & Kidd Brewer Stadium
Boone is a college town through and through, and fall Saturdays belong to the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Catching a game at Kidd Brewer Stadium — “The Rock” — is a bucket-list experience, with the mountains rising right behind the stands. Football weekends, family weekend, and graduation fill the town fast, so if your visit lines up with the App State calendar, book your lodging early.
Family Favorites
Traveling with kids? Tweetsie Railroad, the Carolinas’ first theme park, sits between Boone and Blowing Rock and centers on a historic steam-train ride through the mountains, plus rides, shows, and seasonal events. Add a stop at Mystery Hill for hands-on science fun, or the Daniel Boone Native Gardens for a quieter morning. There’s no shortage of ways to keep every age entertained.
Craft Beer & Mountain Food Scene
Boone punches well above its weight for craft beer. Appalachian Mountain Brewery helped put the local scene on the map, Booneshine Brewing brings a community-forward taproom and kitchen, and downtown’s Lost Province is a beloved gastropub known for wood-fired pizza and house brews. Newer spots like SouthEnd Brewing keep the King Street patios busy. Pair a flight with mountain views and you’ve got the perfect end to an active day.
Easy Day Trips from Boone
Boone’s location makes it a launchpad for the rest of the High Country. Quaint Blowing Rock is a 15-minute drive for boutique shopping and the namesake Blowing Rock attraction. Skiers and summer hikers head to Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain, the two biggest ski areas in the region. And the original Mast General Store in nearby Valle Crucis is worth the scenic drive on its own.
Boone Through the Seasons
Spring brings wildflowers and rushing waterfalls; summer is prime time for tubing the New River and exploring the Parkway in cool mountain air. Fall is the showstopper — the High Country delivers some of the best leaf-peeping on the East Coast, and weekends book out months ahead. Winter turns Boone into a snow-sport hub, with downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing just minutes away at the surrounding resorts.
Where to Stay: Boone Cabin Rentals
The best way to experience the High Country is from your own mountain cabin. Our professionally managed Boone cabin rentals put you minutes from King Street, App State, and the Parkway, with the comforts that make a mountain trip special. Soak under the stars in a cabin with a hot tub, bring the whole crew to a home with a game room, or travel with your dog at one of our pet-friendly cabins. Ready to plan your trip? Browse all our High Country vacation homes and find the perfect base for your Boone adventure.