This is one town in the Appalachian mountains you can’t miss: Visit Boone NC today.
The town of Boone sits in Watauga County atop the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Boone gets its name from the famous pioneer and explorer, Daniel Boone. It was incorporated in 1872 and now reached a population of 19,458. At 3,333 feet above sea level, the town of Boone sits at the highest elevation of any town its size east of the Mississippi.
Home to Appalachian State University, this town gets a lot of foot traffic and tourists. That being said there’s plenty of places to go and explore in and around Boone.
What to do
The famous amusement park, Tweetsie Railroad, is just 11 minutes outside of Boone between the town and Blowing Rock. It is open for daytime operations from early April to late October and evening operations from mid-September to late December. The park resides 200 acres and hosts a variety of attractions. The centerpiece of the park is a 3-mile train ride with a live show throughout. However the park also features a variety of amusement park rides like a ferris wheel, carousel, chairlift, and much more as well as live shows, a zoo, and other attractions geared towards families with children.
Tweetsie also hosts a range of special events throughout the year including their Halloween and Christmas themed events. Tweetsie Railroad is the perfect place to go for family and even still a fun place for adults as well. General Admission is $52 for adults 13 and up and $33 for children.
Boone is also surrounded by the historic Blue Ridge Parkway where you can spend the day hiking in places like Price Lake or Linn Cove Viaduct. If you want a killer view of Boone you can’t miss Howards Knob which directly overlooks the town. There also Trashcan Falls and Elk River Falls if you’re looking for a swimming hole at the end of your hike.
The main drag in town offers plenty of places to shop and eat. One of the Mast General Store satellite locations is located in the heart of Boone where you can still get the experience of attending the actual store without having to drive 30 minutes out of your way to Valle Crucis. There’s also plenty of small businesses like Shoppes at Farmers, a department store-like place but with locally crafted goods, or The Happy Place and Boone Rock-N-Roll Emporium where you can get unique finds for the hippy or rock and roller in your life.
What to Eat
Boone’s culinary scene is diverse to say the least. Boone has two sushi spots that you can’t miss: CoBo and Makoto’s Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar. If you’re interested in a lighter meal with a deli feel, Our Daily Bread is the perfect place for you. The sandwiches are delicious and you can’t skip out on the soup of the day made from scratch in-house.
If you want that classic Southern that you can only find in small towns like Boone, try Proper, which operates in a small house just off of King Street, or Daniel Boone Inn, where you can get a three course meal for only $25 per person. If pizza is your fancy don’t miss out on Capone’s, whose pizza most of the college students prefer over the fast food delivery chains.
Where to Stay
There’s plenty to do in Boone, and it’s all only a two hour drive from Charlotte. Take a day trip or stay a few days and really explore the town at the Horton Hotel located on King Street or stay in neighboring Blowing Rock at the Meadowbrook Inn.
